Maria Azzurra Volpe is a Newsweek Life & Trends reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is reporting on everyday life topics and trending stories. She has covered Pet Care and Wildlife stories ...

"It is one of the most-disturbing animal-welfare cases that we have ever encountered," Animal Care Centers of NYC said.

But any trauma to the nail itself or the skin near the dewclaw could lead to infection. The risk increases when dogs lick or chew at a sore paw, transferring bacteria from their mouth to the nail bed.