WHAT IS DECLAWING (ONYCHECTOMY)?
Declawing is the
surgical amputation of all or part of a cat's third phalanges (toe bones) and
the attached claws.1,2 Most often the
procedure involves the front paws only, but sometimes the claws are removed from
all four paws.2,3 The surgery may be
performed using sterilized nail trimmers, scalpel blades, or surgical lasers.1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 If only part of the phalanx
is removed the claw may occasionally regrow.11,12 However, it has been suggested that
retaining a portion of the phalanx allows the paw to retain more of its normal
function and appearance.13,14 Declawing may
be performed at the same time as spaying or neutering. 2,15,16,17,18,19,20,21
REASONS FOR DECLAWING
Human
Benefits—Many owners choose to have their cats declawed to protect
their furniture or other household possessions.4,5,15,20,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29 Scratching
is a normal behavior of cats, but destructive scratching represents
approximately 15 to 42% of feline behavior complaints.8,22,30,31,32,33,35 The act of scratching
serves many purposes; it conditions the claws by removing aged cuticle, serves
as a visual and scent territorial marker, provides defense from attack, and
stretches the muscles of the limbs, thorax, and back.8,30,31,34,35 After declawing cats continue to
show the same frequency of scratching behavior.31 Surveys of cat owners who declawed their
cat report a perceived increase in the quality of the owner-cat relationship as
a result.21,26,27,30 Declawing may also be
performed to protect people, particularly those who are geriatric, diabetic or
have compromised immune systems and so may suffer life-threatening complications
from cat scratches; 5,13,15, 20,22,27,35
declawing decreases this risk while allowing the cat to remain in the home.15,26,30 Overall, owners who chose to declaw
reported that the procedure met or exceeded their expectations.20 A survey found three (of 273) owners
reported that their cats exhibited negative behavioral changes (house-soiling,
resentment of having paws handled, and refusal to cover feces); but only the
owner of the house-soiling cat was dissatisfied with the declawing procedure.20 Ten respondents reported the cats may have
bitten harder or more frequently, but biting was considered less problematic
that the previous scratching behavior. Another survey, of 60 cat owners,
indicated that the only behavior problem observed significantly more often in
declawed cats than clawed cats was jumping on counters or tables; this was also
the most commonly reported misbehavior exhibited by clawed and declawed cats.32
Cat
Benefits—In some cases declawing may be an alternative to
relinquishment, outdoor housing or euthanasia.15,31 For example, in a 1991 survey of Ontario
veterinarians,20 respondents indicated that
approximately 50% of their clients would no longer own their cat if it had not
been declawed. Unacceptable behaviors such as daily scratching increase the risk
of relinquishment of an animal to a shelter, and declawing decreased the risk of
relinquishment. As approximately 72% of cats relinquished to animal shelters are
euthanatized,36 owners may feel they are
faced with the choice of declawing their pet cat or potentially condemning it to
death.3,4,28,31 Because outdoor cats are
exposed to predators, street traffic, inclement weather, and diseases (e.g.,
feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis), owners may not consider keeping
a scratching cat outside to be a viable alternative.3,6 Thus declawing may sometimes be necessary
to ensure that a pet cat keeps its home.6,20,26,27,31,32 In addition, supporters of
the procedure assert that a properly performed declaw is no less humane than
spaying/neutering. 6,37 Declawing is also
indicated for the benefit of some cats affected by disease conditions such as
paronychia and neoplasia of the nail bed.5
WELFARE CONCERNS: PAIN
Acute
pain—Declawing is a painful procedure, although there is debate
about the degree of pain experienced under ideal or typical conditions.8,15,17,18 29,37,38,39 Objective assessment of
pain in cats is difficult, due to their stoic nature and relatively subtle
behavioral indicators of pain.4,16,18,25,38,39,40,41,42 Clinical signs of
pain following declawing include a "guarding" posture, reluctance to bear weight
on the declawed limb(s), and reluctance to move.2,40 Nine of 163 (5.5%) declawed cats were
non-weight-bearing on the affected limbs for one day after the operation, and
another cat was non-weight-bearing for three days. The risk of
non-weight-bearing lameness was increased by the use of adhesives to close the
surgical wounds, especially if nail trimmers were used to amputate the third
phalanx.2
Some physiological
parameters, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature, have
been determined to be poor indicators of postoperative pain in cats38 and other parameters have yielded mixed
results. Systolic blood pressure increases were reliable indicators of increased
cortisol concentrations and pain following declawing of laboratory cats,42 but failed to correlate with cortisol
increases for client-owned cats following ovariohysterectomy.43 Painful stimuli are known to elicit an
adrenal response,42,40 and declawing
induced significant increases in epinephrine and/or norepinephrine
concentrations in adult cats.40,44
Postoperative administration of morphine or xylazine significantly attenuated
the catecholamine response, while postoperative administration of salicylate had
no effect. 40 In contrast, Cambridge et al
(2000)38 did not observe increased
catecholamine concentrations following declawing or tenectomy (resection of
tendon to leave claws permanently extended and impede normal scratching).
