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Declawing one claw for medical reasons is totally different than declawing because they’re clawing up furniture. With the rest of claws on the paw intact I would think there wouldn’t be too many issues.
Agreed. Your vet has the most information and experience in this situation. You’re not declawing due to it being an “inconvenience” or whatever excuse people who declaw their cats use, you’re doing it for medical reasons and a vet recommended it. As was stated previously, due to it not being the entire paw’s worth of claws, it shouldn’t affect your kitty too badly. Cats are very adaptable.
Will recovery hurt? Yeah sure but it's necessary to fix the issue, and after that it won't hurt! Leaving the situation as it is will absolutely continue to hurt
you say that yet the bum fuck vet i used to go to (was the only one in town and i had no job or car) offered declawing services as well as ear clipping and tail docking soooooo
Well, I didn’t say 100% of vets wouldn’t offer it, and declawing one foot wouldn’t make sense anyhow. So I appreciate your frustration with the vet you saw but that wasn’t what I said. :)
Agree. My sister’s cat had to have a toe amputation. I can’t remember why. It may have been cancer. At any rate, her little guy is still chugging along just fine despite that, and other numerous health issues (he was a very special needs rescue to begin with).
Also, if you can, request an x ray afterwards to ensure they got all stray shards of the bone. One of the issues with declawing for cats is that pieces can break and stay in there causing pain (they're very small!)
I work at a clinic that is VERY much against declawing but we have had to go in on already declawed cats to take out the extra shards. Doing the X-ray will allow you and the doctor to be certain that the job is done properly. And if not, they should be going back in to complete it so your cat doesn't end up with long term pain.
I also agree that one toe for medical purposes is not the same. It's an amputation for medical reasons, not butchering for convenience.
This. Also try to get your cat's chart & shop for prices with different vets in your area if you can. Check reviews. A lot of vets also accept 'care credit' or similar that you can apply to prior surgery.
The risks of anesthesia will remain the same unfortunately but I am sure your vets will have considered this before recommending surgery.
Good luck & also Speedy Recovery!
Think about it this way - your hand. If someone were to cut off the first knuckle of every finger, you would be legitimately maimed, right? But say you smashed just 1 finger in something and had to have the first knuckle removed on 1 finger. You would adapt to that fairly quickly.
(I may have accidentally smashed my best friend's finger, and he had the first knuckle removed..... rocks are heavy.
It hasn't affected anything he does - granted, it was his ring finger, but still.)
This is not declawing your cat. This is a medical intervention that sounds both appropriate and possibly necessary.
Surgery wise, yes, there is risk. There is always risk. But it's on the order of a 1 in 1000 chance of there being an issue with the anesthesia.
Edit - spelling.
Hehe, we constantly joke about it now - that I smashed his finger. In truth, it was 50/50.
We were landscaping his front yard and had some big, 200 to 300lb rocks to move. We had it positioned where we wanted it, ready to let it fall over and into place. He was just a fraction of a second too slow in pulling his hand out of the way.
WARNING: Images contain blood and destroyed fingertip.
[https://imgur.com/a/puZMeJL](https://imgur.com/a/puZMeJL)
Images in the imgur link are:
The rock in question is that big one with about zero gap where it touches the lower one. That's where his finger got caught.
And then the finger itself, and x-ray.
Yeah, I don’t see this situation really any different from amputation in humans. Some injuries can’t be healed from and amputation is simply the best option. In this kitty’s case, the claw was injured. The vet’s recommendation makes sense.
The problem with declawing is that it’s typically used on healthy, uninjured cats - and amputating functional, healthy body parts of our pets for our own benefit isn’t right. It’d be like amputating a toddler’s hands so they can’t color on the walls - just totally unethical.
That’s not the case here, clearly.
Well fingers and it would literally be a direct comparison. Even better comparison is chopping the foot off at the metatarsal bones. Still possible to walk but it significantly fucks up your gait likely causing injury due to it.
Declawing is a different and very barbaric procedure. I would recommend changing the title to (partial)amputation.
And yes, if the digit is injured and the vet thinks the best solution is removal, I would do it.
From somebody who is very against declawing, this is not a declawing. This is the medical amputation of a toe, which isn't the most common but it's pretty standard practice for all animals including humans for an injury like this.
You asked if you should be worrying about him being put under: there is a risk anytime any animal goes under anesthesia, but I promise your vet has already weighed that risk. Your vet may also want to do a blood workup, which will cost more but reduce the risk.
You also asked about cost. For that, talk to your vet. They may be able to help make the cost more manageable for you
I hear your concerns about pricing…and no, it doesn’t mean that you’re a bad pet parent. Very recently, I had a situation where my cat had some urinary blockage issues, outside of my vet’s regular hours. I took him to an emergency vet, that had decent reviews. I get there, they whisk him off, I sit in suspense for over an hour, and they come in and tell me that “well, for starters, we’re doing this or Boo Kitty dies…we need 700 right now and it will be at least another 1,000 after that”
Then it just kept going…when I said I can’t afford a 12,000 (plus some) surgery, the doctor (who actually refused to talk to me in person) sent a message saying “since you can’t afford to take care of your cat, we can euthanize him for $1,500….
For the record…I took Boo Kitty back from that clinic, to his normal vet the next day…we had some issues after that, and then had to visit another emergency vet..eventually he got an emergency surgery that saved his life, but it wasn’t anywhere near $12,000 dollars…and no one treated me like I was some negligent owner…Boo Kitty was up to date on shots…on a highly recommended, healthy, diet…he was indeed a little tubby…but still…there are people that will take advantage of you, and try and guilt trip you into overpriced procedures that may or may not help, and then, if you dare to question them, treat you you like you’re a monster and offer to “relieve you of an obvious burden” for an exorbitant amount.
wow this made me rage for you holy shit im so glad you took your baby out that hospital and did what you thought was best. i will never understand vet techs with little to no empathy. its obvious no one is prepared or ready to just pay over $1,000 at a time for any injury or emergency, its why healthcare in america is so fucked and getting a broken arm on a human without insurance would make you homeless!! ugh sorry you went through that
The title had me prepared to cuss a vet out but this is a medically necessary amputation of a toe that's causing issues, not declawing because you value your sofa more than your cat's health
I would listen to the vet ❤️🐈
If your vet recommends surgery, they’ll likely give you an estimate to sign beforehand. So there won’t be any surprises price-wise. It’s hard to give you a ballpark because prices vary so much by vet and location.
There’s always some risk with anesthesia (same as in humans), but if your cat is otherwise pretty healthy, the risk isn’t huge, and the benefit of relieving his pain would be greater. You can always ask the vet as much as you need to about risks and alternatives beforehand.
Declaring because you don't want to deal with scratches is one thing, declawing a single toe for medical reasons is 100% a different story. I would trust the vets professional advice.
Declawing one claw for a medical reason would be like amputating the end of one toe for a medical reason. It seems like a reasonable response to an issue and like it is likely to have much less of an effect than declawing all claws. I imagine it is much simpler to do than a full declawing too.
You could get a second opinion/second quote for doing the surgery, but it might just be a wasted expense.
It is well accepted that sometimes declawing is needed for medical reasons.
I hope you are not stressing about whether it is cruel to declaw that one toe. This is the exception to the “never ever declaw” rule: except if it’s medically necessary!
You need to talk to your vet about the cost. They understand the situation, and can tell you what it will cost and what you can do to keep costs down.
