Declaw: a VERY controversial issue

Over the years, I have made a personal decision to continue performing the surgical declaw procedure despite my inner feelings to leave this to other veterinarians!  What I have found is the unfortunate revelation that many veterinarians, certainly not all, offer little or no discomfort control during this surgery.  The pain prevention measures should NEVER be a declinable "option" for any surgery, but certainly not for declaws.  Visitwww.scaredycats.com for cat advice or information on other medical problems such as feline urination problems. 

Upon admission to the animal hospital, many veterinarians will offer an anesthesia safety package, and a "supplemental pain control" package.  For the life of me, I cannot understand why "anesthesia safety" or "pain control" should EVER  be optionalbefore, during, or after any surgery, let alone a painful procedure like a declaw.

It is for this reason, I decided to continuing offering declaw surgery.  I KNOW that we offer the best and safest anesthesia, and use every appropriate pain control measure as part of the ROUTINE surgery.  I realize that cat owners will continue to have their cats declawed.  I know that in my care, no cat will be allowed to suffer unnecessarily through this procedure.

It is important to choose a cat veterinarian or mixed practice vet that offers the carbon dioxide laser declaw surgery.  The laser declaw has many advantages over the less precise clipper technique, and blade dissection procedure.  Most important is the deceased post operative discomfort and lack of use of a tourniquet and uncomfortable post op bandaging.

Ask your vet what pain medications are used. The preferred medications include but are not limited to:

• Local nerve blocks
• Pre op, intra operative, and post operative pain medications such as bupreorphine, butorphanol, and fentanyl to name a few
• Take home pain medications such as meloxicam or buprenorphine

A common misconception is that during the procedure, bone is cut.  How horrible!  In the hands of a competent surgeon, only the tissue that holds the nail on to the last toe bone is cut. If any bone is cut, it has not been properly performed. 

It is the pet owners job to take over care when the kitty is discharged.  This may even be the most important part of the procedure: make sure the kitty has limited activity, certainly no jumping, and to use a dust free, non irritating litter such as yesterdays news for at least 1 weeks post surgery.