Although increases in plasma cortisol concentrations were good indicators of
pain following ovariohysterectomy,42,43
they were not significantly elevated by declawing18,45,38 or tenectomy.38
Chronic
pain—Sixty-one of 163 cats exhibited signs of pain for one to 42
days after declawing; however, the median duration of signs was two days.2 Lameness was observed in 43 of 163 (26%)
cats, and was observed for one to 54 days (median, two days).2 The risk of lameness increased with longer
surgical time and the use of a scalpel blade for disarticulation of the third
phalanx.2 Thus, postoperative analgesia
should be provided on the day of surgery and for a minimum of one full day after
surgery.16 Measurements obtained from use
of a pressure-sensitive mat to assess weight-bearing after declawing suggested
that mild lameness was still present 40 hours after surgery despite
administration of analgesics.19 Declawing
with a surgical laser or using sharp dissection with a scalpel blade produced
observable lameness for eight days after surgery.46 Limb function in 27 declawed cats was still
significantly reduced 12 days after surgery in one study, leading the
investigators to recommend analgesia for the duration of this period.39 A review of onychectomy studies reported
that persistent lameness was observed in less than one percent of declawed cats
(five of 582, or 0.86%).28
WELFARE CONCERNS: SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS
The reported
incidence of postoperative complications ranges from rare to 50%.1,2,8,20,24,47 An examination of medical
records at a veterinary teaching hospital revealed that two of 76 (3%) cats
developed postoperative complications.21 In
another study, one or more surgical complications were observed during the
immediate postoperative period in approximately 50% of 163 cats, and the overall
complication rate was higher when scalpel blade disarticulation was performed
than when guillotine nail trimmers were used (complications during the immediate
postoperative period were more often associated with the use of a scalpel blade
for disarticulation of the third phalanx, whereas later-onset complications were
more frequently associated with the use of guillotine nail shears).2 Complications that arose after discharge
from the hospital were observed in 24 of 163 (20%) cats.2 A survey of private practice records
reported a higher postoperative complication rate associated with
spaying/neutering when performed in conjunction with declawing.21
Hemorrhage—Hemorrhage
is the most commonly reported complication of declawing,1,2,28 and older cats may bleed more profusely
than kittens.6 Intermittent hemorrhage was
observed in 51 of 163 cats (31%) for one to 13 days following surgery, and was
more often observed in older cats.2
Claw
regrowth—Claw regrowth is a consequence of incomplete removal of
the ungual crest, and can result in abscess formation and pain.1,2,11,12,28,30 Approximately 3% of declawed
cats exhibit claw regrowth,30 but a 10%
incidence was reported with a technique that left the flexor surface of the
third phalanx in situ.11
Wound
dehiscence—Reopening of the surgical incision resulting in
lameness was observed in 17% of cats that underwent declawing at a veterinary
teaching hospital.11 Although the
differences were not statistically significant, dehiscence occurred more
frequently following scalpel dissection and disarticulation, and was attributed
to increased surgical time, greater soft tissue dissection, and tissue handling
techniques.11
Paralysis—Neuropraxia
or radial nerve paralysis from improper tourniquet application has been
reported.2,12,28,29 The animal may not be
able to bear weight or extend the paw normally on the affected limb(s).12 The paralysis is usually transient, and
normal function is often regained in 5 to 30 days.12
Distal limb
ischemia—Distal limb ischemia secondary to improper bandage
application has been reported as a potentially serious complication.1,2,28,30,48 Bandages are usually removed
approximately 24 hours after surgery.1
Disease—Pain
activates the stress response, which can reduce immune function and potentially
increase the animal's susceptibility to disease.45 Opponents of declawing claim that the
procedure can worsen or induce chronic illnesses such as skin disorders, asthma,
and cystitis.26,28,30 Neither clinical
evidence nor anecdotal reports support this assertion to
date.
