Frequently Asked Questions
Declawing : Is it necessary? Is it cruel?
The advisability of declawing the family cat has long been a hotly debated topic in veterinary forums across our country and worldwide. The following is a series of considerations that might make the decision easier for you and your family.
The first thing to consider is the environment of the cat in question. Cats which spend some or all of their time outdoors are rarely good candidates for declawing. They need their claws to both defend themselves and escape (via climbing) dangerous situations (dogs, cats, etc.). The exception being the cat whose time outdoors is supervised by its owner.
Another consideration is the cat's temperament. If the cat is content to sharpen its claws on a scratching post or other non-furniture item, again, declawing this cat might not be the best alternative. On the other hand, if a cat cannot be kept from damaging expensive furniture, declawing is certainly better than euthanizing the offending cat.
A cat's temperament is also important in the sense of how dangerous a cat is to be around. There are cats which are great pets, but which will occasionally decide to attack a family member and can draw blood. Most of these cats are merely playing too rough, but if this type of incident happens too often, again, declawing is preferable to euthanasia.
The question of the pain involved in the declaw procedure is a serious consideration for most pet owners, and does need to be carefully regarded before the decision to declaw is finalized. The declaw procedure is one of the more painful of the "routine" surgeries done at the average veterinary clinic. The average cat can be expected to be sore on his front paws for two weeks following surgery, or longer in older, heavier animals. Heights Veterinary Clinic has been able to address this issue with the use of the CO2 laser. As the laser cuts through tissue, it cauterizes both blood vessels and nerves, which results in a much cleaner surgery. A surgery from which the average cat awakes almost completely pain free, showing no outward sign of discomfort. In fact, the cats are so comfortable that we have found it necessary to caution owners against letting their pets be too active after surgery to avoid putting too much stress on the toes.
Any time surgery is performed, there are inherent risks and benefits to be weighed. The best decision is made after considering all the pertinent information and discussing it with everyone involved. Hopefully, this discussion has been helpful in your decision making process. If we can be of any assistance, or if you have questions, please feel free to call.
Dietary Therapy:
One of the most rapidly advancing aspects of veterinary medicine is the field of nutritional therapy. As research reveals more and deeper associations between diet and various diseases, Companies such as Hill's Pet Nutrition are developing newer and more effective diets to both prevent and manage a widening array of maladies.
Hill's k/d prescription diet has been extending and improving the quality of life for animals in renal failure for years. Now, the introduction of Prescription Diet l/d promises similar benefits for animals with hepatic disease by tailoring the animal's nutrient intake to protect and support liver function. Similarly, dogs with age-related cognitive dysfunction have been shown to benefit from Prescription Diet b/d.
In addition to the Hill's Prescription Diet line of pet foods, Hill's also makes Science Diet pet foods, designed to keep your pet healthy through all ages and lifestyles.
FIV Vaccine:
Fel-O-Vax FIV, the first licensed feline AIDS (FIV) vaccine, is now available for our feline patients. The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) causes a fatal immune suppression in infected cats and is a relatively common pathogen in our area. Like the human AIDS disease, there is no cure. The virus is usually acquired via bite wounds, so outdoor cats are at an increased risk of exposure.
There are several ways to decrease risk of FIV exposure in addition to vaccination:
- Limit exposure of indoor cats to outdoor cats
- Have any new cats tested prior to joining an existing cat population
- Isolation of aggressive cats to minimize the risk of bite wounds
