Forwarded message - for info, please visit
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm
Very thorough info about declawing with photos & diagrams
This web site has extensive information about declawing, including
excellent diagrams and photos that completely explain the procedure.
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm
The Cat’s Claws
Unlike most mammals who walk on the soles of the paws or feet, cats
are digitigrade, which means they walk on their toes. Their back,
shoulder, paw and leg joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves
are naturally designed to support and distribute the cat's weight across
its toes as it walks, runs and climbs. A cat's claws are used for balance,
for exercising, and for stretching the muscles in their legs, back,
shoulders, and paws. They stretch these muscles by digging their claws
into a surface and pulling back against their own clawhold - similar to
isometric exercising for humans. This is the only way a cat can exercise,
stretch and tone the muscles of its back and shoulders. The toes help
the foot meet the ground at a precise angle to keep the leg, shoulder
and back muscles and joints in proper alignment. Removal of the last
digits of the toes drastically alters the conformation of their feet and
causes the feet to meet the ground at an unnatural angle that can cause
back pain similar to that in humans caused by wearing improper shoes.
Understanding Declawing (Onychectomy)
The anatomy of the feline claw must be understood before one can
appreciate the severity of declawing. The cat's claw is not a nail as is
a human fingernail, it is part of the last bone (distal phalanx) in the
cat's toe. The cat’s claw arises from the unguicular crest and unguicular
process in the distal phalanx of the paw (see above diagram). Most
of the germinal cells that produce the claw are situated in the dorsal
aspect of the ungual crest. This region must be removed completely,
or regrowth of a vestigial claw and abcessation results. The only way
to be sure all of the germinal cells are removed is to amputate the
entire distal phalanx at the joint.
Contrary to most people's understanding, declawing consists of
amputating not just the claws, but the whole phalanx (up to the joint),
including bones, ligaments, and tendons! To remove the claw, the
bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor
and flexor tendons must all be amputated. Thus declawing is not
a “simple”, single surgery but 10 separate, painful amputations of
the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe. A graphic comparison
in human terms would be the cutting off of a person's finger at the
last joint of each finger.
Many vets and clinic staff deliberately misinform and mislead clients
into believing that declawing removes only the claws in the hopes that
clients are left with the impression that the procedure is a "minor"
surgery comparable to spay/neuter procedures and certainly doesn't
involve amputation (partial or complete) of the terminal-toe bone,
ligaments and tendons. Some vets rationalize the above description
by saying that since the claw and the third phalanx (terminal toe
bone) are so firmly connected, they simply use the expression "the
claw" to make it simpler for clients to "understand". Other vets are
somewhat more honest and state that if they used the word
"amputation", most clients would not have the surgery performed!
Onychectomy in the clinical definition involves either the partial or
total amputation of the terminal bone. That is the only method. What
differs from vet to vet is the type of cutting tool used (guillotine-type
cutter, scalpel or laser).
Onychectomy (Declawing) Surgery
The below is a clinical description of the the declawing surgery taken
from a leading veterinary surgical textbbook. Contrary to misleading
information, declawing is not a "minor" surgery comparable to spaying
and neutering procedures, it is 10, seperate, painful amputations of
the distal phalanx at the joint (disjointing).
"The claw is extended by pushing up under the footpad or by grasping
it with Allis tissue forceps. A scalpel blade is used to sharply dissect
between the second and third phalanx over the top of the ungual crest .
The distal interphalangeal joint is disarticulated (disjointed), and the
deep digital flexor tendon is incised (severed). The digital footpad, is
not incised. If a nail trimmer is used, the ring of the instrument is placed
in the groove between the second phalanx and the ungual crest. The blade
is positioned just in front of the footpad. The blade is pushed through
the soft tissues over the flexor process. With the ring of the nail trimmer
in position behind the ungual crest, the blade is released just slightly
so that traction applied to the claw causes the flexor process to slip out
and above the blade. At this point, the flexor tendon can be incised
and disarticulation of the joint (disjointing) completed. Both techniques
effectively remove the entire third phalanx." (Excerpted from:
Slatter D; Textbook of Small Animal Surgery 2nd ed vol I, p.352 W.B.
