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.
Foot's small digit
- digitSingle numeric character
- nailMetal fastener or keratin plate
- pawAnimal's clawed foot
- padCushioned writing surface
limb · phalanx · joint · tendon · metacarpal · carpal · knuckle · polydactyl
Domesticated barking mammal
carnivore · mammal · quadruped · predator · breed · pet · ungulate · deer
What stays after most goes
- vestigeFaint surviving trace
- rudimentaryIn simplest possible form
- atrophyWasting from disuse
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
ancestral · appendage · functionless · regression · homology · adaptation · phylogeny · descent
toe
Foot's small digit
pad · limb · phalanx · joint · tendon · metacarpal · carpal · knuckle · polydactyl · hind leg
dog
Domesticated barking mammal
feline · carnivore · mammal · quadruped · predator · breed · pet · ungulate · deer · pig
remnant
What stays after most goes
- vestigeFaint surviving trace
- rudimentaryIn simplest possible form
- atrophyWasting from disuse
evolution · ancestral · appendage · functionless · regression · homology · adaptation · phylogeny · descent · obsolete
trim
Remove unwanted edges
injury · snag · tear · overgrowth · ingrown · veterinarian · bandage · bleeding · infection · maintenance