Grooming Thread!!!!!!

[Bawkbok]

I think most vets here have no issues at least removing hind dew claws as they just tend to cause trouble later on anyways.

On removing dews --- we once had a Great Pyrenees that had exceptionally long, large dew claws that seemed to fan out in all directions. As he matured, the dews got even larger. We were concerned about him getting one caught on something and ripping it off while out doing his thing acting like a freight train running around the property. Our vet tried to dissuade us from having them removed due to the pain it creates for the dog but he did agree to performing the procedure - probably because he charged a small fortune for it. We had all six removed. Post-op treatment for a couple weeks was challenging. It's difficult to keep a dog like that in the house and resting. He bled - a lot! We were warned about that. He was on antibiotics and pain meds. Bandages needed to be changed regularly. He appeared to be in pain for weeks afterward as evidenced by the way he would apply pressure while standing and lying down, both with slower mobility and some effort with an audible grunt. Months later after surgery and full recovery, he licked his legs where the dews were removed. He did this all the time forever more the rest of his life whenever he was in a down position. So much so it seemed like neurotic behavior to me. I felt so bad for the dog and vowed we would never subject another dog to this surgery ever again.
Hope this helps others thinking about it to perhaps think twice.

 

[NotabitaiI]

On removing dews --- we once had a Great Pyrenees that had exceptionally long, large dew claws that seemed to fan out in all directions. As he matured, the dews got even larger. We were concerned about him getting one caught on something and ripping it off while out doing his thing acting like a freight train running around the property. Our vet tried to dissuade us from having them removed due to the pain it creates for the dog but he did agree to performing the procedure - probably because he charged a small fortune for it. We had all six removed. Post-op treatment for a couple weeks was challenging. It's difficult to keep a dog like that in the house and resting. He bled - a lot! We were warned about that. He was on antibiotics and pain meds. Bandages needed to be changed regularly. He appeared to be in pain for weeks afterward as evidenced by the way he would apply pressure while standing and lying down, both with slower mobility and some effort with an audible grunt. Months later after surgery and full recovery, he licked his legs where the dews were removed. He did this all the time forever more the rest of his life whenever he was in a down position. So much so it seemed like neurotic behavior to me. I felt so bad for the dog and vowed we would never subject another dog to this surgery ever again.
Hope this helps others thinking about it to perhaps think twice.

I think people do it on puppies to prevent issues like this. Same for tail docking or ear cropping. So sorry to hear he was in agony over his extra toes
I just wish breeders would assess those dews at birth since they have the ability to remove problematic dew claws before everything is fully developed.
It sounds like he dealt with phantom pains, where the body sends all sorts of crazy pain signals because there's no longer a body part there. People who have limbs removed later in life tend to deal with it really bad while people who had amputations in their infancy or even childhood almost never have phantom pains. I can only imagine that it's the same for dogs since in %14 of cases they respond negatively to amputation with severe restlessness and licking but I've never seen this occur with puppies who had ears, tails, or dew claws removed.

 

[FunClucks]

I need to try that with Satchets. She is 70lbs at least, and I am short so she is tall compared to me! She actually is better then our smaller dog who is forty pounds, and shorter, because she is more obedient. I just need to train Satchets better with getting groomed.She HATES the clippers on her face and paws.

This book changed our lives. There's also some ebook versions, and a shorter ebook excerpt for nails. Will help you retrain both you and your dogs to love (or at least peaceably comply) with grooming. It takes time, but if you are consistent, the methods she teaches work. It's all about communication. Strongly recommend.

My 50+ lb standard poodle gets into the tub on command, stands still while being bathed, turns himself around so I can reach the other side, and then exits the tub when commanded. He gets onto the grooming table and stands there, and turns around, and lets me shave, clipper, scissor, high velocity blow dry, brush, etc. He lays down upon command, stands, sits, rotates, lays his head down on the table and keeps it there for some duration at a time so I can groom the top of his head and do his hair. No restraints necessary, although I do have one side of the table up against the wall. Bath and groom together takes about 6 hours, and he gets a cup or two of lean steak, some cheese, pureed meat baby food, etc. to reward compliance. Poodles MUST be groomed to stay healthy. Deb Jones book saved our sanity.

