Although it is not necessary to have them removed, it is important that you keep a close eye on the nails that grow on the dew claws. You want to keep the nails nice and trimmed, because if they are too long, they can curl and grow back into the foot. My vet recommended I have Penny's removed because they were so long when I got her that he felt they could easily catch on something and tear off. Her's also were attached only by skin and not bone, so could have easily been ripped by just running in the yard.

My RB dog Buster had his attached his entire life and never had any problems with them, but I had to constantly clip the nails to keep them short.