The small toes or nails on the inside of an animal's leg, usually located above the main foot, found in mammals like dogs, cats, and deer.
Plural of 'dewclaw,' combining Old English 'dew' (morning moisture) and 'claw.' The term originated from medieval observation of animals walking through dewy grass with these small digits barely touching the ground.
Your dog probably has dewclaws that look like useless tiny toes, but they actually help puppies grip their mother while nursing and help adult dogs grip objects—they're like the opposable thumbs of the dog world, just less obviously useful!
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