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Declawing and Debarking Inhumane and Unnecessary Surgeries Inhumane and Unnecessary Surgeries Back to Top All surgeries pose risks. Complications can occur. Mistakes can happen. Therefore, any surgery that is unnecessary should be avoided. Among such companion animal surgeries are those done to correct perceived misbehaviors, specifically declawing cats and debarking dogs. These surgeries are done because owners often do not totally accept the basic nature of cats and dogs or are unwilling to use behavior modification techniques to lessen the impact of these behaviors. Unless there is a medically justifiable reason for such surgeries, they should be avoided. Declawing Back to Top Declawing, known as onychectomy, is not the simple removal of the claw at the end of the cat’s toe. It is the removal of the joint that is attached to that claw. Take a look at your hand. Imagine having your nail removed—but wait, the surgeon has to remove the joint it is attached to as well. So, cut off the ends of your fingers at the last joint and that is the equivalent of declawing a cat. Cats use their claws for numerous activities. They walk on their toes (rather than the pads of their paws), using their claws for balancing, exercising, and stretching. They hook their claws into an object and stretch back and down to give their back and shoulder muscles a good workout. Cats use their claws to mark territory both visually and with scent. Cats use their claws to pick up small toys or catch objects flying through the air. Cats catch prey with their claws. All of these natural, normal behaviors will be altered if a cat is declawed. Surgery and Recovery Back to Top Declawing is a painful surgery, actually 10 painful surgeries—one for each toe and the dew claws. Some owners will have their veterinarians declaw all four paws, leaving the cat totally defenseless. If complications occur during surgery, additional surgeries may be required. For instance, if the joint is not completely removed and the claw grows back in misshapen fashion or if some bone was left in that becomes infected, the cat must undergo another surgery to correct these complications. Other complications include taking too much of the toe further deforming the paw, hemorrhaging, damage to the radial nerve, chronic back and joint pain, lameness, and abscesses. Recovery from declawing is painful, too. After all, the cat still has to walk even though his or her paws are completely bandaged and he or she is in pain from the joint removal. Whether the toes are amputated with a surgical instrument or a laser, which reduces healing time, the cat is still maimed for life. With their ability to walk normally now in jeopardy and their toes misaligned, declawed cats should never be allowed outside. They have lost one of their primary defense mechanisms; and although they may be able to climb trees without their front claws, they will not be able to do so easily. There is another surgery known as tendonectomy, also called flexor tenectomy, where the tendons that extend the toes are severed. Although less traumatic than the traditional declawing surgery, there can still be bleeding, lameness, and infection. Routine nail trimming is imperative following this surgery as the cat cannot file down his or her claws yet the claws continue to grow. They can in fact grow right into the foot pad if they are not trimmed on a regular basis. Although the cat’s paw is not deformed by this surgery, the cat is still not able to use his or her claws in normal fashion. Often, declawing is done in conjunction with spay/neuter surgeries, which are typically performed between two and six months of age. Kittens have not even started any kind of destructive scratching at that young an age, so there is no reason to perform such a brutal surgery on them. Declawing is an elective, nonmedically necessary surgery. It has no benefit to the cat and, in fact, causes the cat great pain with no advantage to his or her well being. This is purely a surgery of convenience to owners. Following surgery, some cats become fearful as they may feel more stress now that one of their primary means of defense is gone. They may hide or resort to biting since their primary defense has been removed. Their feet are tender so scratching in the litter box is painful. They may then use other objects as a litter box—like their owner’s bed. They must learn to rebalance themselves now that their toes have been altered. Now that the cat can no longer mark territory with his or her claws, the cat may mark with other secretions—urine or feces. Of course, some cats come through the surgery with no changes in behavior and recover from the pain of the surgery itself. That does not justify maiming cats in the name of convenience. Owners have said they will give their cat up if they cannot have him or her declawed. Before bringing a cat into your home, think about your lifestyle and whether a cat, with claws, will fit into that lifestyle. If you must have a declawed cat, contact rescue groups to see if they have any cats who have already been declawed. Alternatives to Declawing Back to Top
By the way, it is illegal in some countries and considered inhumane in others to declaw a cat. There are some jurisdictions in the “The cat is treated as if he or she is an inanimate object who can be modified, even to the point of surgical mutilation, to suit a person's perception of what a cat should be. It would seem more ethical and humane to accept that claws and scratching are inherent feline attributes, and to adjust one's life accordingly if a cat is desired as a companion. If this is unacceptable, then perhaps a different companion would be in order.” Debarking Back to Top Debarking, also known as convenience devocalization, bark softening, vocal cordectomy, and ventriculocordectomy, involves removing tissue from the animal’s vocal cords to reduce the volume of the bark. A debarked dog will still bark—just not as loudly. The sound is more of a hoarse, raspy, or husky bark than a full bark. While this surgery has been performed on cats, it is most often associated with dogs. The surgery is performed in one of two ways: going in through the animal’s mouth or through an incision in the throat and then through the larynx. The first method is preferred but both have their risks. The removed tissue may grow back or scar tissue may develop blocking the throat. If either of these occurs, the dog has to undergo a second surgery. Bleeding and infection are other complications of this surgery. Another complication of the surgery, one not often thought of, is the new bark may be just as annoying as the old bark—just not heard at as great a distance. Debarking does not cure the underlying problem of why the dog barks. If there are environmental, psychological, or physical reasons why the dog barks excessively, they will not be addressed with this surgery, so the dog will still be suffering from whatever caused him or her to bark in the first place. Dogs bark. That is what they do. They bark for any number of reasons. They alert us to an intruder—friend or foe. They want our attention—“notice me.” They bark because they are bored or left alone for long periods of time. They bark because they hear other dogs barking. They may be suffering from separation anxiety. They may be happy or excited and want everyone to know that. Barking is a way for dogs to talk to us and to each other. By cutting into their vocal cords, part of their ability to speak the way they want to is removed. This surgery deprives them of a means of expression. Those owners who seek debarking surgeries often live in apartments or close quarters with their neighbors and have either had complaints lodged against them or just simply want to avoid any confrontations. Others who consider debarking surgery are people who have many dogs and want to lower the decibel level. Neither is an acceptable reason to debark a dog. Breeders often find debarking the solution to the noise coming from their kennels. Debarking is outlawed in the Alternatives to Debarking Back to Top
Take Action to Eliminate Unnecessary and Inhumane Surgeries What can you do to protect cats and dogs from undergoing unnecessary and harmful surgeries? First, educate yourself and others on the effects of declawing and debarking. Other humane actions include:
December 2009 Back to Top |