Saunders Company Philadelphia.)
Complications
Declawing is not without complication. The rate of complication is
relatively high compared with other so-called routine procedures.
Complications of this amputation can be excruciating pain, damage to
the radial nerve, hemorrhage, bone chips that prevent healing, painful
regrowth of deformed claw inside of the paw which is not visible to the
eye, and chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg and back muscles
weaken.
Other complications include postoperative hemorrhage, either immediate
or following bandage removal is a fairly frequent occurrence, paw
ischemia, lameness due to wound infection or footpad laceration,
exposure necrosis of the second phalanx, and abscess associated with
retention of portions of the third phalanx. Abscess due to regrowth
must be treated by surgical removal of the remnant of the third phalanx
and wound debridement. During amputation of the distal phalanx, the
bone may shatter and cause what is called a sequestrum, which serves
as a focus for infection, causing continuous drainage from the toe.
This necessitates a second anesthesia and surgery. Abnormal growth
of severed nerve ends can also occur, causing long-term, painful
sensations in the toes. Infection will occasionally occur when all
precautions have been taken.
"Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes".
When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane
act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember
that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would
still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box
regardless of the pain it is experiencing."
Christianne Schelling, DVM
"General anesthesia is used for this surgery, which always has a certain
degree of risk of disability or death associated with it. Because declawing
provides no medical benefits to cats, even slight risk can be considered
unacceptable. In addition, the recovery from declawing can be painful
and lengthy and may involve postoperative complications such as
infections, hemorrhage, and nail regrowth. The latter may subject the
cat to additional surgery." The Association of Veterinarians for Animal
Rights (AVAR)
Two recent studies published in peer-reviewed veterinary journals
(Vet Surg 1994 Jul-Aug;23(4):274-80) concluded “Fifty percent of the
cats had one or more complications immediately after surgery....
19.8% developed complications after release.” Another study (J Am Vet
Med Assoc 1998 Aug 1;213(3):370-3) comparing the complications of
declawing with Tenectomy concluded “Owners should be aware of the
high complication rate for both procedures." Many cats also suffer a
loss of balance because they can no longer achieve a secure foothold
on their amputated stumps.
Vet Surg 1994 Jul-Aug;23(4):274-80
Feline Onychectomy at a Teaching Institution: A
Retrospective Study of 163 Cases.
Tobias KS
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences,
Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Pullman 99164-6610.
"One hundred sixty-three cats underwent onychectomy..... Fifty percent
of the cats had one or more complications immediately after surgery.
Early postoperative complications included pain..., hemorrhage....,
lameness...., swelling...., or non-weight-bearing..... Follow-up was
available in 121 cats; 19.8% developed complications after release.
Late postoperative complications included infection...., regrowth....,
P2 protrusion...., palmagrade stance...., and prolonged, intermittent
lameness....".
J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998 Aug 1;213(3):370-3
Comparison of Effects of Elective Tenectomy or Onychectomy in Cats.
Jankowski AJ, Brown DC, Duval J, Gregor TP, Strine LE, Ksiazek LM,
Ott AH Department of Clinical Studies, Veterinary Teaching Hospital,
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
19104, USA.
"Objective: To compare short- and long-term complications after
Tenectomy of the deep digital flexor tendons or onychectomy.
Animals: 20 cats undergoing Tenectomy and 18 cats undergoing
onychectomy.
Procedure: Cats undergoingTenectomy or onychectomy were monitored
for a minimum of 5 months to enable comparison of type and frequency
of complications.Type and frequency of complications did not differ
between procedures. Clinical Implications: Owners should be aware of
the high complication rate for both procedures."
Psychological & Behavioral Complications
Some cats are so shocked by declawing that their personalities change.