Other reported complications include
wound infection, draining tract formation, sequestration of the third phalanx,
and exposure necrosis of the second phalanx.1,2 Bilateral flexor tendon contracture
following declawing of two cats was reported by Cooper et al;24 the affected cats were unable to extend the
digits of the front limbs, and fibrosis and adhesions between the deep digital
flexor tendon and the soft tissues surrounding the second phalanx were observed
in one cat. Deep digital flexor tenectomies were necessary to return normal
forelimb function in both cats.
WELFARE CONCERNS: BEHAVIOR
Impairment of
normal behavior—Because scratching is a normal feline behavior,
opponents state that declawing causes emotional stress when the animal cannot
scratch.15 However, between 59 and 78% of
declawed cats will continue to exhibit scratching behavior with a normal
appearance.22 Critics also claim that
declawing adversely affects balance, climbing, and feline social interactions.20,26,30 Because scratching is considered a
means of stretching and using the muscles of the forelimbs, shoulders, and
torso, it has been suggested that declawing eliminates the normal isometric
resistance associated with the claws pulling against a stationary surface and so
may produce weakening of these muscles.20,26,28 Neither clinical evidence nor
anecdotal reports to support this assertion have been reported to
date.
Incidence of problem behavior—Opponents
of the procedure state that declawing increases undesirable behaviors, including
inappropriate elimination and biting.15,26,28,30,31 Empirical studies show that
behavioral changes may occur, but do not provide strong support for a net
increase in problem behaviors. One study of 122 cats revealed no significant
difference in serious behavior problems between declawed and clawed cats.32 Another, of 877 cat owners, suggested that
declawed cats were not more likely to bite than clawed cats.49 One smaller study found that 3 of 25 (12%)
cats exhibited increased biting behavior following declawing and one began to
defecate outside the litter box; however, declawed cats had better scores for
overall good behavior than did clawed cats.23 In a study comparing declawing to
tenectomy, one of 18 (5%) declawed cats exhibited inappropriate elimination for
two days after discharge. A survey of 57 owners of declawed or tenectomized cats
reported that three of 18 (16%) tenectomized and 13 of 39 (33%) declawed cats
developed at least one behavioral change following surgery, but the difference
was not statistically significant.35 Six of
39 (15%) cats house-soiled following declawing;35 because the overall incidence of
house-soiling in cats (clawed and declawed) was reported to be 16%,32 there did not appear to be an increased
risk of house-soiling following declawing. Finally, a study addressing risk
factors for relinquishment of cats to animal shelters28 did not observe a statistically significant
difference in aggression or inappropriate elimination between declawed and
clawed cats. Therefore there is not strong evidence that declawing increases the
risk of undesirable behaviors or decreases the observance of desirable
behaviors.23
DECLAWING REFINEMENTS
Indoor housing of
declawed cats—A 2003 survey of 181 cat owners identified that
approximately 31% of declawed cats were allowed outdoor access.50 A 1991 survey of 276 owners of declawed
cats reported that 41% of the declawed cats were allowed outdoors, and no
problems were reported by the respondents.20 Owners in this study,20 and anecdotally,3,13,22 report that declawed cats allowed
outdoors climb well, hunt well, and are able to defend themselves successfully.
However, in general, declawing of outdoor cats is still not recommended.1,32
Early age
declawing— It has been suggested that declawing is best performed
on young cats because it is more emotionally traumatic for adults to be
declawed.15 Although age-related
psychological repercussions of declawing have not been empirically reported,
younger animals may experience fewer complications.31 In a survey of 276 owners of declawed cats,
respondents reported that cats declawed at one year of age or less exhibited
fewer postoperative problems and faster recoveries than those declawed when they
were older than one of age.20
Surgical tool
selection— Declawing using a surgical laser resulted in improved
subjective pain assessment for eight days after surgery compared to scalpel
blade dissection, but both treated groups were walking normally within nine days
after surgery.51 Although anecdotal reports
claim that postoperative pain level and the recovery period are improved by use
of a laser, the clinically observed effect was minimal in ten cats that
underwent scalpel onychectomy on one paw and laser onychectomy on the other
paw.5 Despite a potentially reduced level
of pain postoperatively, analgesic therapy is still recommended for laser
onychectomy.10 Use of guillotine nail
trimmers was associated with an increased risk of infection.2
ANALGESIA
Preoperative analgesic administration is often
considered superior to postoperative administration because it prevents the
central hypersensivity response that prolongs and amplifies sensitivity to
noxious stimuli.38,17,18,19 However, in a
1994 study of 163 declawed cats,2
administration of narcotics before or during the operation was associated with a
significantly increased occurrence of postoperative
pain.