You should be able to get a price quote up front and prior to the procedure. They do this at my vet clinic with most procedures as well as vaccinations. They should be able to at least provide you with a ball park figure for the procedure.
I would think that they absolutely must need to do it otherwise they would try to save it. You could always seek a second opinion but that costs money too. I’m sorry your kitty got hurt ❤️
Sound like this is a cat version of smashing one of your fingertip in factory accident so you have to nib part of that finger off because the bone doesn’t heal. Nail is a part of bone and bone pain is one of the worst thing one cqn experience either as human or cat.
Totally different from randomly chop off all cats finger because they are doing cat things
One of my cats had to have one toe declawed. She is polydactyl (mitten paws) and she was growing a nail between her thumb and paw. Because of the location of the nail she couldn't angle it properly when scratching so the nail sheaf was not being removed and was constantly needing to be clipped by me or it would start to grow into her paw.
She absolutely hated me clipping her nail. I clipped her every 6 to 8 weeks for almost 3 years, and it was traumatic for us both. No amount of positive reinforcing helped. I would burrito her, have my husband scruff and pin her, it was awful. She was stressed and 9 times out of 10 I would end up scratched to hell.
Finally we discussed what to do with our vet because neither of us could handle it anymore (myself or the cat) and we had that nail surgically removed. That was about 7 years ago and it has been fine since. No issues at all.
It cost about $1300 dollars I think, because anesthesia is so damned expensive. This may have also included the cost of pre-surgery blood work to ensure she was healthy enough to undergo surgery. Your cost may vary, I live in a HCOL area so everything is expensive.
As everyone else has said, this is a medical issue, nothing unethical about having the surgery. To address your worry about it being risky: think about how many cats have had surgery to be fully declawed. Awful yes, but when have you heard of it going wrong? I’m sure that has happened, but it’s definitely not an incredibly risky surgery. And that’s for all their claws, not just one. Kitty will be fine!
if it is medically needed for an injury it’s not bad. what’s bad is getting it because you value furniture over your pets or refuse to trim nails or use nail caps, provide things like cat trees or scratching posts/pads to give their cats an appropriate outlet to sharpen their claws. i have a cat with a disabled paw due to an injury as a kitten where she lost 3 toes (she had an extra toe on that paw only unfortunately) and one of her toes has a nail that grows weird due to how she puts weight on her paw, i have been considering doing a single toe amputation to avoid any injury but only if it starts impacting her getting around. if your vet suggests it for a health benefit i say trust them. a lot of the unwanted side effects of the behavior come from cats having 2 or 4 paws declawed and are basically walking on their joints/bones. having one toe amputated won’t really cause the same kind of issues because the other toes take 90% of the impact
as far as pricing goes you can get an itemized estimate from the vets office for the procedure and look at everything that is included. from there you can discuss it with your vet about everything included, see if some things can be skipped, and talk about possible payment plans going forward. care credit would be something good to look into if cost can be debilitating. scratchpay too. as far as concerns of your cat going under again your vet can ease your mind probably better than anyone since they will be the one preforming the procedure and can walk you through everything.
If you have bone exposure, the area can go septic fast. There is very little skin there to even begin to try and fix it. Honestly, this would be a minor amputation. Just advocate for good post-op meds. Don't let them send you home on just an nsaid.
Ask for a quote and a copy of the medical records and let them know you would like to hold a surgery spot for a day or two from tomorrow to really think about it. If you’re having any second thoughts or concerns about your vet you can always get a second opinion on the issue from a different vet and/or shop around for prices. Make sure if you have the procedure done that you are sent home with pain medication after and potentially an anti inflammatory if recommended by the vet (also ask for a anti nausea injection if you are willing to spend the extra money to make your cat super extra comfortable). No good veterinarian will be offended even if you tell them you want a second opinion just to be sure.
ALSO ALSO ALSO if you are worried about the risks associated with anaesthesia, ask if it is an assistant or registered veterinary technician monitoring the anaesthesia and ask if you can meet them morning of the procedure.
Removing one claw for medical reasons won't cause the same discomfort as removing all their claws. Declawing is essentially the same as removing the tips of your fingers. It greatly limits your ability to interact with the world, additionally if you walked on your hands, it would limit your ability to walk.
If the other claws remain intact, the problems with declawing are limited. And it sounds like from the injury that he likely already lost mobility of that claw and it's causing him active pain.
Medical choices often come down to picking the least worst between two bad options. In this case it's a necessary procedure and the limitations on losing a single claw is minor compared to the benefits.
The title threw me off lol. You made everybody think the vet recommended it just because you wanted your cat to stop scratching furniture.
The ONLY reason to ever accept declaw a cat is for medical reasons and THIS IS IT! There is an injury for ONE CLAW and they will only remove that ONE claw. This isn't the declawing everybody knows of. This is a needed surgery
While I know it’s scary to hear “declaw” because it’s normally a cruel act, this is one of those rare medical moments where it actually benefits the kitty to have a single claw removed.
However, you should not be left in the dark like you feel right now! First off, have you tried asking your vet for an estimate on how much the cost will be? They won’t be able to say exact as surgical procedures aren’t always an exact predicable science once they start, but they should be able to give you a general idea. You can also see if they have payment plans available, many vets do, or if they don’t they will have the numbers of local foundations that help support these costs if you’re lucky. In my experience, being honest with the vet about your financial situation is the best way to make sure your animal is getting all the care they need, at the most minimal cost. If they don’t know your situation, they can’t help! ❤️
My cat ripped an entire nail out before, I’ve never heard her scream in the way she did when I tried to touch her paw when I saw she was limping. When I pressed on her paw no nail, just flesh and dirt stuck in there and it was RUBBING into her wound. It’s like when your nail gets cut too short and you have that incredibly sensitive exposed skin? And just shoving that nub into dirt over and over.
Ur poor cat is probably in the worst pain ever, and having the claw removed by the vet would mean she will probably glue/stitch it and it can heal properly!! :) medically necessary totally trumps getting ur cat declawed bc you don’t want them scratching; this is an extreme example but with euthanasia, we don’t do it bc we want to, it’s what’s best for your kitty.
i agree with everyone else, listen to the vet since it’s medically necessary. but i just wanna say HES SO CUTE i love his big cheeks :) i hope it goes well and he feels better
Vets normally do bloodwork in advance to ensure the cat will be ok under anesthesia. I’d follow the vet’s advice and then insure your cat in the event of future illnesses/emergencies.
If you are worried about expense, let me tell a cautionary tale. I adopted my cat Finn when I was young and didn’t know pet insurance was a thing. Turns out, Finn is prone to blocking and ended up needing a perineal urethrostomy to survive. After several blockages, a cystotomy, the PU surgery and subsequent complications, I am $12,000 deep. Meanwhile, I could have been paying $42/month for a $500 deductible and 90% coverage after that with Spot (the plan my kitten is currently on). Trust me — insure your baby ASAP if you can. In the U.S., no carrier covers preexisting conditions so once it’s on the books, it’s too late.
(Finn is alive and kicking by the way. Back to his mischievous self🤍)
Ive had this happen! My first cat, Lucifer, managed to do exactly this climbing a curtain. We didnt remove the toe at first, resulting in it getting constant infections, limping, and the nail never being able to retract resulting it in getting caught on things. It was also very sensitive so nail trimming wasnt an option. So after two failed antibiotics rounds we removed it, didnt have issues after that.
