Bear Bones Labradors

25/08/2024

Trivia

24/08/2024

Bridget has become a very good swimmer 😁

24/08/2024

Missy had fun in the river 😍

24/08/2024

Wren out Gretel and Snoop

24/08/2024

Emma is staying with us and we plan on breeding her soon.

23/08/2024

Juniper liked peaches 🍑

23/08/2024

Gracie went to the groomer and they put a pretty pink bow in her hair 🙂

23/08/2024

Olive in Alaska 💕

21/08/2024

This time both Zuzu and Bonnie got to go to the Big Sky Horse Park with Solovey 😍

21/08/2024

Martha loves socks and water sports 🤣

20/08/2024

Zuzu's friend Atlas looks like he should be her bodyguard💪💪

19/08/2024

Luna ultrasound confirmed pregnancy but also know nda looked like Jaba the Hut 🤣

19/08/2024

Daisy was born in my car and so she was named "Driving Miss Daisy" 😍

19/08/2024

Zuzu fashion

19/08/2024

Wren is with us for the week. She's having fun already 💗

18/08/2024

18/08/2024

Oliver in Colorado is adorable 🤩

17/08/2024

Junie has a guitar named after her 💖

16/08/2024

Bonnie and Solovey at Big Sky Horse Park

16/08/2024

Dewclaws! They are IMPORTANT! Many dog breeders routinely, and without much thought, amputate puppies' front dewclaws when the pups are 3-5 days of age. Why? The thought is to prevent potential injuries, such as tears of the digit, later in life. BUT do you realize that the dewclaw is a FUNCTIONAL, IMPORTANT digit? I am thankful that my own dog's breeder did not amputate Dunkin's front dewclaws. Do you also know that with appropriate exercises, the muscles of the dewclaw can be strengthened to help promote and maintain appropriate function and close apposition of the dewclaw to the side of the paw? Below is an article by a friend and colleague, Dr. Chris Zink, that explains the importance, anatomy, and function of the front dewclaw.

"Do the Dew(claws)?
by Chris Zink, DVM PhD DACVSMR

As a veterinary sports medicine specialist, I work extensively with canine athletes, developing rehabilitation programs for injured dogs or dogs that required surgery due to performance-related injuries. I have seen many dogs, especially field trial/hunt test and agility dogs, that have chronic carpal arthritis, frequently so severe that they must be retired or at least carefully managed for the rest of their careers. I noticed that very few of those dogs had dewclaws and began to wonder whether these appendages might, in fact, protect a dog from injuries. What I learned might surprise you.

The Anatomy of Dewclaws
Miller's Guide to the Anatomy of the Dog, a veterinary anatomy text, has an excellent figure depicting the muscular anatomy of the distal forelimb. There are 2 functional muscles, the extensor pollicis longus et indicis proprius and flexor digitorum profundus, which are attached to the front dewclaw by 4 tendons (references in blog). Each of those muscle/tendon units has a different function in movement. That means that if you cut off the dew claws, you are preventing the muscles that were attached to the dewclaws from functioning.

In contrast, rear limb dewclaws do not have muscle/tendon attachments, so their removal might be appropriate, except in the breeds such as Briards and Beauceron in which they should be retained.

Dewclaws Do Have Functions
If there are muscles and tendons attached to the dewclaws, then they most likely have a function. Broadly speaking, dewclaws have at least two different functions:
1. Grasp the ground when the dog is turning to prevent torque on the forelimb. Each time the front foot lands on the ground, particularly when the dog is cantering or galloping (see Figure 2), the dewclaw is in touch with the ground. If the dog then needs to turn, the dewclaw actively digs into the ground to stabilize the lower leg and prevent torque. In Figure 3 you can clearly see the dewclaw of a Corgi herding a sheep extended, ready to grip the ground. And in the image at the top of this article, you can see the dewclaws of a dog extended, ready to grip the water!

Do the Dew(claws)?

If a dog doesn't have dewclaws, the leg will twist on its axis, creating increased pressure on the carpal bones, as well as the elbow, shoulder and toes. A lifetime of this kind of torque and the result can be carpal arthritis or injuries to and subsequent arthritis in other joints of the forelimb, such as the elbow, shoulder, and toes. Remember, the dog is participating in the activity regardless, so there will be concussive pressures on the leg, and if the dewclaw does not help to stabilize the leg, those pressures will be transmitted to other areas of the leg, especially the joints.

2. Grip objects. We have all seen dogs using their dewclaws to grip an object such as a ball or bone (Figure 4). I've even seen many photos of agility dogs gripping the teeter for stability (Figure 5). But did you know that the dewclaws' gripping ability can, in fact, save your dog's life? Check out the video "Dewclaws Do Have a Purpose" for "gripping" views of dogs attempting to get out of water onto ice without the help of those ice picks on the inside of their legs. The video also shows dogs using their dewclaws to grip the ice and escape from a potentially fatal situation. I have known several dogs that drowned after falling through ice in the winter. None of them had dewclaws. If they had, perhaps they would have survived and spared their owners the incredible heartache of watching their dogs die unnecessarily.

Arguments for Removing Dewclaws
1. The dewclaws will get injured. This is the most common reason I hear for removing dewclaws. A friend of mine had such a severe dewclaw injury in one of her dogs that she swore she would remove them on all the dogs she bred subsequently.

But the data indicate that dewclaws are not injured very often. A study published in 2018 showed that the dewclaw was the LEAST likely toe to be injured in agility dogs, in which landing and turning from jumps and other obstacles put the toes at risk for injuries. Thus, it makes no sense to remove the dewclaws because of risk of injury. And, of course, no one would consider removing the 5th digits in the front feet, which are by far the most commonly injured toe.

2. Owners forget to trim the dewclaws. Surely this is a matter of education. Do we really want to remove a functioning digit in all dogs, just because some owners need to be reminded that they must remember to trim the dewclaws?

3. Dewclaws make the forelimb look less straight when viewed from the front in conformation. The AKC states: "The breed standard describes the characteristics of the ideal
dog to perform the function for which it was bred." While we could have long discussions about the veracity of this statement, it is interesting to note that there are VERY few breed standards that require dewclaw removal. I know of only one - the Vizsla breed standard.

A Plea
So, here's a plea to retain dogs' dewclaws. They are a functioning digit. They are the toe least likely to be injured. Isn't this enough to convince us not to do the dewclaws?"

14/08/2024

Thank you Christine for this brilliant gift 🤩

14/08/2024

Jinxy out of Indiana x Quigley 🤩

13/08/2024

Mountain Breeze Labradors has males and females available 🤩

12/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/FnzwdDoU2bvq2JNM/?mibextid=xfxF2i

12/08/2024

Adding some pictures to the Zuzu gallery

11/08/2024

We appreciate those of you that left us reviews 💗

★★★★★ "Mary at Bear Bones Labradors is hands down just an amazing woman! We got our first lab from her last year. Our Indie is a female yellow lab with gorgeous eyes and a hilarious demeanor. She was a great fit for our older dog that needed a buddy. We were so happy with the first lab, we...

11/08/2024

Goose is growing up 💗

09/08/2024

Hank exhausted after celebrating his 2nd birthday!!🤣🥳

08/08/2024

Zuzu had fun walking with Ferguson

08/08/2024

Not against altering but against misinformation