Cats who were lively and friendly have become withdrawn and introverted
after being declawed. Others, deprived of their primary means of defense,
become nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often resorting to their only
remaining means of defense, their teeth. In some cases, when declawed
cats use the litterbox after surgery, their feet are so tender they associate
their new pain with the box...permanently, resulting in a life-long
adversion to using the litter box. Other declawed cats that can no longer
mark with their claws, they mark with urine instead resulting in
inappropriate elimination problems, which in many cases, results in
relinquishment of the cats to shelters and ultimately euthanasia. Many
of the cats surrendered to shelters are surrendered because of
behavioral problems which developed after the cats were declawed.
Many declawed cats become so traumatized by this painful mutilation
that they end up spending their maladjusted lives perched on top of
doors and refrigerators, out of reach of real and imaginary predators
against whom they no longer have any adequate defense.
A cat relies on its claws as its primary means of defense. Removing the
claws makes a cat feel defenseless. The constant state of stress caused
by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed cats more
prone to disease. Stress leads to a myriad of physical and psychological
disorders including supression of the immune system, cystitis and
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)..
"The consequences of declawing are often pathetic. Changes in behavior
can occur. A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted
with even minor threats. Biting becomes an overcompensation for the
insecurity of having no claws. Bungled surgery can result in the regrowth
of deformed claws or in an infection leading to gangrene. Balance is
affected by the inability to grasp with their claws. Chronic physical
ailments such as cystitis or skin disorders can be manifestations of
a declawed cat's frustration and stress" David E. Hammett, DVM
Moral, Ethical and Humane Considerations
The veterinary justification for declawing is that the owner may otherwise
dispose of the cat, perhaps cruelly. It is ethically inappropriate, in the
long term, for veterinarians to submit to this form of moral blackmail
from their clients.
"The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights is opposed to cosmetic
surgeries and to those performed to correct 'vices.' Declawing generally
is unacceptable because the suffering and disfigurement it causes is not
offset by any benefits to the cat. Declawing is done strictly to provide
convenience for people. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal
Rights (AVAR)
Some veterinarians have argued that some people would have their cats
killed if declawing was not an option. We should not, however, allow
ourselves to taken 'emotional hostage' like this. If a person really would
kill her or his cat in this case, it is reasonable to question the suitability
of that person as a feline guardian, especially when there are millions of
non-declawed cats living in harmony with people."
Most people are vehemently opposed to declawing due to a combination
of reasons: 1) because the end (owner convenience) doesn't justify
the means (causing unnecessary pain to the cat); 2) because other,
less harmful alternatives to declawing exist and 3) because claws are
part of the nature or "catness" of cats. Overall, the view is that it is
ethically inappropriate to remove parts of an animal's anatomy, thereby
causing the animal pain, merely to fit the owner's lifestyle, aesthetics,
or convenience without any benefit to the cat. It should be emphasized
that "most people" includes virtually the entire adult population of
Europe and many other countries around the world.
Many countries are particularly concerned about animal welfare and
have banned declawing as abusive and causing unnecessary pain and
suffering with no benefit to the cat.. One highly regarded veterinary
textbook by Turner and Bateson on the biology of cat behavior concludes
a short section on scratching behavior with the following statement:
"The operative removal of the claws, as is sometimes practiced to protect
furniture and curtains, is an act of abuse and should be forbidden by
law in all, not just a few countries."
