Kaitin

[quote=VanG;862875]From American Veterinary Medical Association Executive Board: AVMA position statement on the declawing of domestic cats

Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its owner(s).

The AVMA believes it is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat owners with complete education with regard to feline onychectomy. The following points are the foundation for full understanding and disclosure regarding declawing:

1. Scratching is a normal feline behavior, is a means for cats to mark their territory both visually and with scent, and is used for claw conditioning ("husk" removal) and stretching activity.

2. Owners must provide suitable implements for normal scratching behavior. Examples are scratching posts, cardboard boxes, lumber or logs, and carpet or fabric remnants affixed to stationary objects. Implements should be tall or long enough to allow full stretching, and be firmly anchored to provide necessary resistance to scratching. Cats should be positively reinforced in the use of these implements.

3. Appropriate claw care (consisting of trimming the claws every 1 to 2 weeks) should be provided to prevent injury or damage to household items.

4. Surgical declawing is not a medically necessary procedure for the cat in most cases. While rare in occurrence, there are inherent risks and complications with any surgical procedure including, but not limited to, anesthetic complications, hemorrhage, infection, and pain. If onychectomy is performed, appropriate use of safe and effective anesthetic agents and the use of safe peri-operative analgesics for an appropriate length of time are imperative. The surgical alternative of tendonectomy is not recommended.

5. Declawed cats should be housed indoors.

6. Scientific data do indicate that cats that have destructive clawing behavior are more likely to be euthanatized, or more readily relinquished, released, or abandoned, thereby contributing to the homeless cat population. Where scratching behavior is an issue as to whether or not a particular cat can remain as an acceptable household pet in a particular home, surgical onychectomy may be considered.

7. There is no scientific evidence that declawing leads to behavioral abnormalities when the behavior of declawed cats is compared with that of cats in control groups.



From the American College of Veterinary Surgeons: Declawing in Cats

- The declaw procedure involves removing the third phalanx (the last bone and its associated claw) from each toe (digit) on both forelegs. There are several different techniques for accomplishing this. The third phalanx can be amputated from the digit by using a scalpel blade (Figure 1), sterile nail clippers or with a laser (Figures 2 and 3). The laser has been reported to cause less hemorrhage, swelling and pain. This has not been proven, however laser declawing is an acceptable method.

Because each digit is amputated through the joint, this procedure is painful and requires the appropriate treatment of pain before, during and after the procedure. Options for pain treatment include:

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local anesthetics (“numbing”) of the feet before surgery
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the use of fentanyl patches which allow Fentanyl, a potent narcotic to be absorbed through the skin and provide pain relief for 3-5 days
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injectable or oral pain killers administered postoperatively

How well a cat does after a declaw procedure will depend on the surgical technique, pain killers used, the cat's age and weight (older and heavier cats will generally not do as well) as well as individual variation. Potential complications of a declaw procedure include: excessive bleeding from the declaw sites, infection of the incisions or long-term residual lameness. -

Summary
A declaw is a procedure that is performed by general practitioners to prevent destructive behaviours in cats. The procedure is quick and simple, but can have complications and is painful. A declaw procedure should not be performed without careful consideration of the reasons for performing this procedure and the other options that are available. It is important to start training kittens early to learn appropriate scratching behaviour and to tolerate regular nail trims, so that as many options are available to you as possible. These options include: behavioral modification, regular nail trimming, Soft Paws, tendonectomy and declaw.

Approval but only "last resort".