If you’ve ever wondered this, have you ever watched your dog hold a bone, chew or gripping a toy?
If you look you will see the dog uses the dewclaws to grip, the dewclaws act a bit like a thumb or big toe. Some breeds have double dewclaws on each hind leg.
When running on slippery surfaces the dewclaw helps stabilise the wrist joint and provide extra traction.
If a dog falls through ice he would be able to use the dewclaw for grip and pull himself out of the water.
Should Dewclaws Be Removed?
Dewclaws do have a real purpose and shouldn’t be removed only if there is a problem such as a serious injury or a disease and it would benefit the dog in doing so.
