Is a chihuahua supposed to have five toes on its back feet?

Answer by  kushi917 (22)

I heard the fifth toe isn't functional and that they're only supposed to have four toes. The fifth toe is supposedly equivalent to a sixth toe in humans. In both cases, the extra digit can be surgically removed.

Answer by  Molae06 (1467)

Yes, this is completely normal, although some only have four. Some breeders sell puppies and kittens with extra toes for more money than the ones without. It isn't a defect but just something that happens to about 25 percent of dogs and cats. It doesn't cause the animal pain, so it is nothing to worry about.

Answer by  dogfancier (201)

Dogs are supposed to have four toes on their back feet, however, some dogs (and cats) can be born with an extra toe, just as humans can be.

Answer by  patti (29325)

The fifth toe, which is the first digit, is actually the dewclaw. On some dogs it is removed shortly after birth; on other dogs the dewclaw has virtually disappeared. The dewclaw would be like a thumb on a human hand, but since dogs do not have opposable thumbs, the dewclaw has no purpose and is disappearing.

Answer by  Roland27 (16334)

Nope. Your dog is what science calls a polydactyl. Most dogs have five toes on the front and four on the back.

Answer by  SashaDarkCloud (5764)

Depends on where the 5th toe is. If it is right next to the 4 toes on the paw then no. If it is a little further up on the leg than that is a dew claw, and many dogs of various breeds are starting to have that more.

Answer by  champaign9497 (11977)

That all depends if you are counting the dew claw. You can check up on it by doing and internet search on the particular breed of dog. You will get tons of good information there.

Answer by  salina (943)

Depending on the breed it sounds like it is a dewclaws that you are talking about. It may be that the your chihuahua has a dew claws in the back feet. If you want it can be removed. It does not hurt the dog to have the dew claws in. If you do remove its best as a puppy.

Answer by  katharine (3981)

Dogs usually have four toes on each foot, but occasionally dogs have dewclaws on their back feet, which might look like a fifth toe.

Answer by  Bob53 (414)

On the back feet, a chihuahua will have four "normal" toes and the dew claw. Unless removed at a young age, the chihuahua does indeed have five toes.

Answer by  MsLizziebug (833)

Many dogs have rear dewclaws. They are often removed when the front dewclaws are removed. Make sure you keep the mails trimmed so they don't get snagged on anything.