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double dew claws

Unique Double Dew Claws

April 25, 2016 25 Comments

When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about the unique double dew claws of the Great Pyrenees.

Unique Double Dew Claws

If there’s one thing that can get Great Pyrenees lovers worked up (okay, there’s a lot of things, but just hang in with me), it’s the discussion of removing the double dew claws. Any pyr lover will tell you, never never never remove the double dew claws.

When Mauja was a puppy, we went through the standard vet visits that every puppy goes through. As she got older and we began discussing her spay with the vet, the vet casually said, “And don’t worry, we’ll remove those while she’s under”.

“Those?” I replied.

“The double dew claws on her back legs. We’ll remove them while we’re doing her spay so she doesn’t have to go under twice.”

I was confused. Everything I read about the Great Pyrenees breed stated that the double dew claws should never be removed. The rear dew claws serve a purpose and are attached by a bone, which means removing them is akin to removing a human thumb.

I told the vet that we would not be removing Mauja’s double dew claws, which certainly didn’t make her happy. At every visit until her spay, the vet mentioned removing them. No matter how many times I said no, she wouldn’t leave us alone.

Ultimately, Mauja was spayed at a different vet clinic because I didn’t trust our current vet. I was afraid she would remove Mauja’s dews without my permission.

Recently, I was randomly perusing the internet when I stumbled upon an interesting article about dewclaws. The article stated,

Some breeds, such as Great Pyrenees and several other flock guardian breeds, naturally have one or even two dewclaws on their rear feet as well. They don’t really serve any purpose but are considered part of breed type and are never removed.

My jaw dropped. Articles like this are exactly why vets are pushing new pyrents to remove their dog’s double dew claws. Per the breed standard, Great Pyrenees have two dewclaws on their rear feet. While it is possible to see pyrs with single dews on the rear, it is generally a sign that the dog is a mixed breed.

The double dew claws actually do serve a purpose. Most people who have spent time around pyrs have seen the double dew claws in action. I can see Mauja and Atka’s double dews dig in the ground for stability when they’re chasing each other around the yard or climbing a hill. They are able to gain traction by utilizing their double dew claws.

Please, do not let a vet convince you that the double dew claws on your Great Pyrenees are useless or highly-likely to be torn. I’ve been around a lot of pyrs and can count on one hand the number who have had issues with their dew claws. Most of these dogs actually had deformed dew claws at birth which made them more susceptible to experiencing issues.

If you’d like more information on Great Pyrenees double dew claws, I have a more in-depth post here!

Does your dog have double dew claws? Did anyone try to convince you to remove them?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about the unique double dew claws of the Great Pyrenees.

Filed Under: A to Z Challenge, What's New Tagged With: breed information, dew claws, double dew claws, great pyrenees

Double Dew Claws

August 5, 2014 83 Comments

Before we got Mauja, I had researched the Great Pyrenees for months. Even though I had never met one, I was confident that it was the right breed for my family and that I could successfully care for one. I spent hours learning about the things that make Great Pyrenees unique, including the double dew claws.

[Read more…] about Double Dew Claws

Filed Under: Healthy, Happy Dog Tagged With: dew claws, dogs, double dew claws, great pyrenees

Don’t Make These Comments to Great Pyrenees Owners

June 2, 2014 71 Comments

When you walk around with giant white dogs, you hear a lot of uncomfortable comments. What else have you heard about your Great Pyrenees?

The weather was beautiful for a lot of the weekend, so we spent a lot of time outside with the pups. Being outside in nice weather, you run into a lot of people.

I’m always amazed at the people that ask me what breed Mauja and Atka are and then tell me how to care for them. You didn’t know the breed, but you know what’s best for them?

You should probably avoid making these comments to Great Pyrenees owners.

[Read more…] about Don’t Make These Comments to Great Pyrenees Owners

Filed Under: Fluffy Life Tagged With: breed, dog, double dew claws, great pyrenees

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