Most dogs have dewclaws on their front legs, and it is rare to find them on their front legs (except in some breeds in which they commonly occur.) That said, the dog dewclaw (both front and hind) is a peculiar feature because the wolf, from which the dog is descended, does not typically have dewclaws. Some dogs also use their dewclaws to help them climb out of the water (if they’ve broken through the ice, for example), climb trees, or hold objects as they chew. At high speeds (especially when making a turn), or on slippery surfaces, the dewclaws provide extra traction by preventing torque, as well as provide stabilization to the carpal (wrist) joint. When dogs run, their front feet tend to bend to the extent where the front dewclaws come in contact with the ground. When a dog is standing, you may not see the function of the front dewclaw as it does not come in contact with the ground, but upon observing the dewclaw when the dog is in motion, you may see why it’s important.įive tendons attach to the front dewclaw and play a significant role when the canine is in motion. Rear and double dewclaws are rare, and they tend to only be attached to the leg by skin, which means that you can move the nail more freely. Bernards, Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, Briards, etc.) that have dewclaws on all four legs, or even double dewclaws on the rear leg. You’ll also notice that you can wiggle the dewclaw a bit (mostly forward and backward motion.) In most cases, if your dog has a front dewclaw, you’ll be able to feel the tendons that connect the nail to the foot. When you take a look at your dog’s foot, you will notice that the toes that come in contact with the ground essentially correspond to the human pinky, ring, middle, and index fingers – the dewclaws are like the thumb if found in the front foot, or the big toe if present in the back one.Īn important distinction to make when analyzing dewclaws is whether or not they are firmly attached to a dog’s paw. They are basically the big toes and thumbs of the dog anatomy of course, they are not exactly like the human structure, but they’re quite similar. In a handful of breeds, dewclaws may also be present on the hind paws. Nearly all dogs are born with a nail/claw on the inside of their front legs known as the dewclaw. This rare occurrence is referred to as polydactyly. What Does It Mean When a Dog Has Extra Toes?Ī dog is considered to have extra toes if it has more than the typical four claws on either the front or back paws. Australian Shepherds, for instance, can have an extra toe referred to as dewclaws. ![]() You will often find dogs that have more than four toes, based on the dog species, genetics, malformation, or even amputation in some cases. That said, many dogs have 18 toes, and some breeds can have up to 22 toes. Read on to discover more about dogs and the anatomy of their toes.ĭogs typically have four main toes on each paw, which makes a total of sixteen toes. ![]() Does their front paw have a fifth toe, or is it just four toes as you may have assumed? Based on different dog breeds, the answers tend to vary. ![]() Have you ever wondered how many toes your four-legged friend has? Perhaps you’ve never paid attention to your dog’s paws.
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