The Pros And Cons Of Onychectomy

Onychectomy is a common elective procedure performed on housecats to prevent the scratching of people and furniture. It is an arduous surgery that requires the removal of the claw, bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons of the ten front toes (Schelling, 2016). Declawing is a controversial procedure within the veterinary field due to the moral dilemmas of veterinary professionals, removal of the animal’s first line of defense, and the controversy surrounding the painful surgery. While declawing has become an increasingly popular practice in North America, some veterinarians are opposed to it, and view the procedure as unethical. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights opposes all cosmetic

Without claws, a cat is more at risk for being injured or killed, as they cannot properly defend themselves amid danger. Claws are needed for protection, and serve a physiological purpose. Well known veterinarian, Dr. Schelling, states that, “unlike most mammals who walk on the soles of the paws or feet, cats are digitigrade, which means they walk on their toes,” (Schelling, 2016, para. 1). Claws are used to help a cat balance. Lack of the front claws can cause leg, shoulder, and back muscle misalignment, which can lead to back pain. In addition, claws are used to mark territory. A cat will use their front claws to scratch on an object that they wish to mark. This creates a visual marker as well as an olfactory marker (from scent glands on the paw pads), to warn other cats that a particular area has been occupied (Johnson-Bennett, n.d). If another cat should approach, he would be able to gather information from the scratching marks and scent left behind. These markings can help him avoid an unwanted confrontation. Scratching is normal cat behavior that should not be punished by removal of

Currently, there is no standard practice regarding the techniques or tools that can be used during the procedure. Veterinarians are free to use what they’d like, which usually includes a scalpel, laser, or guillotine nail trimmers. Can you imagine your own finger tips being removed with nail trimmers? It’s archaic to say the least. One of the complications that can result from declawing is a chronic pain syndrome. This can occur in the paws even after the cat is healed (Supernova, 2016). Cats will then usually go to great lengths to avoid using litter boxes because they experience too much pain when stepping on the hard litter. In the 2016 book titled Complications of Small Animal Surgery, the authors report other painful complications after surgery, including; infection, lameness, bone fragments left behind, tendon contracture, arthritis, nerve damage, remaining bone protrusions, and claw regrowth (Supernova, 2016). In severe cases an infection may lead to necrosis, which can lead blood poisoning, and eventually