Local anesthetics—Bupivacaine or
lidocaine block nerve transmission and are inexpensive and safe when used at
appropriate doses.4 However, a 4-point
regional forelimb nerve block using bupivacaine in addition to preoperative
administration of buprenorphine did not decrease discomfort scores when compared
to cats treated only with buprenorphine prior to onychectomy.4 Evaluation of a lidocaine-bupivacaine
combination, which should result in a shorter onset of action and a longer
duration of action, has not been performed.4 Postoperative topical application of
bupivacaine to the incisions did not provide sufficient analgesia, and was not
recommended.39,29
Transdermal
fentanyl—Patches provide sustained release of fentanyl for
prolonged periods with few adverse effects, and are well tolerated by cats. 45,19 Transdermal administration of fentanyl
and intramuscular administration of butorphanol produced similar degrees of
analgesia following onychectomy.39 There is
a time lag between application of the patch and fentanyl reaching therapeutic
concentrations in serum, so it is recommended that the patch be placed at least
six hours before recovery.19 Use of
transdermal fentanyl patches in this manner produced serum fentanyl
concentrations in excess of 4 ng/ml and significantly improved recovery, pain,
and lameness scores, when compared with postoperative administration of
butorphanol.19 Fentanyl patches placed 18
to 24 hours prior to induction of anesthesia produced serum fentanyl
concentrations of less than 2 ng/ml and were not superior to butorphanol.45 There may be wide variation in absorption
and response to transdermal fentanyl patches among cats.39,45
Opioid
agonists—Many veterinarians are concerned about the safety of
potent opioid agonists in feline patients, and this concern may affect their use
of analgesics. 45 Postoperative
administration of the opioid butorphanol did not significantly affect cats'
physiologic parameters, but reduced postoperative lameness scores and improved
quality of recovery quality.16 Cats that
received butorphanol were more comfortable, less lame, and ate better than
untreated cats.16,28 Butorphanol was
superior to oxymorphone in preventing the postoperative catecholamine increase
associated with onychectomy.44 One of 42
(2%) onychectomized cats that received butorphanol was non-weight-bearing or
minimally weight-bearing at time of discharge from the hospital, compared to 4
of 21 (19%) of untreated cats.28
Buprenorphine, an opioid, is
considered 30 times more potent than morphine, and has a reported duration of
action of 8 to 12 hours.18 Postoperative
administration of buprenorphine significantly reduced the cumulative
postoperative pain score when compared to saline (control), oxymorphone, or
ketoprofen.18
Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs—Historically, veterinarians have avoided
the use of preoperative NSAIDs due to concerns about adverse effects in feline
patients.16,17,42 However, newer generation
NSAIDs are associated with fewer adverse effects. Preoperative administration of
meloxicam produced superior analgesia compared to butorphanol during the 24-hour
postoperative period, and significantly fewer meloxicam-treated cats required
rescue analgesia during the immediate postoperative period.17
ALTERNATIVES TO DECLAWING
Behavior
modification—The use of suitable attractive scratching surfaces
such as dedicated posts and boards, positive reinforcement training methods,
remote punishment such as a squirt bottle filled with water or a rattle, and
pheromone sprays are recommended and successful methods of correcting undesired
scratching behavior in cats.8,20,
22,30
Frequent claw trimming—Frequent
nail trims do not alter a cat's scratching behavior, but can lessen the damage
resulting from scratching.8 Weekly trimming
may be required to maintain optimal nail length,8 however, some cats strongly resist nail
trimming and some owners are uncomfortable with the
procedure.