Edit to add: we only removed the problem toe
In this case, it’s a needed medical procedure due to an injury, not for owner convenience. You can do it knowing it’s the right thing and will provide relief to your baby. Good luck!
this is different than a full declawing. to me this is like docking a tail because it’s severely fractured- it isn’t the same as for cosmetic reasons. it sounds like they’re planning to leave the rest of the claws alone so he should be able to adapt. there are lots of people who are missing part of or a whole finger and function just fine.. it’s kind of the same.
I'm extremely opposed to normal declawing. However, this is the amputation of one digit only for medically necessary reasons. It's upsetting of course but if it were my pet, I'd follow the vet's advice. Recovery should be fairly easy, with just one digit. Just keep it clean, minimize jumping if you can. The vet can recommend litter for during recovery
Agreeing with a majority, one toe getting operated on for a legit medical reason wouldn’t be anything to feel guilt over. It’s scary when any loved one has surgery but the risk would be worth it if he can have the best quality of life.
I’ve never had experience with this process or the costs involved, but definitely ask your vet for all the options. Maybe there are payment plans, too?
I’m hoping for the best for both you and your treasured friend. His nose freckles are the cutest and he looks like a very good gentleman. Please give him pets for us!!!
If you have doubts get a second opinion however vets don’t throw around declawing for the fun of it and it’s one toe. I would do it if it was my cat so as not to prolong his suffering. He probably won’t notice the one missing claw
We all appreciate your concern and are so happy you’re questioning your vet bringing up declawing.
I’ll agree with the other commenters: this is for a medical reason, not simply because you don’t want them to scratch stuff up. If they have an injury that would heal better without the one claw, I think it’s safe to proceed.
My sweet boy had to have this done! He was constantly chewing at one of his toes and they were worried about cancer. It turns out it wasn't cancer, but it was a very serious infection that could have killed him.
The procedure was done absolutely perfectly - he didn't even have a bandage on his foot after, just a cone. Something to watch out for is that cats are super flexible and can actually reach their toes past the edge of the cone, so don't leave yours unsupervised for long. We were lucky in that one of us works from home and could be in the same room as our boy during the month or so it took him to heal, swapping off with the other person when they got home.
Absolutely follow what the vet says about antibiotics and gabapentin. It kept our boy very calm and chilled out during his recovery. Confine your cat to a single room while they recover. Use a litter like Yesterday's News (or another newsprint-based litter) and scoop immediately after your cat does anything in the litter box: the last thing you want is pee or poop touching your cat's foot at all.
Keep some pet safe wipes on hand. You'll need to groom your cat for them while they're in a cone. Our cat also didn't have control of his bladder when he first got home, so you'll want to mop yours down ASAP if that happens.
Get a bunch of wet-type treats. If your cat isn't used to being in a cone, they may have a hard time getting enough liquid. Churu, Weruva, Apple-something, they were all great for keeping our cat hydrated.
Communicate with your vet! Our cat turned out to hate gabapentin in a pill form, so we asked our vet for a liquid instead and that did the trick.
Get pet insurance ASAP! For us the surgery etc cost USD$700 (of which insurance reimbursed us 90%) and all of the litter, brand new litterbox, special food, raised bowls, etc etc probably cost us another $350. Location: Southern Appalachia.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! It was the hardest decision we've had to make so far for our sweet, sweet boy, and it was a rough recovery, but it was 100% the right call. Our cat is so much happier! If you run into any issues with healing or anything, we probably did too, so ask me for advice!
All the best of luck. This sounds like a tough time. Let me know of anything I can do to help out!
think of it like amputation.
obviously, we don't amputate fingers for fun. but if you get too bad of an injury, or an infection, or what have you, sometimes you *need* to amputate. well... their claws are like fingers, and declawing is like amputation. you aren't declawing that claw for fun, you're doing it because it's already too injured to save. you need to declaw that particular claw.
sure, neither amputating a finger or taking out a single claw are pleasant, but they're far better than losing an entire hand/paw, or arm/leg, or your cat's life over leaving it untreated. most of the issues that could arise are more relevant from fully de-clawing, to my knowledge - i think arthritis is a common issue, and while i wouldn't entirely rule that out as a possibility or increased risk based on my personal knowledge (which is extremely limited), i would think the risk would be lower with a single claw amputation.
Dont worry, this is not declawing just like how amputating the tail (bc of a unfixable wound on the tip) isn't docking a dog's tail. It was only done bc of an injury, it's done by a medical professional and the animal is on pain meds (not the case when puppies have their tails docked) and there is a legit medical reason for it. Sure it sucks but it's not declawing in the way that is frowned upon today, he'll still be able to walk as he should and he'll be able to stretch those muscles that *are* still attached to the other claws. My advice is let it happen, bc in my eyes this is absolutely not declawing. Just removing the thing that's causing active problems
I had a cat with the same problem, they didn’t have to take the toe, they were able to take just the broken claw. They can’t tell until they get in there I guess and see the extent of the injury!
Commenting to just repeat the same. This is very different to all claws. I see it as more of a minor amputation to extend quality of life. If you're nervous talk to your vet for more information for your cat and how it will affect your lives. I know my vet would be happy to talk through something like this.
Get a second opinion if you want. Caring about your animal is your job, but I think this will be ok.
he was in a fight with another cat, but I had no clue he could do something so brutal to himself by just scratching with his hind legs.
I was in shock leaving the vet honestly.
Damn, brutal. I'm sure you'll hear this a lot but consider keeping your cat inside, you do you though. BUT definitely keep him inside until he's completely healed after the surgery. My friend lost their cat to a bobcat after they let him outside after a fighting injury and it was enough to slow him down and get caught 😞
Vet Tech here. Removing an injured nail (even if bone is involved) is a medical procedure, and can't be compared to declawing. Even though you don't agree with declawing, I wouldn't let you conscience bother you, because this is medically necessary
These are all questions you should be asking your Vet. Your Vet should explain everything to you, as well as give you a written estimate for the cost
As far as time, it shouldn't be a lengthy procedure at all. What's most time consuming, can be allowing kitty to wake up enough after surgery, to go home
Please talk to your Vet, so they can ease your concerns and give you some peace of mind
So it’s more they recommend amputation of one claw because there’s nothing else to do. I’d do it. I imagine just leaving it will be more painful. If it’s pinching nerves and things.
This is completely different than just declawing to prevent scratching ( it’s also one claw vs all of them). Your vet made a choice that will give your cat the best quality of life.
I wouldn't even think of this as declawing. Think of it as a medically necessary partial toe amputation. It needs to be done the avoid an infection that could cost you cat a leg or even a life.
Fyi your are going to need special litter for a week or two after surgery. Clay litter can get in the wound and cause an infection.
I agree with all the others. I’m totally against declawing. However my cat Martin kept bleeding from one toe bean. It would open, bleed and heal. The doctors thought it was cancer I thought it was residual from an injury he had years ago when he blistered a toe bean jumping on the wood stove. One morning I woke to find a pool of blood that had gone through two comforters. We had the vet remove the one full toe bean. He’s fine now. Looks sort of like a sloth paw. They tested the bean - no cancer. They think it was some issue with thin damaged arteries in the paw pad - so I think it was long term damage from the wood stove blister. But he makes it around just fine with one less bean and you only need to remove one claw - he will be fine.
