Dew Claw Removal & Pet Insurance

[macoduck]

Mazy has been with us a little over a month now. She's learning to play with toys and run zoomies in the yard.

 

I noticed some bloody nicks/cuts on her rear legs near the hock on the inner side after each run (3 total) in the last week. Same exact place every time.I clean her up and apply triple antibiotic ointment.

 

Her nails are trimmed and rounded with a dremel. One dew claw does stick out a little bit. Not trauma, just the way she came to us.

 

I walked her entire running path and could not find anything that could have cut her.

I seriously think she is cutting herself with her dew claws as she runs. After all the greyhounds we've had here none have cut themselves while running.

 

How horrible would dew claw removal surgery be at her age of 2.5?

Would Healthy Paws consider this an injury worthy of coverage?

Would my vet have to document multiple visits after fresh cuts?

 

Mazy doesn't run every day, just when the little voice in her head tells her to.

 

Short of ordering a case of vet wrap and keeping her wrapped just in case she runs, what else could I do? I don't want these cuts to become infected.

 

Running slowly with a friend:

 

 

[krissy]

I'm not sure she could cut her inner hind legs with her front dew claws. When they run the hind legs come to the outside of the front legs. Unless she is nicking the opposite hind leg, but that shouldn't happen unless her conformation or mechanics are off. We could take a close up video of her zooming by and put it in slow motion!

[Guest Clawsandpaws]

From my understanding of the insurance policy, they would only cover the dew claw removal if it was part of a surgery related to an accident, such as she gets it partially torn. You should call them and explain clearly, as technically a dew claw removal is not covered.

 

Dew claw removal is a surgical procedure, so you would have similar risks to other types of surgeries. My boy had a tail amp, and I would personally not want to put him through something like that again unless it was medically necessary. That being said, I am always worried that he will rip his dew claws off, so I can see where you are coming from!

[Guest IrskasMom]

Ducky , I have no Advice . Morty chews sometime on his Dewclaws and they seem to be a little scratchy , but he never hurt himself with that.

[galgrey]

My first greyhound tore his dewclaws numerous times and my vet suggested removing them. This was before I had internet and I had no clue what I agreed to. It was a very painful surgery - basically it was a double amputation. He was in a lot of pain and had a long recovery period. I wouldn't do it again.

[Riverhound]

How about just cutting the toes off baby socks and having her wear "wrist bands"?

[GeorgeofNE]

Ducky, George has HUGE dewclaws that stick out like thumbs. He ran for three years at Raynham, and has no scars indicating they were ever a problem.

 

It's a painful surgery, and one wrap of vet wrap on each "wrist" could fix the problem. If in fact it is her dewclaws!

 

Here's a picture that shows pretty well how much they stick out! I Dremel him every Sunday.

 

[macoduck]

I really don't want to do any surgery. Mazy has one dew clue sticking out, similar to George's. She just came in from running. The only scrape is on the left rear /ankle/hockfoot/same place as last time. The dew claw that sticks out is also on the left side.

[greyhoundlady]

I wouldn't do surgery if it was my grey. They like their 'thumbs' - at least I feel they do. Mine hold their yogurt cups with their 'thumbs'. I would do what others suggested and just wrap the dew claws in vet wrap. That stuff comes in lots of beautiful colors and she will look very fashionable. This way you can also see if it helps with the nicks/cuts. Just keep dremeling the nail to keep it short. I wonder if she nicked herself the same way when she raced.

 

My little female always has nicks and cuts - and they are not due to dew claws! I just clean them up, put a little neosporin on them and that always takes care of it.

[gracegirl]

I would maybe vet wrap for a few weeks to first see if it is, in fact, her dew claws. If it is, go from there. But at least you'll know.