Nail caps—As with nail trimming,
covering the claws with plastic caps will not alter scratching behavior, but
lessens the potential damage.8 The caps
must be replaced every four to six weeks.8
Although most cats will tolerate cap placement, sedation is required in some
cases; this may be undesirable for some owners due to the stress of transporting
and sedating the cat.8
Deep digital flexor
tenectomy—Tenectomy of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) has
reportedly been associated with shorter hospitalization, less pain, and the
elimination of the need for postoperative bandaging.1,8,33,35 This procedure removes five to10mm
sections of the DDFT of each digit, resulting in the cat's inability to protrude
the claw.1,8,33 Because the claws cannot be
protruded, they may overgrow; this can result in the return of a limited ability
to scratch. The claws are often rough because the aged cuticle cannot be removed
by scratching.1,8,33 In addition, overgrown
claws may grow into footpads, causing pain and infection, if they are not
regularly trimmed.1,8,33 Cats' claws must
be trimmed regularly following tenectomy to avoid these problems.8,33
Pain levels were observed to be
the same38 or higher for tenectomy compared
to declawing. In a 2001 survey of cat owners, respondents indicated that
tenectomized cats exhibited less postoperative pain and faster recoveries, but
no significant difference was observed for owner satisfaction with tenectomy
compared to declawing.35 Tenectomized cats
were typically reported by their owners to be walking normally in two to four
days up to a maximum of 30 days; declawed cats required six to seven days up to
a maximum of 21 days (not a statistically significant difference). Similar
complication rates were reported for onychectomy (24%) and tenectomy (26%) in a
study of 38 feline patients.
Overall, owner satisfaction at five months
after surgery was greater with declawing (89%) compared to tenectomy (70%).
Dissatisfaction with tenectomy resulted from a continued ability of the cat to
scratch following tenectomy, long-term lameness, excessively thick claws that
appeared to irritate the cats, and difficulty in trimming the claws. Two
tenectomized cats were later onychectomized. Although the initial manuscript
describing the tenectomy technique reported no complications during the one- to
five-year follow-up period for 17 tenectomized cats,33 more recent anecdotal reports have
suggested that the forelimbs of tenectomized cats become stiff and appear
painful several years after surgery.8,52 No
significant differences were observed in behavioral changes following declawing
or tenectomy in an survey of 57 cat owners.35
DECLAWING IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES
In the
United States in 1991, it was estimated that approximately 14.4 million, or
24.4% of approximately 59 million owned cats, were declawed.28 Both the Cat Fancier's Association and the
Canadian Cat Association forbid declawed or tenectomized cats to be shown.20,26,30
In April 2003, the city of
West Hollywood, California passed an ordinance banning the onychectomy of
domestic cats which is currently in force after being upheld by the appellate
court.15
The current AVMA policy on
Declawing of Domestic Cats recommends that the procedure only be performed after
exhausting other methods of controlling scratching behavior or if it has been
determined that the cat's claws present a human health risk. The Canadian
Veterinary Medical Association's policy is similar to that of the
AVMA.
Declawing is not performed in the United Kingdom unless it is
carried out for therapeutic purposes. Article 10 of the European Convention for
the Protection of Pet Animals prohibits declawing for "non-curative purposes,"
but exceptions are permitted if the veterinarian considers the procedure
"necessary for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of any particular
animal."
SUMMARY
Some commentators compare declawing to cosmetic
procedures such as ear cropping and tail docking20 because it is typically performed primarily
to benefit the owner rather than the cat.4,28,53 In a 1991 survey of 276 owners of
declawed cats, 2% of owners were dissatisfied with the declawing procedure
because they felt guilty about declawing their cats.20 Because of the controversy surrounding the
procedure, the veterinary profession is divided. Some veterinarians vehemently
oppose declawing, while others feel that the procedure is a veterinary service
that can preserve and improve the human-animal bond. Many veterinarians neither
encourage nor discourage declawing, but chose to inform the clients of the
benefits, risks, and alternatives and allow the client to make the
choice.
There is limited scientific evidence to support or refute these
claims about the implications of declawing. In many of the studies involving
larger numbers of cats, the procedures were performed by senior veterinary
students;2,11,16,17,19,29,35 although
supervised by experienced clinicians, the impact of inexperienced surgeons on
the data collected complicates its interpretation. Although owner perceptions of
the procedure are important, surveys are subject to self-selection and
respondent bias. Accurate determination of the long-term behavioral effects,
age-related effects, and complication rates following declawing or tenectomy by
experienced practitioners requires further investigation.
REFERENCES
1. Bellah JR. Surgical management of specific
skin disorders. In: Slatter D. Textbook of Small Animal Surgery. 2nd
ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 1993; 341-354.
