Anti-Declaw Advocates Score Major Win

Though limited in its scope, the revised AVMA policy on declawing is a step in the right direction. One would hope that the next step would be major revisions in the curruculum in veterinary medicine colleges all over the nation. The teaching of onychectomy (declawing) will obviously not go away. Veterinarians may still be required to perform this technique for the benefit of the cat, as with irreparable injuries to the toes, or in some cases, to repair previously botched declaw surgery. 

However veterinary colleges can and should teach the ethics of declawing along with the surgical techniques. Students should learn the long-term effects of declawing, both physical and as related to behavior. They should learn why cats need to scratch, along with their anatomy lessons. Scratching fulfills certain  necessary functions in cats: stretching to strengthen and tone the muscles of the shoulder and legs, along with "letting off steam," on occasion. Students should also be taught the many alternatives to scratching, such as judicious placement of several scratching posts and pads, claw trimming, and/or the use of plastic nail guards, such as Soft Paws.

The passage of AB395 would give a much-needed boost to the groundswell movement I mentioned earlier, but it will no doubt be fought tooth-and-claw by the AVMA and the CVMA.  Veterinarians, like other medical professionals, do not look kindly on any legislation that may affect their income potential. They should know they will be "shooting themselves in the foot" by this kind of stance with this particular cause for a few reasons:

• A rapidly-increasing number of cat owners are refusing to do business with veterinarians who declaw.  The Declaw Hall of Shame lists several web sites by veterinarians who promote declawing.  And Dr. Christine Schelling has a list of veterinarians who refuse to declaw on her web site. These lists will surely swell as more and more consumers become aware of the perils of this mutilating surgery.
• Conscientious veterinarians can easily make up for their potential income loss, through the sale and application of Soft Paws to cat owners with scratching concerns, by offering grooming and nail-clipping services, or by selling scratching posts and pads, such as the popular Cosmic Alpine Scratcher.
• Anti-Declaw veterinarians can also benefit by increased clientele, as word spreads about their integrity on the declaw issue.

One veterinarian has already found the last suggestion to be true, as related by a forum member:

"I had to take one of my cats to the vet for booster shots today.  When I walked in, I noticed a sign next to the receptionists desk.  It said:

Before asking me information about declawing, please read the booklet below (The booklet showed two photos of a cat: one alive and one after his death.)

This cat never attempted to escape outside prior to his amputation and one month after the amputation bolted past his owner and escaped outside.  The owner could not find him.  2 days later, she was going to work and found her cat laying on the doorstep dead after being in an apparent fight with another animal.  Had he still had his claws, he may have made it.

I refuse to perform this cruel and useless operation so do not even bother asking unless it is deemed medically necessary by me!!!!

(Example of medically necessary:  The cat has done something to it's toe requiring amputation..................)

I thought I would share this with you.  I travel an hour to this vet when there are 2 only 15 minutes away from me.  This is one of the reasons why.  He really cares about his patients."

How much more comfortable would you be with this kind of veterinarian than with  one who attempts to "cross-sell" declawing? "Would you like a declaw with that neuter?" has become as ubiquitous among veterinarians as "Want some fries with that burger" is at you-know-where.

Next > A personal aside to "happy" owners of declawed cats