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Feline Declaw
Animal Doctor provides feline declaw surgery for cats under 8lbs. We accept referrals and provide second opinions.
Description: A declaw is a surgical procedure performed to remove the claws from a cat’s front (and rarely rear) feet using a surgical laser or a surgical blade.
Symptoms & What to look for: There typically are no symptoms, unless the nails overgrow into the pads, or get caught in the carpeting or on the furniture. There may be nothing to watch for. There may be overgrown nails, nails getting caught. Sometimes kittens and cats like to sharpen their claws on horizontal or vertical surfaces.
Animal Doctor Provider
Dr.
What questions do we ask?
- How long have you had the patient?
- Where did you get him/ her?
- Vaccination history?
- Is the patient microchipped? This can be performed at the time of surgery
- Does the patient have any underlying conditions that we should be aware of?
- How is the patient? Any vomiting/ diarrhea/ coughing/ sneezing out of the ordinary?
- Do you have any (other) cats at home that haven't visited a veterinarian in the past year?
- How often does your cat go outside? Does he/ she go outside on a leash or on a screened in porch? Do you plan on letting them outside in the future?
- Is the patient on any medications?
- Are you administering heartworm preventative? What type and how often?
- Are you administering flea/ tick preventative? What type and how often?
- What kind of food are you feeding? How much per day? Treats?
- We recommend preanesthetic testing for all pets undergoing anesthesia, to check for anemias, infections, or concerns with organ functions – do you approve or decline (required in some cases)?
- We recommend an intravenous catheter be placed and fluids administered during the procedure – do you approve or declined (required in some cases)?
Animal Doctor Feline Declaw procedure
- We would perform a complete physical exam prior to anesthesia and surgery. A current weight is also acquired, and if your cat is over 10 pounds, then a declaw is not recommended due to prolonged recovery, pain, and increased possibility of postoperative complications.
- If your cat is approved for surgery, then preanesthetic blood testing would be collected and evaluated (if approved), and an anesthetic and surgical plan developed.
- Your cat typically arrives at the facility between 7:30am – 8:00am the day of surgery and is hospitalized overnight to ensure exercise restriction immediately after surgery.
- Surgery is completed in the morning using a surgical laser, which decreases the amount of inflammation, bleeding and postoperative recovery time. Your cat will go home with anti-inflammatory/pain medication and instructions on exercise restriction and litter box care.
Animal Doctor Provider
Dr.
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