Several Questions About Having Your Pet Declawed

Posted on: 30 August 2017

There are many medical procedures that your pet may require over the time that you own them. Having your pet's claws removed may not have been something you anticipated needing to have done, but it is a fairly routine procedure. Learning more about declawing procedures should enable you to be informed when it concerns meeting the healthcare needs of your pet.

Why Would You Need To Have Your Cat Or Dog's Claws Removed?

Individuals will often assume that declawing procedures are almost exclusively used for protecting furniture against pet caused damage. However, there can be many other instances where a declawing procedure can be prudent. There are some pets that will simply be more aggressive than others, and these animals may use their claws to cause injuries to your family or other pets. Additionally, it can be possible for your pet's claws to become diseased, and removal may be the most effective solution for preventing these health problems from spreading.

What Is The Recovery Like From A Declawing Procedure?

A declawing procedure will be a fairly major event for any pet. It will require total anesthesia, and the pet may need to stay at the veterinary clinic for a day or two for observation. If your pet is a cat, you will need to replace the sand in their litter box with shredded paper to prevent the sand particles from getting in the surgery sites. For dog owners, it will be necessary to keep the dog inside until the feet have fully healed. Throughout the day, you will also need to clean the surgery site and apply medication to it in order to reduce the risk of infection. When you are cleaning the feet, make sure to be as gentle as possible as they will be extremely tender during the healing process, and being too rough when cleaning your pet's feet could make the animal very apprehensive about letting you do this care in the future.

Are The Alternatives To Declawing Effective?

Many individuals may have qualms about putting their pet through the declawing procedure. Often, these individuals will want to explore other alternatives. Unfortunately, you may find that these alternatives are not as effective. Many of these alternatives will involve putting protective caps over the claws to keep them from causing scratches, but it can be fairly easy for a pet to remove these caps. In situations where the declawing is being done in response to disease, there may simply not be an alternative that will effectively combat the disease.

For more information, contact establishments like Animal House Veterinary Hospital.

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