Why Do Dogs Have Dewclaws? Should They Be Removed?

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You may have noticed a small rudimentary toe that does not reach the ground on the inside of your dog's foot.

Do you ever wonder why do dogs have dewclaws? Read on to learn more about the dewclaws, which breeds have dewclaws, and if you should have them removed!

Ever noticed the dog's front legs closely? Although the feet and claws of dogs differ from one breed to another, they share several similarities too. You may notice that while some breeds of dogs have four nails, others have five nails on each front leg. Often the fifth nail on the feet of the dog is referred to as the extra nail. It is commonly noticed either on the upper inner part of the dog's foot. The extra nail is called the dewclaw. It is known to grow higher on the front leg and hardly makes any contact with the ground.