Content
- Common breeds that have 5 fingers
- fifth finger problems
- What to do if our dog has 5 toes on his hind paw
Have you ever wondered how many fingers a dog has? Maybe you don't know this accurately. Puppies have 5 toes on their front legs and 4 on their hind legs.
However, and this is a peculiarity, we can find in certain races the genetic malformation of having 5 toes on hind legs. Don't be worried if this is the case for your furry friend, as we will share with you all the necessary information so that you know what this hereditary disease is due to and what to do.
Keep reading this PeritoAnimal article and find out because your dog has 5 toes on his hind legs, in addition to checking pictures of dog paws so you can identify the so-called spur. Good reading!
Common breeds that have 5 fingers
You already know how many fingers a dog has. We can find the fifth toe on dogs' hind legs in the genetics of a series of concrete races with reasons for adaptation to the environment are also very specific. It is called the spur or ergo.
Both the Mastiff and São Bernardo breeds can present this peculiarity: they have their origins in the mountains and extreme places, where a good step is essential. It is believed that this claw that we can see on the hind legs can be used to give them greater support. Although actually this fifth toe on its hind legs is different from the rest and weaker as it offers less support than the others.
Although in some cases we can give genetic explanations, there are more breeds of dogs in which we can find the fifth toe and, in these, it is considered an authentic malformation, a genetic flaw in the breed that must be removed if it is a puppy.. But beware, this should be recommended by the veterinarian.
The German Shepherd, the Rottweiler and even small breeds like the Yorkshire and the Poodle can have this extra toe on their hind legs.
fifth finger problems
The problem with the fifth toe or dewclaw is that it is not attached to the paw in the same way as the remaining hind toes are. On the fifth finger there is only a union through skin and muscle, there is no bone. This can provoke possible health problems:
- Since there is no bone to hold the fifth finger, it can break off in many ways that can cause pain in the dog.
- The extra fingernail, not reaching the ground, does not wear out as often as the others and does not file with each step. This causes growth above what it should and in a circular shape, which can end up hurting the dog's skin. This can cause the dog to lame, in addition to pain and, in extreme cases, possible amputation of the paw. If you cannot perform the amputation with a professional, don't try to do this at home. What's up to you is to make sure you cut that finger nail regularly and observe it to see if it's leading to a problem with serious consequences.
If our dog, due to its qualities, is a possible contest candidate, it is important to know how many fingers a dog has before entering this dog contest, because:
- With the exception of Mastiff and São Bernardo, the registration societies do not admit and prohibit the registration of the dog with the fifth finger.
- It is advisable to amputate that extra finger, as it is useless.
What to do if our dog has 5 toes on his hind paw
when the dog is still Cub It is recommended to consult your veterinarian as soon as you detect this fifth toe to remove it from your hindpaw as soon as possible. This will avoid problems and be less traumatic for him.
- This is a simple surgery.
- It lasts approximately 10 minutes.
- It's not a painful surgery.
in dogs with more than 6 months surgery is not mandatory. If we don't see obvious annoyances and have decided not to operate, we must be aware of the evolution of the fifth finger. But if it is harming you, we should consult the veterinarian, although:
- Post-operative recovery is slower.
- He'll try to scratch and lick himself, so he'll have to wear an Elizabethan collar to keep him from licking the wound.
- You will walk strangely.
Finally, we advise all tutors to be especially careful and watch and take care of your dog so that the problem does not have serious and painful consequences. Keeping an attentive attitude and consulting the veterinarian whenever necessary will make your dog have a better quality of life. All of this will contribute to a healthy and happy dog!
If you have a cat, read our article on how many fingers a cat has!
And in the video below you can learn how to cut a dog's nail:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why does my dog have 5 toes on his hind legs, we recommend that you enter our Hereditary Diseases section.