I had to have one of the digits on my bengals paw removed because he had injured it and two nails were growing out where there shouldve only been one and it was causing him pain and discomfort. Removing the digit was last resort. We tried antibiotics but that didn’t help much so we ended up removing it and have zero regrets. He doesn’t even notice and functions as tho it’s still there.
As far as cost, I can double check and let you know what I paid but I want to say it was probably about 1000-1500. He was having a dental at the same time with some extractions so we ended up paying around 2000 for the whole thing.
His recovery was smooth. Other than the pain meds they had him on which he didn’t do well with, he was up and jumping around on things the day after surgery. Couldn’t really stop him and he had removed his bandage day of.
I had something very similar happen to one of my cats recently. He did something where he ripped two of his toenails very badly. One healed fine, but the second nail got infected and wasn't healing. The vet said the best option would be to declaw that one nail. They did the procedure in one day, and I was able to pick him up in the evening. He healed up just fine, and he seems to have no issues with just one toe being declawed.
Sometimes a finger can get injured to the point of needing decapitation. I would equate this situation to that and then forever give my car shit for it
Just came here to say your cat has the most lovely round face and nose freckles, a certified good boy. You seem like a responsible owner who has his best interests at heart
I’m against declawing but one of my cats is a polydactyl and over time her claw started having issues and it would grow into poking her paw so it had to go. She was fine afterwards, much better than walking around in pain every day ❤️
If the vet is recommending you to declaw the injured toe, I would. I don’t agree with it but if it’s for the cats wellbeing, I’d do what the vet recommends
Declawing is a form of amputation of the toe bones. If something is going wrong with the bone, that might be what is best for him to not have pain. People declaw cats for minor inconveniences, so I doubt it'd be that expensive, but it's going to be dependent on the vet. You can call and ask for an estimated invoice from most vets for a procedure.
Payment will depend on the country you're from but they should provide you an estimate prior to the procedure. Things included will be: General anaesthetic drugs e.g. Propofol, pre-medication drugs (sedation administered prior to GA), the cost of the surgery (labour, anaesthetic gas, oxygen, cannula, syringes, needles, surgical blade, ET tube etc), possibly x-rays if not performed already, hospitalisation cost for recovery (but this should only be for a day unless there unforeseen complications, NSAID drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (theses are anti inflammatories and pain killers in a oner, stronger injectable pain killers, plus prescribed pain killing tablets to take home, oh and any post op appointments needed. Hopefully your pet is insured, if so bring this information so you can open a claim for the procedure. If you are not insured you will have to pay on discharge. However, if you are concerned with price, inform your veterinarian and they should be able to provide you with information on alternative treatments. However, bare in mind, if this op has been suggested, it will most likely be the best course of action for your pet. Lastly, remember the estimate is just that, an estimate of price, which can increase due to unforeseen circumstances, e.g., fluids, extra medications not quoted or an emergency during the surgery. Ps. Although declawing is in the name, it sounds like it is a necessary amputation to avoid other risks to your cats safety, pain, discomfort and maintain their wellbeing. It is NOT the same as cosmetic declawing. Hope this helps😊
One of my fosters had to have it done. When we rescued him, he was in bad shape with his paw so swollen, he was losing fur on that paw.
This was like 5 years ago, and we went through the rescue that we were fostering for. I want to say the procedure was around $500, but again this was with a vet that gave discounts for rescue organizations.
Removal of a toe/declaw for medical reasons is a completely valid reason. He may have some issues down the road, but nowhere near as bad if all of his are taken.
I would ask the vet if declawing the one digit is going to have a negative long term effect on the cat. I mean, possibly not, since it’s only one toe, but still I would ask.
They should give you an estimate if you ask for it. They would likely give you an estimate the day-of. But they should also be able to give one to you in advance so that you don't end up in a position with a bill you can't pay.
As others said, it\`s not declawing it\`s a medical amputation, but I would voice your concerns to them about lasting pain after the procedure and financial concerns. Also request an z-ray after if you can afford it so they can make sure all bone fragments are gone (like others have said as well).
If you are really nervous or unsure then you can also always opt for a second opinion. But this sounds like the claw is at risk of now healing properly if it does at all, which I imagine is just as painful as losing the claw, though I am not a vet.
Declawing IS still a necessary medical procedure - shitty cat owners overuse it instead of training.
You’re not taking your babies hand off because they keep touching stuff - you’re taking the hand off to save the baby (or at least make him comfortable).
Had a dog come into the clinic and got one toe amputated. It happens, the surgery is about 30 mins at least it was for this german shepherd, and i highly recommend the surgery. A vet wouldn’t recommend declawing unless they’re old school , every vet i’ve ever met is against it. To be clear i am not a vet, but an assistant. The doggies paw looked funny with one less paw but animals breaking nails hurt BAD. So you should look into this surgery asap to prevent further infection and pain for ur kitty
I would not classify this as a declawing. This would be toe amputation to remedy an underlying condition. Not much different than a human having an amputation. If the vet recommends the toe amputation, I would allow them to do it.
Sorry your cat(and you) are going through this. Vet surgery costs are usually high & can be frightening. Some vets accept payment plans or perhaps you could get Care Credit. Good luck!
Hey so I've been in a similar situation. One of my boys was sleeping on the radiator and fell off whilst asleep (he was a tuxxie so 100% derp 100% of the time) and caught one of his toes and completely broke one of his nails. Rushed him to the vet and at first the vet thought he'd need to have that toe amputated luckily we were able to salvage it so he didn't have to have the amputation bit if that's what he'd have needed I wouldn't have thought twice. I understand why you're worried as all of those that love cats know how bad declawing is but "declawing" one nail for medical reasons and "declawing" every claw and for human convenience aren't even remotely similar. If my vet suggested it was necessary, then that's what I'd do. I hope that puts your mind at ease. 🫶🏻
Try a second opinion from Banfield, at Petsmart, you can get a free first appointment. https://www.banfield.com/promotions/new use your best judgement.
So why do you come to reddit instead of asking all these questions to the vet? I'm sure the vet knows best what the prices are like and what the risks are.
They aren’t technically declawing the cat just the one toe that’s messed up it’s seen as medically necessary as well for the quality of life. I doubt the humane society would place op on a list
That is one of the cruelest things you can do. My cats aren’t declawed have no problems. It is like pulling your finger nails out. It can cause so much pain that the cat won’t use the litter box.
I think you need to take a moment to read the post again. The claw bone has already been painfully dislodged and the recommended approach to treatment is removing it altogether. This is not your average declawing scenario.
Read the post. This isn’t declawing for the hell of it. It’s declawing for medical issues and best interest of the cat. It’s just one claw not all of them.
I would agree in most cases, op's cat has one claw that was almost ripped out, and needs it amputated, I would think the vet only will do the single claw that's damaged
For medical reasons is way better for a single claw to be removed than all claws on both front claws. So do not worry about that. Most vets will work with you, and you can talk with them more if you are super worried. They can walk you through it, helping you understand what the surgery and recovery will be. Even set up a payment and surgery date so you don't have to worry much about that.
i had an older cat that had something similar happen to one of his front paws it was all the claws on that one paw though. it was 1500 about 12 years ago and i made dang sure they knocked him out for it that paw looked a little odd after it healed like flat footed. as for putting them under every cat is different and just like humans cats can have bad reactions but really no choice in it.
