Dew Claws: Should They Stay or Should They Go?

 

Dew claws appear to be rather unnecessary body parts that hang from a dog's paw and serve no purpose at all. Lets have a look at the function of dew claws, and when it is considered appropriate to have them removed.

Dew claws are fairly common on the front paws of dogs, and can sometimes be found on the hind paws as well. They are positioned on the inside of the paw, slightly higher than the other claws, and are therefore not used to walk on. Unlike nail trimming, which is a simple painless procedure that should form part of your dog's regular grooming routine, and can be undertaken by anybody with a nail trimming tool, dew claw removal involves painful permanent surgical removal of the entire toe.

Many dog breeders elect to have the dew claws removed, for aesthetic or practical reasons, when the puppies are just a days old. At this stage the bone and tissue is undeveloped and soft, making it a relatively simple, but possibly unnecessary procedure. Dew claw removal in older dogs is much more complex, and involves surgical removal by a veterinarian. As this is a very tender area for the dog, it very often leads to complications after the operation as the paws are easily accessible, so constant licking and biting at the wound can limit its ability to heal, resulting in the wound becoming infected.

So considering dew claw removal is extremely painful for a dog, why do people have their dog's dew claws removed and put their pet through so much trauma? Unfortunately, there are people who have these appendages removed simply because they consider them to be unsightly and serve the dog no purpose. However, there are instances when dew claw removal is completely justified. Because they tend to dangle about, dew claws do pose a risk of being snagged on a carpet or caught on branches as the dog runs through dense bush. This could result in painful injury should the dew claw get ripped off..

In most cases, dew claws can be left on the dog without any problems, but there may be instances when it is preferable to have them surgically removed. Front dew claws are found on most dogs; they generally don't pose any problems and are in fact used by the dog for holding bones or toys. Dew claws on the hind legs are not as common, are usually loosely attached and dangle about, posing a real risk of being snagged and ripped off the skin, which is extremely painful for the dog. As dew claws do not touch the ground, the nails on these claws are not worn down. This can result in the nail growing round and into the skin of the dog's paw, which can be very uncomfortable for the dog. If this goes unnoticed and the nail is not trimmed it can pierce the skin and lead to a very nasty, painful infected wound. To avoid this, make sure that your dogs nails are trimmed regularly, paying special attention to dew claws that do not wear down through physical activity.

Dew claw removal in dogs in understandably a controversial matter, and a decision that ultimately rests on the breeder or owner. However, it is recommended that if your dog's dew claws were not removed as a puppy, and they are not presenting any problems to the dog, or are not likely to result in serious injury through snagging, then rather leave them alone rather than subjecting your dog to costly, painful surgery. If you feel your dog's dew claws pose a risk of serious injury, and would prefer to have them removed, try and have them removed while your dog is under aneasthetic for other surgery (for example, sterilisation) where possible.

How to Stop Dog Barking with Ultrasonic Dog Barking Control

Whether you own a troublesome dog that is causing consternation in the neighbourhood with his constant barking, or you live next door to someone that has a dog that insists on barking persistently, help is at hand in the form of the Acquiesce Ultrasonic Bark Controller.
 

The Acquiesce Ultrasonic Bark Controller is a training aid that conditions the dog to stop barking, and is very effective at reducing nuisance barking. When the device is activated it detects the sound of a barking dog and emits a high-pitched sound that both distracts the dog, and offers a level of discomfort that makes him refrain from barking. The dog soon learns to associate barking behaviour with the unpleasant auditory stimulation that is induced, and is eventually conditioned to stop barking persistently. While the ultrasonic sound is uncomfortable for dogs, it is a very high frequency that is inaudible by humans, so will not disturb you or your neighbours, only the dogs. Unlike spray and shock anti-bark collars, which are also effective, but may cause a dog some distress, the high-pitched ultrasonic sound is more of an irritating distraction to the dog.

Being completely weatherproof, the device can be used indoors or outdoors, and unlike an anti-bark collar, it is effective at reducing nuisance barking in multiple dogs, and for controlling nuisance barking in dogs that don't reside on your property. The Acquiesce Ultrasonic Bark Controller is equipped with 4 sensitivity settings. It also has a test button, which will emit an audible sound when pressed allowing you to check the sensitivity levels and that the device is working properly.

