by Michael
(London, UK)
Photo by Bekah Stargazing (Flickr)
A vet has kindly listed the complications of declawing cats. This was not done for any altruistic reason. It is simply a dispassionate explanation, which in itself speaks volumes of the attitude of veterinarians to declawing cats in the USA.
This page, then simply represents his list together with explanations where necessary. The veterinarian is Gary W. Ellison, DVM,MS, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVS, University of Florida.
| Note (source4 for this boxed section is not from Dr. Ellison): In declawing cats there is an exceptionally high complication rate, 50% in the immediate postoperative period (during hospitalization period) and 19.8% in the late postoperative period (the period following hospital discharge). Early postoperative complications include pain, hemorrhage, laceration of the digital pad, swelling, reluctance to bear weight on affected limbs, neuropraxia from improper tourniquet use, and lameness. Late postoperative complications include infection, tissue necrosis from improper bandage application, wound dehiscence or incomplete healing with protrusion of the 2nd phalanx (P2), regrowth from the ungual process of the 3rd phalanx (P3) or scurs (production of deformed claw segment from epithelial cells of the ungual crest), retention of flexor process of P3, chronic draining tracts, palmigrade stance, and chronic intermittent lameness. |
These are the complications of declawing. They exclude reference to possible psychological problems except on one occasion. The words are mine but I have made extensive use of licensed definitions and other sources using their words under fair use:
Haemorrhage
Unsurprisingly a cat’s paws bleed when the ends of their toes are chopped off. Prevention is to bandage the paws and possibly sedate the cat.
Another thing that can be done is to close the wound with sutures or tissue adhesive. A suture usually refers to stitching the tissue together. Tissue adhesive is what is sounds: glue to hold tissue together as a substitute for sutures. A further new method to substitute stitches is the CO2 laser. Researchers are (or were) experimenting with using CO2 lasers to weld human tissue, as an alternative1.
Pain
One of the classic complications of declawing. Hardly surprising again. Under this heading the doctor there are two subheadings:
- Preventative
- Postoperative – lameness and reclusiveness.
The doctor’s treatments under this heading are all concerned with drugs:
Pain killers are listed are:
- Local anaesthesia – ring block and nerve block.
- Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) – these are given post operation and are listed as Ketoprofen and Meloxicam.
- Opioids – Fentanyl, Butorphanol, Buprenorphine.
These methods and drugs require some explanation:
Ring block - regional anaesthesia by the injection of local aesthetic in a complete circle around2..the area to be operated on.
Nerve block - a general term used to refer to the injection of local anesthetic onto or near nerves for temporary control of pain3.
Ketoprofen - used for humans and also used as a mild painkiller in smaller animals, generally following surgical procedures. It is most commonly used for muscoskeletal pain, joint problems, and soft tissue injury. It is a NSAID.
Meloxicam - is a NSAID used as an analgesic, fever reducer and anti-inflammatory. Used for humans3.
Fentanyl - approximately 100 times more potent than morphine. Historically it has been used to treat chronic breakthrough pain and is commonly used in pre-procedures (humans). It is a potent narcotic analgesic with a rapid onset and short duration of action3. Fentanyl's major side effects (more than 10% of patients - humans) include diarrhea, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, somnolence, confusion, asthenia (weakness), and sweating…the pharmacodynamics of fentanyl are poorly understood. It can cause sudden respiratory depression. A lot of people are dying of this drug. The pop star, Prince, was one of them.
Butorphanol – Used for humans. In veterinary use, butorphanol ("Torbugesic") is widely used as a sedative and analgesic in dogs, cats and horses. As with other opioid analgesics, central nervous system effects (such as sedation, confusion, and dizziness) are considerations with butorphanol. Nausea and vomiting are common. Less common are the gastrointestinal effects of other opioids (mostly constipation)3.
Buprenorphine - powerful analgesia approximately twenty-five to forty times as potent as morphine. Common adverse drug reactions associated with the use of buprenorphine are similar to those of other opioids (see above). Respiratory depression is also a problem.
Wound Infection
- Swelling
- Drainage
- Dehiscence (release of material by splitting open of an organ or tissue2) -
Treatment for this complication of declawing are listed as:
- Chlorhexidine soaks - Chlorhexidine is a chemical antiseptic3.
