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Cocker Spaniel Dew Claws

Dew claws are the Cocker Spaniel's fifth 'toes' and are situated above the paw on the inside of the dog's front legs.

As the Cocker Spaniel's legs are heavily feathered, this can often mean that the dew claw is easily overlooked and allowed to grow long.

Additionally, they don't reach the ground - so there's no friction from pavements to wear them down.

If they're not regularly manicured, the claw begins to curl back into the leg and can sometimes cut into the dog's flesh.

Dew Claw Removal

The Cocker Spaniel's dew claw has no real function and many breeders have them removed when their puppies are young - usually between 2 and 5 days.

General anesthesia is not normally required, but the vet may decide to use either a local anesthetic or a mild sedative.

As the Cocker Spaniel loves to be outdoors - running through fields and tunnelling through scrub and the undergrowth - dew claws are frequently caught on brambles, twigs, or other vegetation, causing considerable damage to the claw.

Removal of the claw is purely a personal decision and may depend upon whether your dog is walked in a suburban environment or if he's free to run in fields and plough through hedgerows.

It's worth noting, however, that snagging a dew claw is not limited to visits to the countryside; they may also snag on furniture or rugs, and on vegetation in the garden.

Sometimes snagged claws may only bleed a little and may go unnoticed; other times they may be torn, or ripped off completely.

If the claw is not too badly torn, and you prefer to treat it yourself, we recommend you muzzle your dog before you begin doing so - even if he's normally a calm, gentle dog.

Where the claw is badly torn, we recommend you take your dog to the vet - he may be able to save it or he may recommend removal.

If your Cocker Spaniel's claws are frequently damaged and cause him problems, we recommend you consider having them removed - otherwise, leave well alone.

If removal is necessary, and your dog is to be spayed or castrated, or is to undergo other surgery, it would be a good idea to have his claws removed at the same time - this way, it's less traumatic for your dog.

Trimming Your Cocker Spaniel's Claws

If you take the decision not to remove these claws, they will need to be trimmed regularly to avoid them growing too long. We recommend that you trim them at the same time you trim your Cocker Spaniel's nails.

Ensure you have the necessary items ready to hand before you begin.

You'll need a pair of dog nail clippers, a styptic pen or loose powder, (you can also use cornflour) and a sterile bandage.

Follow our guide below:

Place your dog either on a table or on the floor, on his side.

Stroke him gently and tell him he's a good boy.

Place your weight (gently) across his shoulder and take one of his front legs in your hand.

Gently pull the claw away from the leg and, using the clippers, snip a small amount from the tip. Remember to stay clear of the quick otherwise you may cause your dog considerable pain.

If you do cut into the quick, it will bleed for around 5 minutes. You can usually stop the bleeding by using the styptic pen or powder; however, if it continues to bleed for any longer than 10 minutes, take your dog to see the vet immediately.

When the bleeding stops, wrap a sterile bandage around the dew claw to stop your dog from licking it, and to assist the healing process.

It's said that the term 'Dew Claws' originated from the fact that the claws are positioned at the same height as a blade of grass and, when the dog is walked through a meadow, the claws catch the dew from the top of each blade.

I can't confirm whether or not this is true or whether it's simply an 'old wives tale' - but I like the theory!

Learn more about Cocker Spaniel dog nails and how to keep them healthy and in good shape.