The following is a partial list of countries in which declawing cats is
either illegal or considered extremely inhumane and only performed
under extreme medical circumstances:
England - Scotland - Wales - Northern Ireland - Germany - Austria -
Switzerland - Norway - Sweden - Netherlands - Denmark - Finland -
Brazil - Australia - New Zealand
Cat Fanciers Association
Declawing of Cats - CFA Guidance Statement: Approved by the CFA
Board of Directors - October 1996
by Joan Miller, CFA Health Committee
"CFA's Health Committee proposed the following guidance statement
on the declawing of cats after review of the Canadian Veterinary Medical
Association's (CVMA) position concerning declawing, and after research
of scientific articles and information from the Cornell Feline Health Center,
from Joan Miller's files of Cat Fancy and animal shelter materials and by
talking with veterinarians, feline behavioral specialists, The American
Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the President of the American
College of Behaviorists and the Director of Ethical Studies at the San
Francisco SPCA. At the October 1996 meeting, the CFA Board unanimously
approved this guidance statement on the declawing of cats:
CFA perceives the declawing of cats (onychectomy ) and the severing of
digital tendons (tendonectomy) to be elective surgical procedures which
are without benefit to the cat. Because of post operative discomfort or
pain, and potential future behavioral or physical effects, CFA disapproves
of declawing or tendonectomy surgery."
World Small Animal Veterinary Association
Section 10-Non-therapeutic Surgical Operations on Pet Animals
i) Surgical operations for the purpose of modifying the appearance of a
pet animal for non-therapeutic purposes should be actively discouraged.
ii) Where possible legislation should be enacted to prohibit the
performance of non-therapeutic surgical procedures for purely
cosmetic purposes, in particular;
d. Declawing and defanging.
iii) Exceptions to these prohibitions should be permitted only if a
veterinarian considers that the particular surgical procedure is
necessary for veterinary medical reasons."
The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) position on
declawing cats:
"A major concern that the AVAR has about declawing is the attitude that
is evident in this situation. The cat is treated as if he or she is an inanimate
object who can be modified, even to the point of surgical mutilation, to
suit a person's perception of what a cat should be. It would seem more
ethical and humane to accept that claws and scratching are inherent
feline attributes, and to adjust one's life accordingly if a cat is desired as
a companion. If this is unacceptable, then perhaps a different companion
would be in order."
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Professor of Behavioral Pharmacology and Director
of the Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
and internationally known specialist in domestic animal behavioral research,
explains declawing:
"The inhumanity of the procedure is clearly demonstrated by the nature
of cats' recovery from anesthesia following the surgery. Unlike routine
recoveries, including recovery from neutering surgeries, which are fairly
peaceful, declawing surgery results in cats bouncing off the walls of the
recovery cage because of excruciating pain. Cats that are more stoic
huddle in the corner of the recovery cage, immobilized in a state of
helplessness, presumably by overwhelming pain. Declawing fits the
dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform,
disfigure, disjoint, and dismember all apply to this surgery. Partial digital
amputation is so horrible that it has been employed for torture of prisoners
of war, and in veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as model
of severe pain for testing the efficacy of analgesic drugs. Even though
analgesic drugs can be used postoperatively, they rarely are, and their
effects are incomplete and transient anyway, so sooner or later the pain
will emerge." (Excerpted from The Cat Who Cried For Help, Dodman N,
Bantam Books, New York).
Declawing robs a cat of an integral means of movement and defense.
Because they cannot defend themselves adequately against attacks by
other animals, declawed cats who are allowed outdoors may be at
increased risk of injury or death. Scratching is a natural instinct for
cats and declawing causes a significant degree of privation with respect
to satisfying the instinctive impulses to climb, chase, exercise, and to
mark territory by scratching. Cats simply enjoy scratching. The sensible
and humane solution to undesirable scratching is to modify the cat's
conduct by making changes in the environment and direct the cat’s
natural scratching behavior to an appropriate area (e.g., scratching
post) rather than surgically altering the cat, thereby causing the animal
pain, merely to fit the owner's lifestyle, aesthetics, or convenience.
The fact that many cats recover from the hideous experience of
declawing without untoward effects, and even though they may not
hold grudges, that doesn't seem sufficient justification for putting
a family member through such a repugnant experience. In short, a
declawed cat is a maimed, mutilated cat, and no excuse can justify
the operation. Your cat should trust you, and depend upon you for
protection. Don't betray that trust by declawing your cat.
Compliments of:Max’s House & S.T.A.R.T II (Save The Animals
Rescue Team)
http://maxshouse.com
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Dec. 9, 2009