A common scenario: New kitty. New furniture.
Will the kitty behave? What to do? For some the answer is easy - declaw the cat. For others, the decision is NOT so easy and a confusing one. The issue of declawing is a hot topic in pet lover and veterinary circles. It is a surgery that is banned in some countries. The purpose of this article is to educate - to help you make an
informed decision for your pet.
Techniques
Declawing a cat is commonly done one of two ways: excisional method or guillotine (clipper) method. The excisional method removes
all of the last bone (P3) of the toe. The claw extends from this bone,
and it is analogous to the small bone that the human fingernail covers.
This is most commonly done with a scalpel blade, some vets use laser for
this. The guillotine method is a clipper than severs the P3 bone in half,
removing the claw and distal(end) part of this bone.
A third technique,
called tenotomy , is not a declaw, but a surgical procedure where the
tendons that operate the claw are cut, but the claw remains. Care must
be taken after this procedure to keep the nails trimmed, so they do not
grow into the pad (the cat doesn't have control over the claw).
Photo Description
of a Declaw Surgery
If you are curious
to see exactly what is done during a declaw surgery, read "Cat
Declaw Procedure" by T. J. Dunn, DVM of The Pet Center.
Age to Declaw
Young (4 months to 8 months), non-overweight cats are better candidates for surgery when the decision to declaw has been made. They do experience pain, but recover much quicker and with less complications than older
and/or overweight cats. Many veterinarians do administer pain control
medication post operatively.
Possible Complications
Complications can include, but are not limited to, the following: excessive
bleeding, nail bed infection, nail regrowth (with guillotine method), pad injury during surgery, and limping. Some cats experience sensitivity and/or limping for days to months after the surgery with no apparent cause. It is unknown if cats experience 'phantom pain' as it has been noted in
humans, but some cats do limp post surgery with no apparent wounds or healing problems. If you do elect to declaw your cat, the cat should be a strictly indoor cat.
Alternatives to
Declawing
There are many alternatives to declawing. Here are a few tips and ideas.
- Nail Caps - Soft Paws. These are non-toxic, soft nail caps that are glued on to the existing trimmed nail.
- Trimming the claws - Trimming the claws regularly (click here for an excellent photo tutorial of trimming tools needed and techniques). Most owners do
this at home. If you are unable to, your vet or groomer can perform this service or teach you how.
- Diversions - Get a scratching post. There are many to choose from. You may need to "teach" your cat how much fun it can be. Catnip helps! A popular variation on the traditional scratching post is the cardboard model filled with catnip.
Other Resources:
Declawing.com
Very in-depth site on declawing, from veterinarian
Christianne Schelling.
Veterinary Professionals
The Cats Guide, Franny
Syufy, is proposing a "Disclose
& Wait" program whereby veterinarians (and veterinary hospital
staff) would be responsible for completely educating clients about the
declaw procedure - so that no one mistakenly assumes it is "just
a type of nail trim".
The Discussion
Continues...
Let's
talk about declawing
The topic of elective declawing is an emotional one. Stop by the forum
to see what people are saying about declawing, and add your own comments.
Does
declawing lead to litterbox problems later on?
Some people feel that declawing leads to litterbox avoidance and litterbox problems - what is your opinion? Please
note: The forum is a place to learn and share your thoughts, ideas,
and feelings about animals and veterinary medicine. Individual opinions
and thoughts welcome. Personal attacks against other forum members will
not be tolerated.
| 