dew claw

Dog's extra toe

A dew claw is a small, vestigial digit on the inner side of a dog's leg, positioned higher than the other toes and not touching the ground during normal walking.

Most dogs have them on their front legs; some breeds have them on rear legs as well.

Dew claws are sometimes removed to prevent injury, though the practice is controversial.

anatomy

toe

Foot's small digit

  • digitSingle numeric character
  • nailMetal fastener or keratin plate
  • pawAnimal's clawed foot

pad · limb · phalanx · joint · tendon · metacarpal · carpal · knuckle · polydactyl · hind leg

animals

dog

Domesticated barking mammal

feline · carnivore · mammal · quadruped · predator · breed · pet · ungulate · deer · pig

vestigial

remnant

What stays after most goes

evolution · ancestral · appendage · functionless · regression · homology · adaptation · phylogeny · descent · obsolete

grooming

trim

Remove unwanted edges

injury · snag · tear · overgrowth · ingrown · veterinarian · bandage · bleeding · infection · maintenance

Opposites
functional utility

dew clawopposable thumb

Digit that meets fingertips

Family

dew, claw, dews, dewy, claws, clawed, clawing

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G