2. Tobias KS. Feline
onychectomy at a teaching institution: a retrospective study of 163 cases.
Vet Surg 1994; 23: 274-280.
3. Price DA. Feline onychectomy. J
Am Vet Med Assoc 1961; 139: 577-578.
4. Curcio K, Bidwell LA, Bohart GV,
et al. Evaluation of signs of postoperative pain and complications after
forelimb onychectomy in cats receiving buprenorphine alone or with bupivacaine
administered as a four-point regional nerve block. J Am Vet Med Assoc
2006; 228: 65-68.
5. Mison MB, Bohart GH, Walshaw R, et al. Use of carbon
dioxide laser for onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 221:
651-653.
6. Goodyear MD. A technique for onychectomy in the cat. Vet Med
Small An Clin 1977; 72: 569-572.
7. Nagle AC. A technique for feline
onychectomy. Vet Med Small An Clin 1976; 71: 1685-1687.
8. Swiderski
J. Onychectomy and its alternatives in the feline patient. Clin Tech Small
An Pract 2002; 17: 158-161.
9. Weege J. Onychectomy in the cat using the
White nail trimmer. Vet Med Small An Clin 1974; 69: 194-195.
10.
Young WP. Feline onychectomy and elective procedures. Vet Clin North Am
Small An Pract 2002; 32: 601-619.
11. Martinez SA, Hauptman J, Walshaw
R. Comparing two techniques for onychectomy in cats and two adhesives for wound
closure. Vet Med 1993; 88: 516-525.
12. Fowler ME, McDonald SE.
Untoward effects of onychectomy in wild felids and ursids. J Am Vet Med
Assoc 1982; 181: 1242-1245.
13. Miller RM. The declawing controversy:
stepping into the ring. Vet Med 1998; 93: 1043-1045.
14. Peddie JF.
A technique of onychectomy for exotic felidae. Vet Med Small An Clin
1979; 74: 1347-1351.
15. Atwood-Harvey D. Death or Declaw: dealing with moral
ambiguity in a veterinary hospital. Soc Anim 2003; 13: 315-342.
16.
Carroll GL, Howe LB, Slater MR, et al. Evaluation of analgesia provided by
postoperative administration of butorphanol to cats undergoing onychectomy.
J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998; 213: 246-250.
17. Carroll GL, Howe LB,
Peterson KD. Analgesic efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam or
butorphanol in onychectomized cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005; 226:
913-919.
18. Dobbins S, Brown NO, Shofer FS. Comparison of the effects of
buprenorphine, oxymorphone hydrochloride, and ketoprofen for postoperative
analgesia after onychectomy or onychectomy and sterilization in cats. J Am
An Hosp Assoc 2002; 38: 507-514.
19. Franks JN, Boothe HW, Taylor L, et
al. Evaluation of transdermal fentanyl patches for analgesia in cats undergoing
onychectomy. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 217: 1013-1020.
20. Landsberg
GM. Cat owners' attitudes toward declawing. Anthrozoos 1991; 4:
192-197.
21. Pollari FL, Bonnett BN, Bamsey SC, et al. Postoperative
complications of elective surgeries in dogs and cats determined by examining
electronic and paper medical records. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996; 208:
1882-1886.
22. Beaver BV. Feline communicative behavior. In: Beaver BV.
Feline Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: WB
Saunders Co, 2003; 118-126.
23. Bennett M, Houpt KA, Erb HN. Effects of
declawing on feline behavior. Companion An Pract 1988; 2: 7-12.
24.
Cooper MA, Laverty PH, Soiderer EE. Bilateral flexor tendon contracture
following onychectomy in 2 cats. Can Vet J 2005; 46: 244-246.
25.
Jankowski AJ, Brown DC, Duval J, et al. Comparison of effects of elective
tenectomy or onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998; 213:
370-373.
26. Landsberg GM. Declawing revisited: controversy over
consequences. Vet Forum 1994; 13: 94-95.
27. Landsberg GM. Declawing
is controversial, but still saves pets. Vet Forum 1991; 10:
94-95.
28. Patronek GJ. Assessment of claims of short- and long-term
complications associated with onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc
2001; 219: 932-937.
29. Winkler KP, Greenfield CL, Benson GJ. The effect of
wound irrigation with bupivacaine on postoperative analgesia of the feline
onychectomy patient. J Amer An Hosp Assoc 1997; 33: 346-352.
