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They are used to help hold bones etc. while eating. Some dogs with larger dewclaws use them for better balance when running. Some dogs do not use them at all. It depends on the size of the dog and breed.

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16y ago
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14y ago

A normal cat has four toes on its paw and an extra toe up higher than the other toes just like a human thumb, which is known as the "dew claw". Dogs as well as cats have dew claws and are usually used for gripping or holding down objects or prey.

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13y ago

Dew claws are the tiny fifth digit (toe) on the side of a Dog's leg. They are often removed at birth but can appear on both the front and back legs. As a general rule, all Dogs are born with at least two dew claws - one on each foreleg. Breeds such as the Great Pyrenees, Beauceron, Briard and Lundehund have double dew claws on their back legs, giving them six altogether. The dew claws have no function and often get caught, become ingrown or tear, which is why many breeders choose to have them removed from the puppies.

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13y ago

The dew claw is a primitive digit that doesn't actually serve any purpose. Many breeders have them removed so that they do not become ingrowing or snag when the dog is older.

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13y ago

A dew claw is the claw above a dog or cats ankle. An ankle is above the paw.

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13y ago

The dew claw is a primitive digit that doesn't actually serve any purpose. Many breeders have them removed so that they do not become ingrowing or snag when the dog is older.

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Q: What is a dew claw on a cat?
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Related questions

What breed of cat has thumbs?

Every cat has "thumbs", or a fifth claw. This is called the Dew Claw and is found on the inside of a cat's front legs near the wrist joint. These are used for gripping things such as toys, prey and for climbing. Polydactyl cats may have several Dew Claws.


What is a dog's fifth claw called?

It's called the dew claw.


How many toes does a cat have on its front paw?

Cats have five toes on their front paw; four of the toes are used for locomotion, and the dew claw, which is found further up on the leg, near the wrist joint. The dew claw is primarily used for gripping and holding things such as climbing or holding prey.


Which digit is the dew claw?

Digit 1


Will a dew claw grow back?

This is possible if the dew claw was not removed properly. In this case it will more than likely be deformed and may need to be removed by a vet.


Will a dew claw nail grow back?

This is possible if the dew claw was not removed properly. In this case it will more than likely be deformed and may need to be removed by a vet.


How many fingers are on dog paws?

4 and then there dew claw


What does dew claws removed mean?

Dogs have a small, primitive digit (fifth toe) on the inside of their front legs. This is called a dew claw. As the dog does not need it, many breeders pay for a vet to remove it, hence dew claw removal.


What are the physical characteristics of cat's claw?

Cat's claw is a large woody vine with curved thorns on the vine that resemble the claws of a cat.


What if your Dalmatian has sore dew claw How do you treat it?

clean it out and wrap it with goss


Does a cat claw help it to climb?

Yes, the cat's claw helps it climb by digging into the object it is climbing.


How many claws does the lion have?

Lions have five toes on the front paws and four on the back paws. In between each toe is a claw. The "thumb", though, has a dew claw which is more curved and often is off the ground. (Even domesticated house cats have a dew claw on each "thumb" on their front paws.) The back paws do not have dew claws.