Dewclaw Day

 We routinely take what is called the "Dewclaw", but in reality is the thumb of the fore-paw, off surgically very early in every litter for the purpose make lives, yours mine, and the puppy's, easier. Ann does the dirty deed because, though I am a tough but compassionate guy, I simply have a hard time watching the process. I usually hold each puppy with my eyes closed  and that is enough involvment for me. Today was the day, but somehow I got out of it this time.

While I went for supplies, mostly the junk food we eat during the long hours of vigilence when the babies are very young, Ann called my little brother in to hold babies and I came home to a peaceful house. Hurray for me!

The dewclaw is something of a problem for dogs. Sort of a spur for breeding males it gets caught on things and torn, or simply makes trimming the nail more important and impossible. Since Bassets are huggers and wrap their fore-legs around you in different ways, the dewclaws can make the hugging less fun too. So taking them off makes sence, especially when the babies are only a few days old and recover in a few seconds. Ann does the deed and before you can carry them back to the Whelping Pen the bleeding is stopped and the puppy has no pain at all. The result is very nice.

In every litter we have at least one that grows back, but it usually grows in stunted and isn't really as much of an issue. I call out the one resurgent dewclaw in the evaluations so that everyone knows about it, but a botched dewclaw will be noticed by all when it happens. 

All in all, this is a positve thing but,  I HATE it when it happens and am grateful for being left out of it this go around.