The Dewclaw Debate

The AKC, however, notes that, for most dogs, the appendage is "essentially an extra paw" and "serves virtually no purpose" for most dogs.

Because of that and because some dogs are prone to getting them caught or torn — which can cause a dog extreme pain and risk infection — the AKC calls dewclaw removal one of the "safe and standard animal husbandry practices designed to protect the safety and welfare of dogs."

The AKC calls for the appendages to be removed shortly after birth. In fact, many dog breeders have the surgery done in his first days of life. That means if your dog doesn't have dewclaws, they might have been removed before you even took ownership of your pup.

But other organizations strongly believe that removing dewclaws serves little purpose and causes great pain to the animal. Because of that, some — like The Kennel Club in the UK — have restrictions on when dewclaw removal can be done.

"Beyond the risk of the dewclaw getting caught on things, there is no benefit to removing them," Albuquerque Vetco says. "It can also be a painful procedure for your dog."

Vets at the New Mexico clinic recommend owners keep the nail of the appendage trimmed short to help prevent it from catching and potentially tearing. Whatever you decide to do with your dog's dewclaw, you should consider keeping all of his claws trimmed. Unlike his ancestors or canine cousins in the wild, dog claws don't serve as great of an evolutionary need as they aren't necessary for hunting prey. After all, your lovable pup would much rather you feed him a nutritious meal than have to go hunt for his own.

The debate continues, but your dog certainly doesn't know that. All he cares about — whether he has his extra claw or not — is that he surely has full grasp on your heart.