When using the Acquiesce Ultrasonic Bark Controller outdoors simply position the device so that it points to the area where the dog spends most of his time, or where the barking behaviour is more prominent, such as the front fence or gate. Take caution when placing the device that there are no obstacles (solid fences, hedges or thick bushes) in the path, which may render it less effective. If you are wanting to control nuisance barking in a neighbours dog, position the anti-bark unit in an elevated position, such as on top of a fence, or attach to a tree or pole, and point it in the direction of the barking culprit.

The Acquiesce Ultrasonic Bark Controller is fitted with 4 powerful speakers that makes the anti-bark device effective for up to 100m2 outdoors. When using the device indoors, switch to Inside mode, where only 2 of the speakers will be operational, giving a volume suitable for indoor use. It runs on either 2 or 4 9 volt batteries (not included) – 2 batteries will give you 3 months use, 4 batteries will give you 6 months use. The anti-bark unit can be wall mounted or free standing for full portability.

If you are wanting to curb unsocial barking behaviour in dogs, the Acquiesce Ultrasonic Bark Controller is recommended as a humane option that will condition your dog, or your neighbours barking dog, to stop barking. Even when there is nobody around to correct the dog, the anti-bark device silently does the job of alleviating nuisance barking by providing automatic bark detection and corrective action to passify your neighbourhood.

Critter Trails for Little Critters

With Christmas just around the corner, you may be wondering what surprise Santa can bring the kids this year. This may be the perfect opportunity to introduce your child to the joys of pet ownership. For many young children a hamster, rat or mouse makes an ideal first pet. They are easy to care for, can be kept indoors in the child’s bedroom, and they make a wonderful introduction to pet ownership, giving children lots of joy while teaching them about the responsibility of caring for their very own pet.

There are some wonderful small pet cages and starter kits available, ranging from small start-up packages to deluxe critter mansions. Some of these can be expanded by adding more components to connect up to another cage in the line, allowing complete flexibility to do some home improvements on your pet palace as your budget allows.

My favourite cages for hamsters and mice belong to the Critter Trail line. These are colourful, funky cages, made from anti-microbial moulded plastic, that come in a wide range of zooty designs. They come fitted with fun accessories, and extra items can be purchased to add to the cage at will. Lets take a look at some of the options in this range.

Critter Trail Dazzle

The Critter Trail Dazzle is for the discerning glitterati critter, and is a fantastic choice for young girls. This dazzling purple glitter cage offers bling-bling for your critter. They cage itself is well ventilated, with a deep bottom tray to hold pet litter and prevent spillage. The main feature is the removable orbiting wheel, which sparkles as it turns – a real eye-catcher indeed. The cage comes fitted with plastic climbing tubes, and a tunnel leading up to a petting zone. While this is a really snazzy cage, the downside is that it is not that practical when it comes to cleaning – but beauty comes with a price and there are some who may find this a small irritation considering its stylish good looks.

Critter Trail X

The Critter Trail X offers a fun filled activity centre for your critter. The striking combination of purple moulded plastic together with lime green accessories makes this a funky cage suitable for both boys and girls - and their critters of course. It has a spiral staircase/slide leading to an exterior glow-in-the-dark exercise wheel, which moves on its axis as it rotates – very cool. Another feature of this cage is the extractable petting zone, which also comes in handy to contain your hamster when you are cleaning his cage. The wheel can be a bit noisy if the hamster takes his food or bedding into it, making it rattle and hum, but this is a common problem with closed wheel accessories, and it can be easily fixed by taking it apart for a good clean out.

Critter Trail Z

Z for zooty, Z for zoom, the Critter Trail Z offers both style and a fast paced lifestyle for your critter. It comes in stylish contrasting shades of blue, purple and green and offers some nifty features. The most striking feature is the removable glow-in-the-dark exercise ball, accessed by funnels, providing your critter with ample work out opportunities – it can even be removed for him to run around safely on the floor! The cage is also fitted with a petting zone, where your little furry friend can catch some zzzz's after all that exercise.

All Critter Trail cages come fitted with a water bottle and a colour coordinated food bowl. There are many accessories that can be purchased as add-ons to expand your critters abode, you can even join two or more critter trail habitats together to form a humongous hamster habitat! As hamster cages go, the Critter Trail habitats are rather on the pricy side, but will be worth the outlay when you see the delight on your child's face, so start saving now, and place your order with Santa soon :)