# Dew Claw episode So, we drop Ryu off at daycare/boarding on Friday, July 4th on our way to the airport. No word from them all evening/night so I'm feeling pretty positive that he's handling the fireworks pretty well. So Saturday morning comes and a message from the daycare saying "Ryu was playing this morning and r… ## Thread In Health · started by Ryu · 22 replies - **Category:** [Health](https://nihonken.org/community/c/health) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## Ryu · 2008-07-07T03:42:43.000Z So, we drop Ryu off at daycare/boarding on Friday, July 4th on our way to the airport. No word from them all evening/night so I'm feeling pretty positive that he's handling the fireworks pretty well. So Saturday morning comes and a message from the daycare saying "Ryu was playing this morning and ripped his dew claw out. We cleaned it and wrapped it in gauze with antiseptic and he's fine but will need to see the vet when you return" UGH. Of course! So, after worrying ALL weekend and not being able to see him because we're staying in a cabin on the volcano with no internet access, we finally pick him up today and take the bandage off. After unwrapping the gauze, I almost fainted when I saw his ENTIRE dew claw sitting in my hand. His leg is fine (no limping) and the area just has some dried blood but no swelling. We're letting the area air out some before re-wrapping it tonight with some more antiseptic ointment. We have a vet appt on Tuesday afternoon but will try to get a walk-in spot tomorrow morning. Anyone experience this and/or have some advice? I swear, you'd think we were terrible parents with all the problems we have!! I promise, we really do take good care of him! :-( ## diggah · 2008-07-07T04:24:18.000Z Sorry to hear it. If it's any consolation, just think how bad the lava fields would have torn up his paws had you brought him with. ## Leonberger (admin) · 2008-07-07T06:46:55.000Z It hurt me to read it, ouch! Sorry to read, and I'm glad he's ok and doesn't limp. If the area looks clean, he should be ok, but the vet will assess that better than anyone. ## JessicaRabbit (admin) · 2008-07-07T08:21:55.000Z I would have fainted. You are not bad parents. Accidents happen. Moto's previous parents had his removed! To this day he gets scared when people touch his paws. He finally will let me. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-07-07T09:26:48.000Z ouch!! Poor Ryu! my mom's dog is 14 years old, and has 16 claws on her 4 paws. It happens! Its not pleasant, but it does happen. Thank God there were never any infections.. that can get bad. But not intentionally, geez, JessicaRabbit, I see people's puppy ads with "declaws removed" all the time. Sick. and selfish. ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-07-07T10:12:08.000Z Do what you can to get in on Monday. Dew claw infections can get very serious, not trying to scare you or anything, just trying to let you know. How does something that happened to Ryu when you weren't around make you a bad parent? Young Shibas are active, crazy, rough dogs. Cuts, bumps, and injuries tend to happen with some frequency. ## _dlroberts · 2008-07-07T11:58:53.000Z Awww, poor Ryu. And poor you guys having to worry all weekend. :-( I'm a little surprised the daycare place didn't take him to the vet. It sounds a little more serious than a simple cut or scrape. Aren't they supposed to act on your behalf while you are away? ## sujewel · 2008-07-07T12:25:43.000Z Poor Baby. Now you know, sedatives for next years. Some dogs just can't take it. I was super worried about Mika at the pet hotel, but the place is well soundproofed and she didn't hear a thing. ## zoiegirl · 2008-07-07T12:41:43.000Z It happens... poor guy hope he feels better ## Romi (admin) · 2008-07-07T15:05:49.000Z Ouch! Poor Ryu! I hope everything is ok with him and he recovers well. Ninja's breeder had his dew claws removed when he was a pup. He doesn't mind having his paws touched, he probably did it at a very young age so he doesn't remember? ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-07-07T16:56:48.000Z are there any health benefits in doing that? ## okiron · 2008-07-07T19:02:00.000Z Aww poor baby. I hope it doesn't get infected :( ## okiron · 2008-07-07T19:03:58.000Z As for health "benefits" the 2 I've heard of is like in Ryu's case it could rip off during play or it could grow into the leg. Ryu is the first dog I've encountered first hand of it ripping off and clipping their nails will keep it from growing into the leg. So..no, no real benefits besides making the leg look "neater". ## ayako · 2008-07-07T22:48:19.000Z aghh...sorry to hear about Ryu, but he must have been happy you guys were back. ## Ryu · 2008-07-08T01:47:30.000Z hey guys - sorry for the late reply. We're still entertaining our in-laws so forum participation has been pretty low. We stayed home with Ryu today and watched him like a hawk. The vet couldn't get us in today but we still have our appt tomorrow. His leg is looking really good - no swelling, no bleeding and from what I can see, there isn't any sign of infection. We'll know more tomorrow. He's acting completely normal so that's a good sign! :) As for his holiday weekend, he was pretty spoiled. He got to sleep on the owner's bed during the night and was cuddled all day. I'll keep ya'll updated! Thanks for the well wishes :-) ## Romi (admin) · 2008-07-08T02:20:07.000Z Great news! I hope all goes well at the vet tomorrow! Ryu is quite the little trooper! Im glad he's acting normal and doesn't seem to be bothered by it! ## _dlroberts · 2008-07-09T14:01:17.000Z That is good news. I hope his visit goes just as good today! :-) ## Ryu · 2008-07-09T17:48:52.000Z Thanks Romi and Dave! All went well at the vet - it was a tad inflamed and now he's on some antibiotics to prevent infection. When the vet tech was trying to take his temperature, Ryu put on the biggest show. I mean a GRAND production of screaming, thrashing about, the whole she-bang and she hadn't even tried to put it in yet!! When she finally put the thermometer in, he just sat there calmly like "Ah well, if you can't beat them, join em". Then when the doc came him, I told him "You may have to muzzle him because he won't let us get near his wound site so I don't know how he'll react with you" What do you know, the darn dog sat there like a saint and didn't so much as twitch as the doctor inspected his leg! Never a dull moment raising a Shiba, I tell ya. Here's Ryu saying "Na-na-boo-boo. I didn't hurt my leg, I just did this so I can get sausage with my pills" ## Harlow · 2008-07-09T18:32:02.000Z Glad to hear that everything went well. Poor Ryu, but such typical Shiba behavior! ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2008-07-09T20:08:23.000Z what a charming little devil! Glad to hear things went well. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-07-09T21:21:12.000Z LOL! silly Ryu, I'm thrilled that everything went well! ## _dlroberts · 2008-07-09T21:53:08.000Z Hahaha. I love Ryu! I'm glad all went well and he's in good spirits. Its especially nice that he's no longer wearing that hideous orange collar. :-P ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-07-10T10:26:28.000Z Glad to hear he is doing so well. Love the picture up there. Taking a dogs temperature....That never goes well around these parts. We just don't do it anymore, it causes unnecessary stress/freak out. --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)