She is fine with the rest of her getting groomed.. She takes her flea and tick meds fine.

LOL My boy still thinks flea and tick meds are a special kind of treat. I use the soft one to reward him eating the hard one. Always makes me giggle!

 

[FunClucks]

On removing dews --- we once had a Great Pyrenees that had exceptionally long, large dew claws that seemed to fan out in all directions. As he matured, the dews got even larger. We were concerned about him getting one caught on something and ripping it off while out doing his thing acting like a freight train running around the property. Our vet tried to dissuade us from having them removed due to the pain it creates for the dog but he did agree to performing the procedure - probably because he charged a small fortune for it. We had all six removed. Post-op treatment for a couple weeks was challenging. It's difficult to keep a dog like that in the house and resting. He bled - a lot! We were warned about that. He was on antibiotics and pain meds. Bandages needed to be changed regularly. He appeared to be in pain for weeks afterward as evidenced by the way he would apply pressure while standing and lying down, both with slower mobility and some effort with an audible grunt. Months later after surgery and full recovery, he licked his legs where the dews were removed. He did this all the time forever more the rest of his life whenever he was in a down position. So much so it seemed like neurotic behavior to me. I felt so bad for the dog and vowed we would never subject another dog to this surgery ever again.
Hope this helps others thinking about it to perhaps think twice.

I suspect some of my boy's initial resistance to grooming his front legs was lingering pain perhaps from dew claw removal. I have no proof. We work around it, find positions he's more comfortable having me groom in, and I just don't put him in styles that require more than a minimal amount of brushing for those legs. It has been less of an issue as he's gotten older. His breeder had the front dew claws removed when he was a puppy.

Sorry your boy had so many issues. That's so hard. Just no good answers sometimes.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

Satchets is half poodle and half german shepherd. She has to be groomed or it would be terrible!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I need to try that with Satchets. She is 70lbs at least, and I am short so she is tall compared to me! She actually is better then our smaller dog who is forty pounds, and shorter, because she is more obedient. I just need to train Satchets better with getting groomed.She HATES the clippers on her face and paws. She is fine with the rest of her getting groomed.. She takes her flea and tick meds fine.

Awwwwww

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

On removing dews --- we once had a Great Pyrenees that had exceptionally long, large dew claws that seemed to fan out in all directions. As he matured, the dews got even larger. We were concerned about him getting one caught on something and ripping it off while out doing his thing acting like a freight train running around the property. Our vet tried to dissuade us from having them removed due to the pain it creates for the dog but he did agree to performing the procedure - probably because he charged a small fortune for it. We had all six removed. Post-op treatment for a couple weeks was challenging. It's difficult to keep a dog like that in the house and resting. He bled - a lot! We were warned about that. He was on antibiotics and pain meds. Bandages needed to be changed regularly. He appeared to be in pain for weeks afterward as evidenced by the way he would apply pressure while standing and lying down, both with slower mobility and some effort with an audible grunt. Months later after surgery and full recovery, he licked his legs where the dews were removed. He did this all the time forever more the rest of his life whenever he was in a down position. So much so it seemed like neurotic behavior to me. I felt so bad for the dog and vowed we would never subject another dog to this surgery ever again.
Hope this helps others thinking about it to perhaps think twice.

In my original comment, where I said do it if your dog is already having surgery, that generally means your dog is already going to be on any meds he needs. Definitely for a desexing surgery it already means you have to limit exercise, will be wearing a cone etc.
i have not heard about it being more painful than other procedures but I also bet that relies on how the dew claws is attached, whether or not there is bone involved would effect it. So I think the entire situation is going to be unique to each dog.
All of my dogs that have had them removed had them removed as puppies. I don't mind if they have front ones as long as they're properly formed dew claws.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Any normal pyrenees breeder wouldn't remove declaws on a puppy, since front and rear declaws are standard. Although I can understand later in life if the dog is going to be an lgd and the dew claws are a hazard. Most pyr dew Claws are functional though. I've mostly seen nonfunctional ones on small dogs at work actually(I work at a dog groomer, so i do lots of nails), don't know if that is just a coincidence or not.