My dog has a toe that pierces his skin in the back area. I’ve noticed other dogs and they don’t have the same thing. Most of them have only four while he has 5 fingers. Could it be some kind of birth defect?
Most dogs now only have four toes, but it’s true from time to time that someone is born with a fifth toe. It is actually a kind of spur that hangs from them and is of no use. It is a remnant of the evolution of these animals throughout history. The problem with these spurs is that they have a nail and don’t usually have any wear because they don’t touch the ground, many will eventually dig in, causing injury. After all, you have to think of it as a paw. To prevent this, we must constantly take care of it, maintain it permanently, and cut it so that it is always limited in terms of growth. However, it is not always easy to see this in long-haired and, above all, curly-haired dogs. Therefore, during daily brushing, it is quite common for us to snag the nail in question and injure the animal if we do not take special care. To avoid this, it is best to always keep that area with short hair and handle that area with special care during grooming.