Declawing Your Cat

What You Need to Know About Declawing Your Cat

Declawing your cat is an elective surgery but is considered a major surgery. Declawing kittens or adult cats requires the removal of the claw. Because the claw is attached to the cat’s knuckle, the third bone from a cat’s paw is also removed. Dr. Callicott will talk with you about what declawing is and how he performs it with our surgical laser. Dr. Callicott wants you to be able to make an informed decision on behalf of your furry feline friend.

Dr. Callicott only does declaw procedure as well as all other surgeries with the surgical laser. The surgical laser results in less bleeding as well as less pain and a shorter recovery time.

What Should Be Expected in Preparation for Surgery

The night before the surgery we ask that you pick up your kitty’s food bowl at midnight. We have you withhold food because your kitty will be under anesthesia and we do not want them to vomit. A water bowl is still fine. We will call you the night before to remind you of the scheduled surgery, to with-hold food and to arrive at 7:30am.

When you arrive at Petworks you will be greeted by the receptionist and veterinary technician. The technician will answer any questions or concerns that you might have. You will then fill out some consent forms. The technician will take your kitty and begin to prep your kitty for the surgery. We offer a blood screen prior to the surgery to check for infections, organ function, clotting ability and other blood profile information. This is not mandatory but is good to help detect any problems prior to surgery. It also gives a baseline blood profile for your cat.

As with all surgeries, a declaw has its own risks and complications. These may include, but are not limited to- anesthetic complication, infection, bleeding and post operative pain.

Prior to the surgery your kitty will receive an injection to relax them. An IV is placed in their arm to administer anesthesia, and other medications along with fluids during the surgery. A breathing tube is placed to provide oxygen and anesthetic gas during the procedure. A blood pressure cuff is put on among other devices to monitor your cat’s vital signs. Your cat will be monitored by a technician throughout the entire surgery.

Petworks has a state-of-the-art sterile surgery suite for all procedures. It is equipped with monitors, anesthesia machines and the surgical laser. We also follow a pain management protocol to control your cat’s specific needs.

The surgery takes approximately 30 minutes. The incisions are closed with surgical glue. We calculate your cat’s pain management medication for post-operative comfort. Your kitty will then be moved to the post-operative ICU area. Your kitty will be closely monitored by a technician until they recover from the anesthesia. We wrap your furry friend with a warming blanket during their stay in recovery. The technician will call you after the surgery to let you know your cat is in recovery and let you know how the surgery went.

Your cat will stay overnight for observation, pain management and to make sure they are eating and drinking. You will be able to pick up your furry feline friend the next afternoon. The technician will go over discharge instructions with you. This includes using a special litter which is provided to you. You will also take home medication to manage any pain and swelling. An antibiotic injection was already given prior to the procedure. Your kitty will most likely not have any bandages on. The incisions should heal well with minimal discomfort. Of course please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns.

Other Types of Laser Surgery Provided by Petworks: