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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

821.0. "Declawing: My Experience" by LAIDBK::RESKE (See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Gossip Like H*ll!) Fri Oct 09 1987 15:35

    
    A fellow feline noter suggested I tell you about my kitten's
    adventures in declawing.  
    
    First of all let me say that T.C. is an indoor-only cat.  He was
    destroying my house piece by piece and the usual means of 
    curbing his activities (spary bottle, loud NO!) were not working.
    I took the little guy to get declawed (front only) and everything
    appeared to be fine and he came home 4 days later.  When I picked
    him up, the vet said he would be 'fussing after' his paws for a
    while but it was nothing to be concerned about.
    
    After a week, I noticed that he was chewing at his pads on his 
    front paws.  I called the vet and he said to bring him in.  When
    I got home that day (Friday) the poor guy had just about completely
    chewed his large pad off and his right foot was bleeding.  I took him
    to the vet (I was just in tears) and the vet said it could be
    phantom pains.  I told him that although he was chewing at his feet
    he was still running, jumping and playing as usual and didn't appear
    to be in any pain.
    
    To make a what is becoming a long story a little shorter, they kept
    him for almost 2 weeks and did further surgery on his feet to remove
    the next digit since he had done such extensive damage to his feet.
    He didn't have the phantom pains.  The vet thinks he did it more
    as a psychological reaction to the loss. He's doing ok now and he's 
    going to the vets tonight to get his stitches out.
    
    I don't think I would ever declaw a cat again after what I've been
    through with my 'baby'.  I'm not telling anyone they shouldn't do
    it since most times it turns out just fine.  I just wanted to share
    my experience with you and if you do decide to declaw you cat be
    aware of the possible outcomes.
    
    
    Donna 
    
    After_all_that_my_baby_still_loves_mom!
    
    
    

    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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821.1Poor kittyCIVIC::WINBERGFri Oct 09 1987 16:368
    If you were a steak lover and came across one that was tough, would
    you stop eating steak?
    
    Whatever the planned procedure, the owner has every right (and certain
    responsibility) to check with the vet ahead of time as to *possible*
    adverse reactions.
    
    Declawing is always done on *just* the *front* paws.
821.2SYMPATHETICTPVAX2::ROBBINSFri Oct 09 1987 17:569
       I really hate this subject but to be fair to the originator if
    when I had brought my two kids in to be declawed...  if either one
    of them would have such a bad experience...  I'd be doing the exact
    same thing.  I would have let everyone know in this notesfile what
    happened to mine.  I am for declawing if it's the last resort and
    believe wholeheartedly that it can be done with no harm to the cat.
    My two are fine and the numerous people that I've known that have
    it done their's have been fine also.  I appreciate the originator
    for putting her story in here and hope her kitty is just fine......
821.3NRADM3::CONGERFri Oct 09 1987 18:4810
    
    re: rear declaws
    
    	No, declawing isn't done just on the front paws. I think
    you mean to say you think it should only be done on the fronts.
    I worked in an animal hospital, and the price list said `declaws
    - front only $40, front and back $60.'
    	Now, this is not a flame - I don't think rear declaws are
    neccesary, either. At least not in normal situations...
       
821.4scratching treesIRT::HABERFri Oct 09 1987 19:2714
    Sorry to hear about your cat.  I hope he is better.
    
    I have 2 indoor cats that I will not have declawed.  To stop them
    from ripping things apart, I had my brother build me a cat tree
    and had it covered with carpet.  These cat trees can be bought in
    pet stores or probably through pet food stores.  As soon as I noticed
    either cat scratching on any of the furniture, I picked him/her
    up and put the cats paws on the tree.  It didn't take long for the
    cats to use the tree as a climbing and scratching post.  In fact,
    it is sometimes difficult to get them off the tree.
    
    If you don't have room for a tree, get something that they can stretch
    and scratch on.  They will leave the furniture alone.
    
821.5Which HospitalSALES::RFI86Fri Oct 09 1987 19:274
    What animal hospital was this? Most hospitals will not do rear declaws.
    At least not the ones I've talked with. Not a flame, just wondering.
    
    							Geoff
821.6Huh???AQUA::GOLDMANMatt GoldmanFri Oct 09 1987 20:3112
Re< Note 821.1 by CIVIC::WINBERG >:


>    If you were a steak lover and came across one that was tough, would
>    you stop eating steak?
    
I'm going to plead ignorance here.  I really don't have a clue on what the 
above is supposed to mean in relation to the base note or the rest of .1.

I've read both notes several times and I am still thinking "huh?".

How about enlightening me?
821.7What hospital?GRECO::MORGANDoris Morgan DTN 223-9594Fri Oct 09 1987 22:525
    re .0
    
    Please let me know what hospital performed your cat's declawing.
    I'm having my young cat declawed next week (front paws only) and
    want to avoid any problems like your cat suffered.
821.8NRADM3::CONGERMon Oct 12 1987 10:537
    
    
    re .5
    
    	It was NEICM in West Boylston, MA. (and I would not recommend
    that place to anybody).
    
821.9TPVAX2::ROBBINSMon Oct 12 1987 11:1415
         I had my two cats declawed at the Hudson Animal Hospital in
    Hudson, N.H.  There were no problems at all for the noter who is
    having their cat declawed.  They expected my call everyday like
    clock work to check up on them and were very very helpful with any\
    questions or concerns I had.  
    
         As far as the rear declawing issue their policy and as far
    as I know most vets will not rear declaw unless the OWNER requests
    it.  It is not a standard practice.
    
         I got the steak lover example.  I think the noter was just
    saying if you really needed to declaw your cat would you let the
    incidents that turned out bad outweigh the ones that you knew worked
    out fine.  And that is totally up to the owner.  No FLAMES this
    is too much of a personal decision......
821.10SKETCH::BASSETTRetirement - Year 2034Tue Oct 13 1987 16:3311
    Re: .0
    
    Sorry about your bad experience.
    
    I have an indoor kitty myself and thought about declawing but then
    thought again and I'm glad I did.  I have new furniture but it wasn't
    THAT expensive.  She hasn't started to claw it yet anyways but if
    she did that would have to be OK.  Ok, I am a push over but this
    is my first baby and want her to do whatever makes her happy.
    
    Linda