- Oral antibiotics
- Exposed bone excision (removal by cutting).
- Suture skin flaps once wound is clean. A suture usually refers to stitching the tissue together.
- Bandage limb
Residual Nail Bed
- Drainage
- Lameness
- Erupted nail
Treatments are listed as: Surgical removal of residual P3 (3rd phalanx)
& suture skin flaps.
Chronic Lameness
Treatment for this complication of declawing is to examine for swelling, drainage and remove residual P3 (3rd phalanx). Comment: are bone fragments left in sometimes?
Radial Paralysis
Radial paralysis: Distal radial paralysis results in an inability to extend the carpus and digit. Proximal radial paralysis prevents the animal from extending the elbow, carpus, {and fetlock} to bear weight5.
Definitions:
- Carpus - is the sole cluster of bones in the wrist between the radius and ulna and the metacarpus3.
- carpal - one of the wrist bones. There are eight carpal bones that are arranged in two rows6.
Treatment: Physical therapy and carpal extension bandage/splints.
Ischemia of Paw
Another one of the complications of declawing. Ischemia is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue3.
- Swelling
- Malodorous pad – paw pads having a bad odour
- Skin and tendon slough
- Exposed bone
Treatments:
- Vasodilators (agents that act as blood vessel dilators and open vessels by relaxing their muscular walls6): Acepromazine which is frequently used in animals as a sedative and antiemetic. Its principal value is in quietening and calming anxious animals3.
- Hot soaks + antibiotics
- Skin flaps
- Amputation: Toe or limb
Update 9th May 2014 - please see Dr Hofve's comment which adds to this page.
Since writing this The Paw Project has listed the complications of declawing as follows:
Pain, hemorrhage, laceration of paw pads, claw regrowth, scurs (growth of deformed claw segments), retention of flexor process of third phalanx, chronic draining tracts, self-mutilation, dermatitis, lethargy, palmigrade stance (walking on wrists), chronic intermittent lameness, chronic pain syndrome, flexor tendon contracture, and cystitis (stress-associated bladder inflammation), swelling, reluctance to bear weight on affected limb, neuropraxia (transient motor paralysis), radial nerve damage, lameness, infection, abscess, tissue necrosis, wound dehiscence, incomplete healing, protrusion of 2nd (middle toe bone) phalanx.
Update: A lot of declawing is botched due to speed, lack of awareness and carelessness by veterinarians. These operations leave shards of bone in the paw causing great pain and long term discomfort. Also there is claw regrowth. Read this shocking page.
Source material: http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/OnychectomyComplicationsPreventionandTreatment.pdf
Complications of declawing - Notes:
1. "Israeli researchers pioneer laser treatment for sealing wounds". Israel21c. November 16, 2008. . Retrieved Mar. 8, 2009.
2. Freedictionary.com
3. Wikipedia authors
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1082868/
5. The Merick Veterinary Manual
6. Medterms.com
Thank you.
Gobsmacked. Stunned and sad. But many thanks, Dr Hofve, for adding such useful information to this page. Fantastic. It is just too awful to contemplate. That vets can do this for no good reason.
For some reason the html did not show up, just copy and paste this:
http://www.littlebigcat.com/category/declawing/
Great article, but not the half of it! Here’s a complete list of the known, documented complications of declawing:
Pain
Hemorrhage (bleeding)
Laceration of the paw pads
Swelling
Reluctance to bear weight on affected limbs
Neuropraxia (transient motor paralysis)
Radial nerve damage (due to improper tourniquet placement)
Lameness
Infection
Abscess
Tissue necrosis
Wound dehiscence (re-opening of surgical site)
Incomplete healing
Protrusion of 2nd phalanx (middle finger bone)
Claw regrowth
Scurs (growth of deformed claw segments)
Retention of flexor process of last bone (3rd phalanx)
Chronic draining tracts
Self-mutilation
Dermatitis
Lethargy
Palmigrade stance (walking on wrists)
Chronic intermittent lameness
Chronic pain syndrome
Flexor tendon contracture
Aggression
Cystitis (bladder inflammation triggered by stress)
BTW we have updated our website; the correct link to all the articles on declawing is: