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Mount Rose Animal Hospital |
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Your Pets are our Priority! |
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Hospital Construction - 2005 |
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16560 Wedge Parkway Suite 100 Reno, Nevada 89511 |
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Feline Declawing
Feline Declawing is a routine surgical procedure in which the last portion of each of the toes (predominantly nail with a very small piece of bone) on the cat's front feet are removed. This elective procedure is generally performed at the request of the owner as a means of preventing or ending destructive behaviors.
Destructive feline behaviors are one of the most frequently named behavior problems which results in pet owners relinquishing cats to shelters. At Mount Rose Animal Hospital, the doctors and staff believe that Declawing is a humane option to resolving destructive feline behavior. We do not, however, recommend declawing those cats that are indoor/outdoor pets. Outdoor cats need their claws for better protection against aggressors.
There are many misconceptions regarding the feline declaw procedure. Many people are under the impression that the surgery involves "finger amputations". In reality, unlike people, the last digits of cats are predominantly nail and not bone. It is important to note that if the small portion of bone is not removed, the nail could regrow.
Many people are concerned that if a feline declaw is performed the behavior of the cat will be forever changed. After the cat has healed from surgery, they resume regular activity. They continue to knead on things, walk normally, and can even climb.
Lastly, many people view the declaw procedure as a "barbaric" experience. At Mount Rose Animal Hospital, we advocate that all declawed cats receive a combination of several strong pain medications both during the procedure as well as at home to ensure their optimal comfort during the healing process.
At Mount Rose Animal Hospital, the doctors and staff advocate that if the cat is to be declawed is better to be done sooner rather than later. Once a kitten is approximately four months of age and has finished their vaccine series, they are considered safer surgery and anesthesia patients. Older cats can also be declawed needed. For these patients, surgery often takes slightly longer and oftentimes they may need additional doses of pain medications.
At Mount Rose Animal Hospital, either during an appointment or over the phone the doctors and staff are more than happy to review with you a declaw estimate and set up you pet for surgery. Elective declaw surgeries are performed Monday through Friday. On the day of surgery, a doctor will meet with you in the morning, review with you the surgery and estimate, answer any of your questions and check-in your pet. Declaw patients do stay overnight and go home the following day.
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is optional for younger cats being declawed; however, for the safety of older pets we do required the work up. At Mount Rose Animal Hospital, the doctors and staff recommend pre-anesthetic profiles for all patients as a strategy to screen for hidden underlying problems that could make your pet at greater risk for anesthesia and/or surgery.
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