Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: remington300mag on December 10, 2010, 07:25:09 PM
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So, Santa is bringing my kids a Yellow Lab for Christmas morning!! I was informed today that Ms. Clause didn't get the dew claws removed from the puppies and now they are 7 weeks old! My question is, at the age of 6 to 8 weeks old, what is it going to cost me to get the dew claws removed?!?!?!
Thanks for any input!
SAM
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Why get them removed? My lab didn't have hers removed and she hunted hard for 10+ years. Never had any issues with them.
Just keep them trimmed.
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You will pay the cost of putting it under, and about 70 bucks for snip and stich. If you plan on doing do it now. They base it off of pounds for the anesthetic. If you are getting it spade/neutered do it at the same time only got to pay one time to put it under.
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Removal at this time is an amputation. It should have been done at no later than 2-3 days old. It can cause problems if your dog injures the dew claw. As in if they catch the claw while hunting in shale slides.
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I have had several labs in my life, a few that had them removed, and one that didn't. It's just my opinion, but I prefer them to be removed. They can really rake the hell out of you (or kids) with those damn things when you are rough housing. My buddy's lab would constantly rip his, causing bleeding and potential infection. I would pay the price, and now.
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Leave them be. They can always be removed later if they are causing a problem
Removal at this time is an amputation. It should have been done at no later than 2-3 days old. It can cause problems if your dog injures the dew claw. As in if they catch the claw while hunting in shale slides.
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I breed hunting labs and hve decided that removing the dew claws is not nessesary. If u keep them trimed they do fine my male is a wild man when hunting and has never had a problem with his dew claws
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It is so easy to take them off when they are 2 days old. I sold 4 litters of lab retrievers in the last 6 years, and 20 litters of Springers when I was younger with my parents. Surgical clamps on all 4 or 2 depending, wait a sec then snap it off with your finger.
Why not just do it if you are a breeder?
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i use to remove them but I dont see a need so i stoped
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And let me clarify I am not breeder by trade just a hobby. I have 2 to 3 litters a year…I was just stating my opion..
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cool beans
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Ok, well thanks for the info..... I wish the gal would have had it done that is selling us the pup, but she didn't! SO I figure I will just have it done when I get it snipped! She also told me tonight that the pup only has them on the front....no dew claws on the back. Is that normal? Or do they usually have them on the back as well?!?!
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All the lab/retrievers we had only had 2 on the front. The English springer spaniels had 4 most of the time.
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Your dog could go its whole life without a problem from them...... But if there is a problem, and it's likely there will be, it can be a painful one that will be bad for your dog. Get them removed now and it'll be handled. I've seen a couple of dogs rip their dew claws while hunting and otherwise, and it's not good. :twocents:
Wile E.
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dew claw removal is such an easy solution to a potentially major problem. thats why it is standard practice for working and hunting dogs to have them removed at a couple days of age. its all well and good to think it isn't necessary but once a major problem occurs with them its an expensive somewhat serious surgery to correct.
Dew claws are like an appendix. the dog doesn't need them but they can cause some serious problems if left intact. dew claws are attached to a tendon like the dog's other toes, I have seen dew claws get ripped and they take that tendon with them.
IMO if I was puppy shopping and came across a breeder that didn't remove dew claws :bdid:, I would take my money and run. I don't care how good the bloodlines are and how good mom and dad are and how cheap the pup is. if the breeder skimps on such an easy/inexpensive thing to do it makes you wonder what other corners they cut. its kinda like going to a restaurant and checking out the bathroom before ordering... the food may be good but if the bathroom is filthy, it just makes you wonder what else is being neglected.
but then again it seems like common practice these days to save some bucks up front and take it up the arse down the road.
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We have a male lab that did not have it done.I figured no big deal, that is until we headed east for a pheasant trip (the only bird trip I have ever taken with my Dad and Brothers). About half way through the first hour of running hard through very tough crusted snow he starts limping and leaving blood in the snow. He had pulled both his dew claws back far enough to tear the under side. We loaded him in the truck and with the old shirt and duck tape I had bandaged him up as best we could. He seemed fine with it so we hunted the rest of the morning and headed home. For the ride home we took off the bandages and chewed off the dew claws! We stopped by the vet and he looked him over, trimmed a little more off bandaged him up and gave us a good talking to about good pet care.
This all could have been avoided had it been done at anytime prior to that trip, the situation took a little away from our only trip together, and I really felt bad for our dog. Since then ALL may dogs have the dew claws removed, we had two litters over the years and I had that appointment set as soon as the pups were on the ground.
No, it may not be a requirement but man what a pain if something goes wrong. Even a dog that lives in a small yard in the city can have issues with it. Get your pup from someone who cares enough about their dogs and pups to spend the few bucks to get this taken care of. I understand that some folks do not know all there is to know, but for your pups' sake remove this potential injury :twocents:.
Congrats on a great Christmas gift, put in the time with it as a pup and you will have a great family member for years :IBCOOL:.
