DECLAWING
(Onychectomy)
The decision to declaw a cat usually arises when a favorite chair or
couch looks more mutilated than the scratching post.
WHY DO CATS SCRATCH?
Owners who are reluctant to have their cat declawed seek alternative
methods, such as:
Aversion techniques
It is difficult to use aversion techniques when you are away from home.
Soft Paws
Soft Paws are vinyl caps that glue on to your cat's claws. One set of
Soft Paws last 4-6 weeks. It isn't easy to predict whether your cat will
tolerate these nail caps.
Declawing - Onychectomy
Declawing, or onychectomy, is a surgical procedure performed in
cats to prevent destructive behavior, such as scratching the furniture.
This procedure is usually performed at the time of the spay or neuter.
Declawing involves removing the third phalanx (the last bone and its
associated claw) from each toe (digit) on both front legs. Because each
digit is amputated through the joint, this procedure is painful and
requires the appropriate pain medications, during and after the
procedure.
Pain Management
Surgery Day...
To prepare for your cat's return home, replace any
sand/clumping litter with a pellet litter for 10 days. Be sure that
your cat can be free from other animals or children while
recovering.
Disclaimer: Vista Animal Hospital makes sincere efforts to ensure the
accuracy of information posted on this website. VAH cannot and will not
be held responsible or liable for errors, inaccuracies or improper use of
information by the reader. Readers who rely on the information
contained on this web site or on other web sites accessed from this one
do so at their own risk and are advised to consult with their veterinarian
before acting on it.
*For More Information Please Contact Your Vet!*
(Onychectomy)
The decision to declaw a cat usually arises when a favorite chair or
couch looks more mutilated than the scratching post.
WHY DO CATS SCRATCH?
- Scratching removes the outer sheath of the nail and file/sharpen
the nail. - It releases scents (pheromones) on to objects to mark them.
- Creates scratch marks and serves as a visual marker for other
cats to see.
Owners who are reluctant to have their cat declawed seek alternative
methods, such as:
Aversion techniques
- Spraying catnip spray on the scratching post to attract your cat
- When your cat is scratching in a wrong a place, pick your cat
up and place him near the scratching post - Spray your cat with water when scratching in the wrong place
It is difficult to use aversion techniques when you are away from home.
Soft Paws
Soft Paws are vinyl caps that glue on to your cat's claws. One set of
Soft Paws last 4-6 weeks. It isn't easy to predict whether your cat will
tolerate these nail caps.
Declawing - Onychectomy
Declawing, or onychectomy, is a surgical procedure performed in
cats to prevent destructive behavior, such as scratching the furniture.
This procedure is usually performed at the time of the spay or neuter.
Declawing involves removing the third phalanx (the last bone and its
associated claw) from each toe (digit) on both front legs. Because each
digit is amputated through the joint, this procedure is painful and
requires the appropriate pain medications, during and after the
procedure.
Pain Management
- Local anesthetics ("numbing") of the feet before surgery
- Pain patch which allows Fentanyl, a potent narcotic, to be
absorbed through the skin to provide pain relief for about 3
days. - Injectable or oral pain killers are administered prior to the
procedure.
Surgery Day...
- When your cat arrives to our clinic we will take its temperature,
record its weight and perform a pre-surgical exam. If there are
any concerns, we will contact you and post-pone the surgery.
Otherwise, we will administer a pre-anesthetic injection to
prepare its body for anesthesia and place your cat in a
comfortable cage. When it is time for the surgery, a gas
anesthetic is used until the end of the procedure. - A pain injection is administered subcutaneously (under the
skin) near the neck and both paws are "numbed" with a local
anesthetic. A veterinary technician/assistant will surgically prep
the paws with a chlorhexadine scrub and alcohol. The patient's
breathing pattern and heart rate are carefully monitored from
the beginning of the procedure to the end. - Once the surgery is finished, a pain patch is secured between
the shoulder blades against the skin. Both paws are wrapped in
bandages to prevent any bleeding and provide protection
from infection, these bandages are removed the following day,
before the cat is sent home. - Every declaw patient is hospitalized overnight and rechecked
in the morning. Your cat will be released the afternoon after the
procedure.
To prepare for your cat's return home, replace any
sand/clumping litter with a pellet litter for 10 days. Be sure that
your cat can be free from other animals or children while
recovering.
Disclaimer: Vista Animal Hospital makes sincere efforts to ensure the
accuracy of information posted on this website. VAH cannot and will not
be held responsible or liable for errors, inaccuracies or improper use of
information by the reader. Readers who rely on the information
contained on this web site or on other web sites accessed from this one
do so at their own risk and are advised to consult with their veterinarian
before acting on it.
*For More Information Please Contact Your Vet!*
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