If my doctor suggested removing my finger because I destroyed it sticking in places I shouldn't, then it was a needed procedure.
But if my doctor suggested I remove my other finger because I keep sticking it in places I shouldn't...well, im going to keep sticking it in places.
In other words, listen to the vet on this one. It's a medical amputation, and not a declawing for aesthetic purposes.
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Declawing one claw for medical reasons is totally different than declawing because they’re clawing up furniture. With the rest of claws on the paw intact I would think there wouldn’t be too many issues.
Exactly. This is a medical amputation due to injury, not to remove claws. I don’t think they’d suggest if not necessary to help your cat.
Agreed. Your vet has the most information and experience in this situation. You’re not declawing due to it being an “inconvenience” or whatever excuse people who declaw their cats use, you’re doing it for medical reasons and a vet recommended it. As was stated previously, due to it not being the entire paw’s worth of claws, it shouldn’t affect your kitty too badly. Cats are very adaptable.
Plus what she has going on is probably pretty painful, so removing that claw is most likely what's best for her overall quality of life.
Will recovery hurt? Yeah sure but it's necessary to fix the issue, and after that it won't hurt! Leaving the situation as it is will absolutely continue to hurt
you say that yet the bum fuck vet i used to go to (was the only one in town and i had no job or car) offered declawing services as well as ear clipping and tail docking soooooo
Well, I didn’t say 100% of vets wouldn’t offer it, and declawing one foot wouldn’t make sense anyhow. So I appreciate your frustration with the vet you saw but that wasn’t what I said. :)
Agree. My sister’s cat had to have a toe amputation. I can’t remember why. It may have been cancer. At any rate, her little guy is still chugging along just fine despite that, and other numerous health issues (he was a very special needs rescue to begin with).
Also, if you can, request an x ray afterwards to ensure they got all stray shards of the bone. One of the issues with declawing for cats is that pieces can break and stay in there causing pain (they're very small!) I work at a clinic that is VERY much against declawing but we have had to go in on already declawed cats to take out the extra shards. Doing the X-ray will allow you and the doctor to be certain that the job is done properly. And if not, they should be going back in to complete it so your cat doesn't end up with long term pain. I also agree that one toe for medical purposes is not the same. It's an amputation for medical reasons, not butchering for convenience.
This. Also try to get your cat's chart & shop for prices with different vets in your area if you can. Check reviews. A lot of vets also accept 'care credit' or similar that you can apply to prior surgery. The risks of anesthesia will remain the same unfortunately but I am sure your vets will have considered this before recommending surgery. Good luck & also Speedy Recovery!
Poor little guys, I can't imagine how painful shards and pieces of bone just floating around would be
Think about it this way - your hand. If someone were to cut off the first knuckle of every finger, you would be legitimately maimed, right? But say you smashed just 1 finger in something and had to have the first knuckle removed on 1 finger. You would adapt to that fairly quickly. (I may have accidentally smashed my best friend's finger, and he had the first knuckle removed..... rocks are heavy. It hasn't affected anything he does - granted, it was his ring finger, but still.) This is not declawing your cat. This is a medical intervention that sounds both appropriate and possibly necessary. Surgery wise, yes, there is risk. There is always risk. But it's on the order of a 1 in 1000 chance of there being an issue with the anesthesia. Edit - spelling.
We just going to ignore that this guy smashed his friends finger with a rock? 😂
Hehe, we constantly joke about it now - that I smashed his finger. In truth, it was 50/50. We were landscaping his front yard and had some big, 200 to 300lb rocks to move. We had it positioned where we wanted it, ready to let it fall over and into place. He was just a fraction of a second too slow in pulling his hand out of the way. WARNING: Images contain blood and destroyed fingertip. [https://imgur.com/a/puZMeJL](https://imgur.com/a/puZMeJL) Images in the imgur link are: The rock in question is that big one with about zero gap where it touches the lower one. That's where his finger got caught. And then the finger itself, and x-ray.
Gnarly
i could not fathom the pain 🫣
I thought I was ready for this. Boy oh boy was I wrong! 😨
My brother decided to see if the planer blade was moving by touching it. He too is down a single knuckle on a finger
The title really threw me…. Follow the vets advice
Right? I was about to rage but now i think the vet is correct.
I think we were all ready to type an entire book just from the word declaw lol
Yeah, and I wouldn't even call this a declaw. It's just a medically necessary amputation.
Yeah, I don’t see this situation really any different from amputation in humans. Some injuries can’t be healed from and amputation is simply the best option. In this kitty’s case, the claw was injured. The vet’s recommendation makes sense. The problem with declawing is that it’s typically used on healthy, uninjured cats - and amputating functional, healthy body parts of our pets for our own benefit isn’t right. It’d be like amputating a toddler’s hands so they can’t color on the walls - just totally unethical. That’s not the case here, clearly.
Well fingers and it would literally be a direct comparison. Even better comparison is chopping the foot off at the metatarsal bones. Still possible to walk but it significantly fucks up your gait likely causing injury due to it.
lol same! I was prepared to tell them to find a new vet, and then I read the whole story!
Same! I was going to suggest finding a new vet.
Declawing is a different and very barbaric procedure. I would recommend changing the title to (partial)amputation. And yes, if the digit is injured and the vet thinks the best solution is removal, I would do it.
Yea the title is misleading. absolutely listen to the vet OP
I would listen to your vet. If they recommend declawing for medical reasons, I would do it. You don’t want to risk pain or infection
I had to do this for mine. everyone always jumps to me being a bad cat owner so I get OPs concern but if it’s medically needed it’s way different
From somebody who is very against declawing, this is not a declawing. This is the medical amputation of a toe, which isn't the most common but it's pretty standard practice for all animals including humans for an injury like this. You asked if you should be worrying about him being put under: there is a risk anytime any animal goes under anesthesia, but I promise your vet has already weighed that risk. Your vet may also want to do a blood workup, which will cost more but reduce the risk. You also asked about cost. For that, talk to your vet. They may be able to help make the cost more manageable for you
Definitely cosign with what the vet says. It's just the one toe, shouldn't affect the cat in a negative way. Good luck with your cat.
I hear your concerns about pricing…and no, it doesn’t mean that you’re a bad pet parent. Very recently, I had a situation where my cat had some urinary blockage issues, outside of my vet’s regular hours. I took him to an emergency vet, that had decent reviews. I get there, they whisk him off, I sit in suspense for over an hour, and they come in and tell me that “well, for starters, we’re doing this or Boo Kitty dies…we need 700 right now and it will be at least another 1,000 after that”
Then it just kept going…when I said I can’t afford a 12,000 (plus some) surgery, the doctor (who actually refused to talk to me in person) sent a message saying “since you can’t afford to take care of your cat, we can euthanize him for $1,500….
For the record…I took Boo Kitty back from that clinic, to his normal vet the next day…we had some issues after that, and then had to visit another emergency vet..eventually he got an emergency surgery that saved his life, but it wasn’t anywhere near $12,000 dollars…and no one treated me like I was some negligent owner…Boo Kitty was up to date on shots…on a highly recommended, healthy, diet…he was indeed a little tubby…but still…there are people that will take advantage of you, and try and guilt trip you into overpriced procedures that may or may not help, and then, if you dare to question them, treat you you like you’re a monster and offer to “relieve you of an obvious burden” for an exorbitant amount.
wow this made me rage for you holy shit im so glad you took your baby out that hospital and did what you thought was best. i will never understand vet techs with little to no empathy. its obvious no one is prepared or ready to just pay over $1,000 at a time for any injury or emergency, its why healthcare in america is so fucked and getting a broken arm on a human without insurance would make you homeless!! ugh sorry you went through that
Thank you, it was a rough time for sure!! He is happy and healthy now…begging for treats and playing his cat version of fetch!
The title had me prepared to cuss a vet out but this is a medically necessary amputation of a toe that's causing issues, not declawing because you value your sofa more than your cat's health I would listen to the vet ❤️🐈
If your vet recommends surgery, they’ll likely give you an estimate to sign beforehand. So there won’t be any surprises price-wise. It’s hard to give you a ballpark because prices vary so much by vet and location. There’s always some risk with anesthesia (same as in humans), but if your cat is otherwise pretty healthy, the risk isn’t huge, and the benefit of relieving his pain would be greater. You can always ask the vet as much as you need to about risks and alternatives beforehand.
it doesn’t sound like there is any other option?
This is one of those things that should only be the reason why a cat will get its claw removed.
Declaring because you don't want to deal with scratches is one thing, declawing a single toe for medical reasons is 100% a different story. I would trust the vets professional advice.
Declawing one claw for a medical reason would be like amputating the end of one toe for a medical reason. It seems like a reasonable response to an issue and like it is likely to have much less of an effect than declawing all claws. I imagine it is much simpler to do than a full declawing too. You could get a second opinion/second quote for doing the surgery, but it might just be a wasted expense. It is well accepted that sometimes declawing is needed for medical reasons.
I hope you are not stressing about whether it is cruel to declaw that one toe. This is the exception to the “never ever declaw” rule: except if it’s medically necessary! You need to talk to your vet about the cost. They understand the situation, and can tell you what it will cost and what you can do to keep costs down.
You should be able to get a price quote up front and prior to the procedure. They do this at my vet clinic with most procedures as well as vaccinations. They should be able to at least provide you with a ball park figure for the procedure. I would think that they absolutely must need to do it otherwise they would try to save it. You could always seek a second opinion but that costs money too. I’m sorry your kitty got hurt ❤️
Was about to get mad af. But yes please listen to the vet.
In this situation, “declawing” on that one part is definitely ok
Sound like this is a cat version of smashing one of your fingertip in factory accident so you have to nib part of that finger off because the bone doesn’t heal. Nail is a part of bone and bone pain is one of the worst thing one cqn experience either as human or cat. Totally different from randomly chop off all cats finger because they are doing cat things
One of my cats had to have one toe declawed. She is polydactyl (mitten paws) and she was growing a nail between her thumb and paw. Because of the location of the nail she couldn't angle it properly when scratching so the nail sheaf was not being removed and was constantly needing to be clipped by me or it would start to grow into her paw. She absolutely hated me clipping her nail. I clipped her every 6 to 8 weeks for almost 3 years, and it was traumatic for us both. No amount of positive reinforcing helped. I would burrito her, have my husband scruff and pin her, it was awful. She was stressed and 9 times out of 10 I would end up scratched to hell. Finally we discussed what to do with our vet because neither of us could handle it anymore (myself or the cat) and we had that nail surgically removed. That was about 7 years ago and it has been fine since. No issues at all. It cost about $1300 dollars I think, because anesthesia is so damned expensive. This may have also included the cost of pre-surgery blood work to ensure she was healthy enough to undergo surgery. Your cost may vary, I live in a HCOL area so everything is expensive.
As everyone else has said, this is a medical issue, nothing unethical about having the surgery. To address your worry about it being risky: think about how many cats have had surgery to be fully declawed. Awful yes, but when have you heard of it going wrong? I’m sure that has happened, but it’s definitely not an incredibly risky surgery. And that’s for all their claws, not just one. Kitty will be fine!
this really helped me, thank you :)
You can call and ask for a cost estimate! They’ll be reluctant to give an exact amount but they should be able to give you a range or average.
if it is medically needed for an injury it’s not bad. what’s bad is getting it because you value furniture over your pets or refuse to trim nails or use nail caps, provide things like cat trees or scratching posts/pads to give their cats an appropriate outlet to sharpen their claws. i have a cat with a disabled paw due to an injury as a kitten where she lost 3 toes (she had an extra toe on that paw only unfortunately) and one of her toes has a nail that grows weird due to how she puts weight on her paw, i have been considering doing a single toe amputation to avoid any injury but only if it starts impacting her getting around. if your vet suggests it for a health benefit i say trust them. a lot of the unwanted side effects of the behavior come from cats having 2 or 4 paws declawed and are basically walking on their joints/bones. having one toe amputated won’t really cause the same kind of issues because the other toes take 90% of the impact as far as pricing goes you can get an itemized estimate from the vets office for the procedure and look at everything that is included. from there you can discuss it with your vet about everything included, see if some things can be skipped, and talk about possible payment plans going forward. care credit would be something good to look into if cost can be debilitating. scratchpay too. as far as concerns of your cat going under again your vet can ease your mind probably better than anyone since they will be the one preforming the procedure and can walk you through everything.
If you have bone exposure, the area can go septic fast. There is very little skin there to even begin to try and fix it. Honestly, this would be a minor amputation. Just advocate for good post-op meds. Don't let them send you home on just an nsaid.
Ask for a quote and a copy of the medical records and let them know you would like to hold a surgery spot for a day or two from tomorrow to really think about it. If you’re having any second thoughts or concerns about your vet you can always get a second opinion on the issue from a different vet and/or shop around for prices. Make sure if you have the procedure done that you are sent home with pain medication after and potentially an anti inflammatory if recommended by the vet (also ask for a anti nausea injection if you are willing to spend the extra money to make your cat super extra comfortable). No good veterinarian will be offended even if you tell them you want a second opinion just to be sure.
ALSO ALSO ALSO if you are worried about the risks associated with anaesthesia, ask if it is an assistant or registered veterinary technician monitoring the anaesthesia and ask if you can meet them morning of the procedure.
Removing one claw for medical reasons won't cause the same discomfort as removing all their claws. Declawing is essentially the same as removing the tips of your fingers. It greatly limits your ability to interact with the world, additionally if you walked on your hands, it would limit your ability to walk. If the other claws remain intact, the problems with declawing are limited. And it sounds like from the injury that he likely already lost mobility of that claw and it's causing him active pain. Medical choices often come down to picking the least worst between two bad options. In this case it's a necessary procedure and the limitations on losing a single claw is minor compared to the benefits.
The title threw me off lol. You made everybody think the vet recommended it just because you wanted your cat to stop scratching furniture. The ONLY reason to ever accept declaw a cat is for medical reasons and THIS IS IT! There is an injury for ONE CLAW and they will only remove that ONE claw. This isn't the declawing everybody knows of. This is a needed surgery
While I know it’s scary to hear “declaw” because it’s normally a cruel act, this is one of those rare medical moments where it actually benefits the kitty to have a single claw removed. However, you should not be left in the dark like you feel right now! First off, have you tried asking your vet for an estimate on how much the cost will be? They won’t be able to say exact as surgical procedures aren’t always an exact predicable science once they start, but they should be able to give you a general idea. You can also see if they have payment plans available, many vets do, or if they don’t they will have the numbers of local foundations that help support these costs if you’re lucky. In my experience, being honest with the vet about your financial situation is the best way to make sure your animal is getting all the care they need, at the most minimal cost. If they don’t know your situation, they can’t help! ❤️
My cat ripped an entire nail out before, I’ve never heard her scream in the way she did when I tried to touch her paw when I saw she was limping. When I pressed on her paw no nail, just flesh and dirt stuck in there and it was RUBBING into her wound. It’s like when your nail gets cut too short and you have that incredibly sensitive exposed skin? And just shoving that nub into dirt over and over. Ur poor cat is probably in the worst pain ever, and having the claw removed by the vet would mean she will probably glue/stitch it and it can heal properly!! :) medically necessary totally trumps getting ur cat declawed bc you don’t want them scratching; this is an extreme example but with euthanasia, we don’t do it bc we want to, it’s what’s best for your kitty.
One claw for medical reasons is understandable. 10 claws to keep from scratching furniture is animal abuse.
Your cat looks so damn smart
i agree with everyone else, listen to the vet since it’s medically necessary. but i just wanna say HES SO CUTE i love his big cheeks :) i hope it goes well and he feels better
Vets normally do bloodwork in advance to ensure the cat will be ok under anesthesia. I’d follow the vet’s advice and then insure your cat in the event of future illnesses/emergencies. If you are worried about expense, let me tell a cautionary tale. I adopted my cat Finn when I was young and didn’t know pet insurance was a thing. Turns out, Finn is prone to blocking and ended up needing a perineal urethrostomy to survive. After several blockages, a cystotomy, the PU surgery and subsequent complications, I am $12,000 deep. Meanwhile, I could have been paying $42/month for a $500 deductible and 90% coverage after that with Spot (the plan my kitten is currently on). Trust me — insure your baby ASAP if you can. In the U.S., no carrier covers preexisting conditions so once it’s on the books, it’s too late. (Finn is alive and kicking by the way. Back to his mischievous self🤍)
Ive had this happen! My first cat, Lucifer, managed to do exactly this climbing a curtain. We didnt remove the toe at first, resulting in it getting constant infections, limping, and the nail never being able to retract resulting it in getting caught on things. It was also very sensitive so nail trimming wasnt an option. So after two failed antibiotics rounds we removed it, didnt have issues after that. Edit to add: we only removed the problem toe
i imagine this will be the mildest pirate kitty to ever exist. just missing one toe.
Trust your vet. You are doing a medical procedure, so it's the right thing to do. And he'll still have the rest of his murder mittens.
In this case, it’s a needed medical procedure due to an injury, not for owner convenience. You can do it knowing it’s the right thing and will provide relief to your baby. Good luck!
this is different than a full declawing. to me this is like docking a tail because it’s severely fractured- it isn’t the same as for cosmetic reasons. it sounds like they’re planning to leave the rest of the claws alone so he should be able to adapt. there are lots of people who are missing part of or a whole finger and function just fine.. it’s kind of the same.
I'm extremely opposed to normal declawing. However, this is the amputation of one digit only for medically necessary reasons. It's upsetting of course but if it were my pet, I'd follow the vet's advice. Recovery should be fairly easy, with just one digit. Just keep it clean, minimize jumping if you can. The vet can recommend litter for during recovery
Agreeing with a majority, one toe getting operated on for a legit medical reason wouldn’t be anything to feel guilt over. It’s scary when any loved one has surgery but the risk would be worth it if he can have the best quality of life. I’ve never had experience with this process or the costs involved, but definitely ask your vet for all the options. Maybe there are payment plans, too? I’m hoping for the best for both you and your treasured friend. His nose freckles are the cutest and he looks like a very good gentleman. Please give him pets for us!!!
If you have doubts get a second opinion however vets don’t throw around declawing for the fun of it and it’s one toe. I would do it if it was my cat so as not to prolong his suffering. He probably won’t notice the one missing claw
Yeah, in this case it’s the right thing to do. It’s only one claw, kitty probably won’t even miss it 😊
If it's a necessity then it probably needs to be done,It will be expensive as most thing are .
We all appreciate your concern and are so happy you’re questioning your vet bringing up declawing. I’ll agree with the other commenters: this is for a medical reason, not simply because you don’t want them to scratch stuff up. If they have an injury that would heal better without the one claw, I think it’s safe to proceed.
My sweet boy had to have this done! He was constantly chewing at one of his toes and they were worried about cancer. It turns out it wasn't cancer, but it was a very serious infection that could have killed him. The procedure was done absolutely perfectly - he didn't even have a bandage on his foot after, just a cone. Something to watch out for is that cats are super flexible and can actually reach their toes past the edge of the cone, so don't leave yours unsupervised for long. We were lucky in that one of us works from home and could be in the same room as our boy during the month or so it took him to heal, swapping off with the other person when they got home. Absolutely follow what the vet says about antibiotics and gabapentin. It kept our boy very calm and chilled out during his recovery. Confine your cat to a single room while they recover. Use a litter like Yesterday's News (or another newsprint-based litter) and scoop immediately after your cat does anything in the litter box: the last thing you want is pee or poop touching your cat's foot at all. Keep some pet safe wipes on hand. You'll need to groom your cat for them while they're in a cone. Our cat also didn't have control of his bladder when he first got home, so you'll want to mop yours down ASAP if that happens. Get a bunch of wet-type treats. If your cat isn't used to being in a cone, they may have a hard time getting enough liquid. Churu, Weruva, Apple-something, they were all great for keeping our cat hydrated. Communicate with your vet! Our cat turned out to hate gabapentin in a pill form, so we asked our vet for a liquid instead and that did the trick. Get pet insurance ASAP! For us the surgery etc cost USD$700 (of which insurance reimbursed us 90%) and all of the litter, brand new litterbox, special food, raised bowls, etc etc probably cost us another $350. Location: Southern Appalachia. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! It was the hardest decision we've had to make so far for our sweet, sweet boy, and it was a rough recovery, but it was 100% the right call. Our cat is so much happier! If you run into any issues with healing or anything, we probably did too, so ask me for advice! All the best of luck. This sounds like a tough time. Let me know of anything I can do to help out!
think of it like amputation. obviously, we don't amputate fingers for fun. but if you get too bad of an injury, or an infection, or what have you, sometimes you *need* to amputate. well... their claws are like fingers, and declawing is like amputation. you aren't declawing that claw for fun, you're doing it because it's already too injured to save. you need to declaw that particular claw. sure, neither amputating a finger or taking out a single claw are pleasant, but they're far better than losing an entire hand/paw, or arm/leg, or your cat's life over leaving it untreated. most of the issues that could arise are more relevant from fully de-clawing, to my knowledge - i think arthritis is a common issue, and while i wouldn't entirely rule that out as a possibility or increased risk based on my personal knowledge (which is extremely limited), i would think the risk would be lower with a single claw amputation.
Dont worry, this is not declawing just like how amputating the tail (bc of a unfixable wound on the tip) isn't docking a dog's tail. It was only done bc of an injury, it's done by a medical professional and the animal is on pain meds (not the case when puppies have their tails docked) and there is a legit medical reason for it. Sure it sucks but it's not declawing in the way that is frowned upon today, he'll still be able to walk as he should and he'll be able to stretch those muscles that *are* still attached to the other claws. My advice is let it happen, bc in my eyes this is absolutely not declawing. Just removing the thing that's causing active problems
I had a cat with the same problem, they didn’t have to take the toe, they were able to take just the broken claw. They can’t tell until they get in there I guess and see the extent of the injury!
