![]() ![]() Among declawed cats, retained P3 fragments further increased the risk of developing back pain and adverse behaviors. Evidence of inadequate surgical technique was common in the study population. Ī 2018 study by Martell-Moran, et al found, in a study of 274 cats, that "declawing cats increases the risk of unwanted behaviors and may increase risk for developing back pain. Onychectomy is an orthopedic surgery involving one (or more) separate phalangeal amputations, which requires general anesthesia and multi-modal pain management before, during, and after surgery. The International Society of Feline Medicine states that "Even if future improvements in surgical techniques can negate some of the adverse effects associated with declawing, iCatCare and ISFM believe this procedure is unethical other than if required to manage a medical condition and should be banned." Recovery, health and behavioral effects No technique or method has been proven to eliminate the many complications associated with declawing. There are three surgical methods: scalpel blade, guillotine trimmers, and laser. In fact, owners are sometimes warned that elderly cats may “need help with nail trims” to avoid nails that “become so long that they actually curve around and grow into the paw pads, causing an infection.“ Methods Onychectomy being performedĭespite the prevalence of elective onychectomy in North America, no standard practices exist regarding the surgical techniques or surgical tools used, the administration of post-operative analgesics or other follow-up care, or the optimal age or other attributes of cats undergoing the procedure. Nevertheless, trimming is often required with cats who do not go outdoors and have not been declawed, as even with scratching posts, indoor cats' nails can grow very long. Trimming a cat’s claws is time consuming, may require two people and can be intimidating, especially considering accidentally cutting into the quick (the pink part of the nail, similar to the pink part of a human fingernail, where blood vessels and nerve endings lie) will likely cause the cat bleeding and pain. Centers for Disease Control do not recommend declawing, even for felines in contact with immunocompromised humans, one American vet reported performing an onychectomy out of concern for a loved one with a weakened immune system. While sometimes framed as concern for household possessions, people are indeed concerned with pain and infection. ![]() For example, a survey of veterinarians in Brazil reported scratching as the second-most-given behavioural reason for abandonment of cats. ![]() Īlthough increasingly controversial, when the procedure is presented and perceived as mundane and innocuous, non-medical reasons for this procedure can be convincing:ĭata on relinquishment to shelters indicate that a popular belief among veterinarians that many owners would relinquish cats who engage in unwanted scratching is well-founded. ĭespite the fact that it is a surgery without medical cause, in some parts of the world, particularly in Northern America, declawing was for many years a relatively standard practice, and "surveys of routine elective procedures" in 19 showed it was performed along with neutering in more than 20% of cases. Sometimes the rear paws are declawed as well. Elective onychectomy Įlective onychectomy is usually done on all toes on the front paws. The procedure is usually limited to the affected claw, leaving the healthy claws (if any) intact. The amputation of the distal phalanx is indicated in case of chronic inflammatory processes, tumours, persistent and severe infections and gangrene that are limited to the distal phalanx. ![]() The terms onychectomy (origin: Greek ὄνυξ onyx, 'nail' + ἐκτομή ektomē, 'excision') and declawing imply mere claw removal, but a more appropriate description would be phalangectomy, excision of toe bone.Īlthough it has been somewhat common in Canada and the United States, declawing is considered an act of animal cruelty in many countries, (see "Declawing practices" below) as it causes physical and psychological suffering to the animal (although the extent of this suffering is subject to debate). Because the claw develops from germinal tissue within the third phalanx, amputation of the bone is necessary to fully remove the claw. Onychectomy, popularly known as declawing, is an operation to remove an animal's claws surgically by means of the amputation of all or part of the distal phalanges, or end bones, of the animal's toes. Close-up of a declawed paw Diagram showing location of amputation For declawing of crabs, see Declawing of crabs. This article is about declawing cats and dogs. ![]()
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