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Laser Declaw for Cat??

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by dcdavis, Aug 8, 2008.

  1. dcdavis

    dcdavis Ooops!!

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    Anyone have experience getting their cat(s) declawed with laser surgery? Can you share your experience? Doctor recommended? Approx cost?

    We're in the investigation stage and wanted to hear feedback from those who have gone through this.

    [I'm not looking for a dissertation on the horrors of mutilating your animal - you can start your own thread about that if you want!]
     
  2. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    When I was growing up it was a fairly routine practice to have your indoor cat declawed. When I looked into it a few years ago I read about how it is considered inhumane now. My mom lives in Texas and said that they just had a kitten declawed there and it seemed no different than any other vet procedure. Weird.

    I've never heard of laser surgery for declawing so I'm curious to learn what that is all about and if it is considered more "humane" than however the old way is done.

    (( Edited to add a link to a vet with some good information about the different methods of declawing. It includes pros and cons of each procedure ))
     
  3. Pirate

    Pirate Overland Park Denizen

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    We had our cat declawed (4 paws) with the laser procedure when he was a kitten and would recommend it. The vet kept him overnight, and we had no bleeding or infection, and after 1 day he seemed back to normal.

    I don't recall the cost, but we were in S MD and the difference between laser and traditional wasn't very significant.
     
  4. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Not to stir a hornet's nest or give a dissertation but the very idea of declawing begs the question - what about training? My cats (with the exception of the declawed stray I took in) use scratching posts all the time and receive nail trims every two weeks. The declawed stray has difficulty standing on his feet for any length of time and lays down to eat.

    The laser replaces the scapel in removing the third knuckle only there's supposed to be less pain and bleeding. I can't imagine having my first knuckle on both hands amputated.

    And I wonder - would this practice be acceptable for dogs that scratch up hardwood floors? I would never consider it for my dog just as I would not consider debarking surgery.

    http://www.idausa.org/facts/cossurgery.html

    The sad fact is the shelters are full of declawed cats - I'm not sure why. Please consider an alternative for the cat's sake.
     
  5. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    dcdavis - it is a personal choice regardless of what anyone here has to preach.

    We have had anywhere from 1 to 3 cats and we did not declaw any of them. We attempted to train with scratching posts, water bottles, sprays... to no avail. As both of us work, we just were not home enough during the day to monitor them. Our carpets (mostly) have paid the price.

    I certainly do not want to cause our cats any harm, hence our decision to not have them declawed, but in hindsight I wish we had.

    Again, it is a PERSONAL choice.
     
  6. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Then don't post it.

    This isn't a debate on the validity or humanity the procedure - but someone looking for information beyond that choice.

    Lets not derail the topic.
     
  7. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    If it's posted on the "forum" is it not open to discussion? Isn't that what a forum is?

    There are hundreds of posts on this forum diverted to other subjects that don't get the attention or comment you just gave my post. Please explain this action. Aren't you one of the moderators?

    The "hornets nest" comment was said because the topic is controversial. The information was contributed to the dcdavis as they are in the investigative stage.
     
  8. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    It's a derail - the post is not about if declawing is right, wrong, or debating it. The post is about options for getting it done and recommendations.

    For forum is for discussion - and there are TOPICS within that forum.

    If you want to start a thread about if people should declaw their cats or not - go for it - but it doesn't need to be here. It's rude, especially when doing so in a way to question the original post.

    And dcdavis also EXPLICITLY STATED

    [I'm not looking for a dissertation on the horrors of mutilating your animal - you can start your own thread about that if you want!]
     
  9. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    My apologies to dcdavis.
     
  10. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    We have always declawed the front claws of any cats we owned and they never had any issues. I am also allergic to cats and had I known you could do the back claws...well.. when they jump away fast from me and leave a very long cut on my arm it is a mess and a problem. I have it handled most of the time with washing my hands a lot, and taking singulaire...I told kaosdad we should get an ugly hairless cat next time:pofl:
     
  11. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    For what it's worth, none of the cats I or my family have owned have ever had physical difficulties related to being declawed. The only time I have heard of problems is when reading about how cruel it is. Any medical procedure on animals or humans runs the risk of going wrong.

    I will say, however, that when I read what declawing actually is (removing part of or the entire bone at the tip of the foot) I was surprised. I guess I always assumed the surgery somehow extracted the nail or something. It *sounds* horrible but so does the idea of injecting botulism into your face (aka Botox). Having any living creature spayed or neutered doesn't sound very attractive either but when done correctly is beneficial.

    Training the cat or being fortunate enough to own one that isn't into clawing the furniture is the best option but not always feasible. With one cat I had who was not declawed I tried taping aluminum foil to the part of the chair he liked to claw. It worked but if I took it off he would start up again. I also tried placing the cat scratching board right next to where the cat liked to scratch and that seemed to help a little bit.

    Now if I could convince one of my cats not to poop on the floor next to the litterbox... It's always something.
     
  12. latka

    latka Active Member

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    My mother had her three cats declawed with the laser. Two of them were fine, the third one suffered nerve damage and has had pain ever since.
     
  13. tiff78

    tiff78 Broadlands Resident

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    I worked at a vet office when I was younger. I've seen the declaw process. The way it was done was fast, bloodless, and the vet put a little surgical glue into the hole that was left by removing the claw and the cat(s) were fine.

    Some cats know when their claws have been removed. I had a cat that knew something was wrong the moment I picked her up. And she was never the same again. Started biting and turned mean.

    I've also had cats that were declawed and were amazing, the best I've ever owned.

    And then I've had a cat that was not declawed and she was amazing too, until one day she started clawing my furniture out of the blue. Never understood how she went years without looking at my furniture and then one day clawed them to death! We tried everything to keep her away from them too, never worked.

    I'm not sure I would want to take the chance with nerve damage with the laser, I would want it done the way I saw it done sooo many years ago. Super duper nail clipper and surgical glue.
     
  14. Brewer

    Brewer New Member

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    OK, how about some info you were actually looking for.

    Animal Medical Center of Cascades, (http://www.amccascades.com/) laser declawed our kitten 1.5 years ago. The vet is awesome. She was the personal vet to Socks the cat. (Yes, Billy C's cat) Process was quick, no side effects, and if I remember correctly, expensive. Give them a call to see what they're charging now.

    Brewer.
     
  15. dcdavis

    dcdavis Ooops!!

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    Thanks for the info (for those that posted helpful info).

    I'm not in this to save my furniture or carpet - they've already been victimized. I'm considering it because my cat has a tendency to pounce - she was a stray that we took in while living in Western Loudoun. Bringing her into a suburban neighborhood, where she can't roam around outside, has its downsides. She now has a (seldom) tendency to stalk our ankles or pounce at my toddler.

    With a two year old and a 1 month old, I want to make sure she doesn't hurt them. My wife is even thinking of giving her away (the cat, not the baby!). I thought if declawing might present a workable compromise, then we'd consider it.

    So there - that's the story. Thanks again for everyone's experiences.
     
  16. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I guess I wasn't able to supply much useful information as far as a recommendation. I don't know if they do declawing but the Feline Medical Care Center on Stubble (across from the Ashburn Fire Station) does surgical procedures. We took our cats there for checkups and the staff there was very nice and gentle with our cats. We'll definitely return there when needed.

    Good luck with your search!
     
  17. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Feline Medical CC does NOT do laser claw removal.
     
  18. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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  19. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    SEE??? Cats- unpredictable, mystical, spooky creatures. i would sleep with one eye open and a squirt bottle if i had a cat!!! :)
     
  20. LKelly

    LKelly New Member

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    The REAL danger is the Cold-Wet-Nose-At-3-A.M.!
     

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