Salice McD
Jr Member
Yes!! I was about to post the same thing. How odd.
I need to try that side-to-side trick!
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I need to try that side-to-side trick!
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It's a Dobie thing!
- Thread starter Gretchen_Red
- Start date
This was Albert's back nail that split the other day, which I assume was from the icy ground and snow. I've never seen it happen before, but I suppose he got a little chip in the one nail that kept catching on stuff and going from there. Nothing like an up close and personal view of the quick. FWIW his other nails aren't like this and that little piece hanging off is gone now.
I suppose this is going OT so I should have put it in it's own thread.
I suppose this is going OT so I should have put it in it's own thread.
Ouch !!!! Poor guy ! That must have hurt !
Prushanks
Hot Topics Subscriber
Oh poor boy!!! Tank just had one on his dew claw couple weeks ago too! Its a pain in the ass!! [or nail as it were!] We saw that a lot at the vet, especially with the large active breeds, and it's happend a couple times to Tank. They lick it like crazy! Usually we soak it in dilluted chlorhexi or Betadine, let it dry well and put an AB powder on it before bandaging. Reality is the bandages last all of 90 seconds and really aren't that helpful except giving them a new chew-thing!! It will eventually dry and harden up on its own... though with the constant licking it can take a while. In a pinch if you have AB/Steroid spray such as Betagen [usually used for hot spots and such] you can spritz it BID to help with infection and inflammation as long as they dont lick it off. It may sting at first spritz due to the alcohol in it but it will feel better. The spray will also help with the lick granuloma developing there too. Hope it gets better soon!!!
Thanks for the advice. One thing I will say is that Albert is very good about keeping bandages on so it helps. He had been licking it, but I don't think he is anymore and it is looking much better already.
Salice McD
Jr Member
Isn't it odd for the dewclaws not to be removed soon after birth, as they can pose such problems? (Maybe not in the case of dogs to be shown; I wouldn't know.) One of my dogs, a pretty psycho adopted Rottie, kept ripping at his - he had *one*, who knows why! - and my vet suggested removing it - he was 2 1/2 - as it's a minor procedure (for non-VW dogs, of course.) It sure seemed to be, as it was very brief, and the site didn't bother him in the least. Have any of you considered this?
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If it's that minor, yes I am now considering it! I was planning on asking my vet when mischa turns 2 and I schedule her spay.
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Salice McD
Jr Member
If it can be done at the same time, I think that's probably best; the less anesthesia the better? I hope it works out, and she's spared any more pain from them!
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From what I understand it is a minor procedure even as adults. Of course it's easier on little puppies, but I've seen lots of adults have it done with no problem.
My friends Doberman Demelza has them since she came from Serbia and they do plan to have them removed. @Drogon does Drogon still have his?
We had one dog with dews and they were a pain, not to mention it was hard to remember to clip them since she was a long haired dog so you couldn't see them.
My friends Doberman Demelza has them since she came from Serbia and they do plan to have them removed. @Drogon does Drogon still have his?
We had one dog with dews and they were a pain, not to mention it was hard to remember to clip them since she was a long haired dog so you couldn't see them.
TheDoctor'sMom
Hot Topics Subscriber
This is good to hear! One of TD's wasn't fully removed and I want to have it corrected.
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Prushanks
Hot Topics Subscriber
Hi! Some breeds have them removed some don't, some aren't even born with them. Dew Claws are kind of like our coccyx.. evolutionary leftovers so to speak.. really serving no purpose anymore other than like @Drogon mentioned, for those with stronger/larger boned Dews, to hold on to chew things. The ones that have dew claws may or may not have an associated bone. As far as the procedure, it is super simple and quick especially if has no bone. The ones with a bone, have an extra step, and the procedure is similar to that of declawing a cat.. though with dew claw an actual incision is made. The bone is disarticulated, the skin/nail piece removed and sutured shut.
It's unnecessary to remove them unless as you mentioned, the dog is fussing over it and causing it to be a problem. It would be worth doing [and potentially more cost effective] if it is a continuing problem.
kdsweet41
Active Member
Ohh I can't wait to read through all of these when I have time. They are definitely unique characters! LOL
My favorite most recent "Ernie-ism" is he will literally wrap a toy in a throw blanket and chew on the toy through the blanket. When he was a puppy he sucked on blankets but then he started also chewing on them so blankets are off limits. So I'll look over & he's strategically wrapped up his toy in the blanket.
so then i have to reach over and unwrap them .. fun times with a Doberman 
My favorite most recent "Ernie-ism" is he will literally wrap a toy in a throw blanket and chew on the toy through the blanket. When he was a puppy he sucked on blankets but then he started also chewing on them so blankets are off limits. So I'll look over & he's strategically wrapped up his toy in the blanket.
so then i have to reach over and unwrap them .. fun times with a Doberman 
Yes, I've seen the wrap your toy in a blanket thingOhh I can't wait to read through all of these when I have time. They are definitely unique characters! LOL
My favorite most recent "Ernie-ism" is he will literally wrap a toy in a throw blanket and chew on the toy through the blanket. When he was a puppy he sucked on blankets but then he started also chewing on them so blankets are off limits. So I'll look over & he's strategically wrapped up his toy in the blanket.
Salice McD
Jr Member
Do your Dobes "blow their coats," as I once heard it called - suddenly shed lots of hair - at the vet's, groomer's, or in other stressful - or exciting - situations?
Of all the dogs I've had, only three have done this, two of them Dobes. It has to do - let's see IIRC - with their (skin) tensing up/contracting from excitement and/or anxiety. They then relax - say, after calming down in the vet's waiting room - which for some dogs results in loosened hair shafts; I assume due to how much they physically tensed up. Then you go into the exam room, one of their favorite people in the world!!! comes in, excitement again, skin tenses up again and *shoots* out what can be quite a number of hairs! Not enough to be noticeable on the dog, but Ilse used to leave a carpet behind! My other Dobe who did this was Sergio, who was a blue, so that was a little more understandable. (The third dog was Ursula, my English Mastiff.)
Maybe it's just a "some dogs" thing; I don't recall my vet mentioning its being a breed characteristic. Just curious.
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Of all the dogs I've had, only three have done this, two of them Dobes. It has to do - let's see IIRC - with their (skin) tensing up/contracting from excitement and/or anxiety. They then relax - say, after calming down in the vet's waiting room - which for some dogs results in loosened hair shafts; I assume due to how much they physically tensed up. Then you go into the exam room, one of their favorite people in the world!!! comes in, excitement again, skin tenses up again and *shoots* out what can be quite a number of hairs! Not enough to be noticeable on the dog, but Ilse used to leave a carpet behind! My other Dobe who did this was Sergio, who was a blue, so that was a little more understandable. (The third dog was Ursula, my English Mastiff.)
Maybe it's just a "some dogs" thing; I don't recall my vet mentioning its being a breed characteristic. Just curious.
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Our dogs haven't really blown their coats, but I've heard stress can do it. I have found a large pile of hair on the floor after trying to do Della's nails back when she was still fighting me every step of the way. I've also seen them really dander up when they're really stressed, like at the vet or something they're not real familiar with.
Salice McD
Jr Member
"Blow" and "shoot" are actually colorful exaggerations. It was one of my (college) students who worked at a vet's office who described this to me. "Shed" and "squeeze" (the hair out) are more accurate terms; I never saw any hair spurting out of Ilse at the vet's, which I somewhat expected after the visual this guy created! Thankfully, it was "good" stress in her case, as she loved going to see Dr. R. (As "good" as stress can be, that is; i.e., excitement, and the shedding tapered off considerably over time.)
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My current Doberman loses a surprising amount of hair when stressed by being crated. He may lose hair when stressed in other situations, but it's when he's crated that it is evident, because it all gets collected in and around the crate. Fortunately he is pretty good about being crated these days – at least at home.
Stress-induced dandruff I've seen in all three Dobes I've owned.
Salice McD
Jr Member
So that's what it was! I noticed significant dandruff on two of mine years ago when I took them to unfamiliar vets - specialists - a couple of times each. I never connected it with stress, I was just a little embarrassed, hoping the vet wouldn't think I didn't properly bathe and brush them, and puzzled, as I'd done so not too long before these visits. (Then it cleared up and I pretty much forgot about it.) Definitely just the two Dobes with that issue, none of my other dogs. (Sensitive souls!)
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