30.
Landsberg GM. Feline scratching and destruction and the effects of declawing.
Vet Clin North Am Small An Pract 1991; 2: 265-279.
31. McKeown D,
Luescher A, Machum M. The problem of destructive scratching by cats. Can Vet
J 1988; 29: 1017-1018.
32. Morgan M, Houpt KA. Feline behavior problems:
the influence of declawing. Anthrozoos 1989; 3: 50-53.
33. Rife JN.
Deep digital flexor tendonectomy—an alternative to amputation onychectomy for
declawing cats. J Am An Hosp Assoc 1988; 24: 73-76.
34. Landsberg
GM. Feline behavior and welfare. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996; 208:
502-505
35. Yeon SC, Flanders JA, Scarlett JM, et al. Attitudes of owners
regarding tendenectomy and onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc
2001; 218: 43-47.
36. Zawistowski S, Morris J, Salman MD, et al. Population
dynamics, overpopulation, and the welfare of companion animals: new insights on
old and new data. J App An Welf Sci 1998; 1: 193-206.
37. Hauptman
J, Curcio K, Bidwell L, et al. Questions ethics of onychectomy in cats (authors'
response). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006; 228: 503-504.
38. Cambridge AJ,
Tobias KM, Newberry RC, et al. Subjective and objective measurements of
postoperative pain in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 217:
685-690.
39. Romans CW, Gordon WJ, Robinson DA, et al. Effect of
postoperative analgesic protocol on limb function following onychectomy in cats.
J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005; 227: 89-93.
40. Benson GJ, Wheaton LG,
Thurmon JC, et al. Postoperative catecholamine response to onychectomy in
isoflurane-anesthetized cats. Vet Surg 1991; 20: 222-225.
41. Romans
CW, Conzemius MG, Horstman CL, et al. Use of pressure platform gait analysis in
cats with and without bilateral onychectomy. Am J Vet Res 2004; 65:
1276-1278.
42. Smith JD, Allen SW, Quandt JE, et al. Indicators of
postoperative pain in cats and correlation with clinical criteria. Am J Vet
Res 1996; 57: 1674-1678.
43. Smith JD, Allen SW, Quandt JE. Changes in
cortisol concentration in response to stress and postoperative pain in
client-owned cats and correlation with objective clinical variables. Am J
Vet Res 1999; 60: 432-436.
44. Lin HC, Benson GJ, Thurmon JC, et al.
Influence of anesthetic regimens on the perioperative catecholamine response
associated with onychectomy in cats. Am J Vet Res 1993; 54:
1721-1724.
45. Gellasch KL, Kruse-Elliott KT, Osmond CS, et al. Comparison of
transdermal administration of fentanyl versus intramuscular administration of
butorphanol for analagesia after onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med
Assoc 2002; 220: 1020-1024.
46. Holmberg DL, Brisson BA. A prospective
comparison of postoperative morbidity associated with the use of scalpel blades
and lasers for onychectomy in cats. Can Vet J 2006; 47: 162-163.
47.
Pollari FL, Bonnett BN, Bamsey SC, et al. Postoperative complications of
elective surgeries in dogs and cats determined by examining electronic and paper
medical records. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996; 208: 1882-1886.
48.
Anderson DA, White RAS. Ischemic bandage injuries: a case series and review of
the literature. Vet Surg 2000; 29: 488-498.
49. Borchelt PL, Voith
VL. Aggressive Behavior in Cats. Compend Cont Educ Pract Vet 1987; 9:
49-57.
50. Clancy EA, Moore AS, Bertone ER. Evaluation of cat and owner
characteristics and their relationships to outdoor access of owned cats. J
Am Vet Med Assoc 2003; 222: 1541-1545.
51. Holmberg DL, Brisson BA. A
prospective comparison of postoperative morbidity associated with the use of
scalpel blades and lasers for onychectomy in cats. Can Vet J 2006; 47:
162-163.
52. Branch C. Comments on tenectomy and onychectomy in cats. J
Am Vet Med Assoc 1998; 213: 954.
53. Fox MW. Questions ethics on
onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006; 228: 503-504.
This information has been prepared as a service by the
American Veterinary Medical Association's Animal Welfare Division.
Redistribution is acceptable, but the document's original content and format
must be maintained, and its source must be prominently identified.
|
(this tooth may be slightly loose)
(these teeth most likely wiggle when touched)
