[Madeleinemom]

At least, I think that's what you call them - it's the claw that sits above the wrist on the front leg(s) ...

It appears that Esperanza (mostly Rottweiler) has injured one of her's - the nail is bent outward at a near 90 degree angle.

She is 'minding' it a bit, i.e., sporadically licking the area; her walk is normal.

Questions:

1. rush to the vet before they all shut down for the long weekend

2. bandage it

3. leave it alone?

We thank you for your advice, especially since she is not a Pit , but graciously lives with two of them.

[Galadriel]

She can create a serious ulcer if she keeps licking at it. I'd recommend taking her to the vet and having it removed. It's a very common, safe procedure and dew claws serve no real purpose. Many people have them removed when the pups are 1 or 2 weeks old to avid potential injury, like the one your girl sustained. I shouldn't think it's an emergency, but certainly take her in by early in the week.

[Marty]

Dew claws need trimming too...

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/nailtrim.htm

Can you share pics of what your talking about?

[bahamutt99]

Is it just the toenail that is injured? I would probably snip it off and bandage the paw for a few days. Don't let her lick it.

[Madeleinemom]

Thank you, Marty.

Pic(s) to follow:

[Marty]

Looks to me like it needs trimming, it might be irritating her is why shes licking it, I would try that and if not better take her to the vet on Tuesday... good luck

[Suki]

from the pic, it doesn't "appear" to be too big of an issue~is not oozing, red, puffy, etc. i'd snip it too, and if she's still "at it" you can cover it.
none of my rotts had theirs~they'd all been removed by the breeders. agreed, they serve no "real" purpose. but the need to remove them is NOT imperrative. just keep trimming them so they can't catch on things, and keep an eye on this one, for sings of an infection. looks ok tho, imo. (based on the pic).

[Madeleinemom]

Thank you, everyone.

The most amazing thing is that this morning, the claw looks perfectly fine (no longer bent like it was yesterday), and much shorter.

She has not paid any attention to it all day.

Trimming her nails scares me; all are Rottie black, and I cannot tell where the quick is.

Usually, the vet's groomer trims them for us.

I have a theory as to how this may have happened as well:

She loves to dive into our bed, head first.

Then, with much snorting and purring, she rolls around in the blanket(s).

She ends up in a big ball of blankets, and, perhaps, got that claw caught in the crochet summer blanket .

[Michele]

If you are nervous about clipping the nail, how about trying a heavy duty nail file and file it down?

[CynthiaATL]

My opinion on dewclaws is that unless it was removed by the breeder as a pup (1 - 7 days old) then there is no reason other than injury to remove. Other than injury it is all cosmetic.

When they are that young it is less painful to remove. The front dewclaws are attached by bone. So when you remove it when they are grown it is more painful. Now the back ones are usually not held on my anything but skin. To each his own.

I am glad she is feeling better. And yes blk nails are harder to clip. Next time you are at the Vet after they clip them have them show you what it looks like and what to look for to stop.