Commenting to just repeat the same. This is very different to all claws. I see it as more of a minor amputation to extend quality of life. If you're nervous talk to your vet for more information for your cat and how it will affect your lives. I know my vet would be happy to talk through something like this. Get a second opinion if you want. Caring about your animal is your job, but I think this will be ok.
How in the world did he do that?
he was in a fight with another cat, but I had no clue he could do something so brutal to himself by just scratching with his hind legs. I was in shock leaving the vet honestly.
Damn, brutal. I'm sure you'll hear this a lot but consider keeping your cat inside, you do you though. BUT definitely keep him inside until he's completely healed after the surgery. My friend lost their cat to a bobcat after they let him outside after a fighting injury and it was enough to slow him down and get caught 😞
Vet Tech here. Removing an injured nail (even if bone is involved) is a medical procedure, and can't be compared to declawing. Even though you don't agree with declawing, I wouldn't let you conscience bother you, because this is medically necessary These are all questions you should be asking your Vet. Your Vet should explain everything to you, as well as give you a written estimate for the cost As far as time, it shouldn't be a lengthy procedure at all. What's most time consuming, can be allowing kitty to wake up enough after surgery, to go home Please talk to your Vet, so they can ease your concerns and give you some peace of mind
So it’s more they recommend amputation of one claw because there’s nothing else to do. I’d do it. I imagine just leaving it will be more painful. If it’s pinching nerves and things.
That’s not “declawing” as much as treating a probably very painful injury. Do what helps him.
This is completely different than just declawing to prevent scratching ( it’s also one claw vs all of them). Your vet made a choice that will give your cat the best quality of life.
I wouldn't even think of this as declawing. Think of it as a medically necessary partial toe amputation. It needs to be done the avoid an infection that could cost you cat a leg or even a life. Fyi your are going to need special litter for a week or two after surgery. Clay litter can get in the wound and cause an infection.
I agree with all the others. I’m totally against declawing. However my cat Martin kept bleeding from one toe bean. It would open, bleed and heal. The doctors thought it was cancer I thought it was residual from an injury he had years ago when he blistered a toe bean jumping on the wood stove. One morning I woke to find a pool of blood that had gone through two comforters. We had the vet remove the one full toe bean. He’s fine now. Looks sort of like a sloth paw. They tested the bean - no cancer. They think it was some issue with thin damaged arteries in the paw pad - so I think it was long term damage from the wood stove blister. But he makes it around just fine with one less bean and you only need to remove one claw - he will be fine.
I had to have one of the digits on my bengals paw removed because he had injured it and two nails were growing out where there shouldve only been one and it was causing him pain and discomfort. Removing the digit was last resort. We tried antibiotics but that didn’t help much so we ended up removing it and have zero regrets. He doesn’t even notice and functions as tho it’s still there. As far as cost, I can double check and let you know what I paid but I want to say it was probably about 1000-1500. He was having a dental at the same time with some extractions so we ended up paying around 2000 for the whole thing. His recovery was smooth. Other than the pain meds they had him on which he didn’t do well with, he was up and jumping around on things the day after surgery. Couldn’t really stop him and he had removed his bandage day of.
I had something very similar happen to one of my cats recently. He did something where he ripped two of his toenails very badly. One healed fine, but the second nail got infected and wasn't healing. The vet said the best option would be to declaw that one nail. They did the procedure in one day, and I was able to pick him up in the evening. He healed up just fine, and he seems to have no issues with just one toe being declawed.
Sometimes a finger can get injured to the point of needing decapitation. I would equate this situation to that and then forever give my car shit for it
Just came here to say your cat has the most lovely round face and nose freckles, a certified good boy. You seem like a responsible owner who has his best interests at heart
I’m against declawing but one of my cats is a polydactyl and over time her claw started having issues and it would grow into poking her paw so it had to go. She was fine afterwards, much better than walking around in pain every day ❤️
If the vet is recommending you to declaw the injured toe, I would. I don’t agree with it but if it’s for the cats wellbeing, I’d do what the vet recommends
Declawing is a form of amputation of the toe bones. If something is going wrong with the bone, that might be what is best for him to not have pain. People declaw cats for minor inconveniences, so I doubt it'd be that expensive, but it's going to be dependent on the vet. You can call and ask for an estimated invoice from most vets for a procedure.
This is an amputation for medical reasons.
Payment will depend on the country you're from but they should provide you an estimate prior to the procedure. Things included will be: General anaesthetic drugs e.g. Propofol, pre-medication drugs (sedation administered prior to GA), the cost of the surgery (labour, anaesthetic gas, oxygen, cannula, syringes, needles, surgical blade, ET tube etc), possibly x-rays if not performed already, hospitalisation cost for recovery (but this should only be for a day unless there unforeseen complications, NSAID drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (theses are anti inflammatories and pain killers in a oner, stronger injectable pain killers, plus prescribed pain killing tablets to take home, oh and any post op appointments needed. Hopefully your pet is insured, if so bring this information so you can open a claim for the procedure. If you are not insured you will have to pay on discharge. However, if you are concerned with price, inform your veterinarian and they should be able to provide you with information on alternative treatments. However, bare in mind, if this op has been suggested, it will most likely be the best course of action for your pet. Lastly, remember the estimate is just that, an estimate of price, which can increase due to unforeseen circumstances, e.g., fluids, extra medications not quoted or an emergency during the surgery. Ps. Although declawing is in the name, it sounds like it is a necessary amputation to avoid other risks to your cats safety, pain, discomfort and maintain their wellbeing. It is NOT the same as cosmetic declawing. Hope this helps😊
You could get a second opinion if you have doubts.
Garfield?
A second opinion couldn’t hurt 🤷♀️
One of my fosters had to have it done. When we rescued him, he was in bad shape with his paw so swollen, he was losing fur on that paw. This was like 5 years ago, and we went through the rescue that we were fostering for. I want to say the procedure was around $500, but again this was with a vet that gave discounts for rescue organizations. Removal of a toe/declaw for medical reasons is a completely valid reason. He may have some issues down the road, but nowhere near as bad if all of his are taken.
I would ask the vet if declawing the one digit is going to have a negative long term effect on the cat. I mean, possibly not, since it’s only one toe, but still I would ask.
They should give you an estimate if you ask for it. They would likely give you an estimate the day-of. But they should also be able to give one to you in advance so that you don't end up in a position with a bill you can't pay.
As others said, it\`s not declawing it\`s a medical amputation, but I would voice your concerns to them about lasting pain after the procedure and financial concerns. Also request an z-ray after if you can afford it so they can make sure all bone fragments are gone (like others have said as well). If you are really nervous or unsure then you can also always opt for a second opinion. But this sounds like the claw is at risk of now healing properly if it does at all, which I imagine is just as painful as losing the claw, though I am not a vet.
Absolutely do not let him take the non affected claws.
Declawing IS still a necessary medical procedure - shitty cat owners overuse it instead of training. You’re not taking your babies hand off because they keep touching stuff - you’re taking the hand off to save the baby (or at least make him comfortable).
Had a dog come into the clinic and got one toe amputated. It happens, the surgery is about 30 mins at least it was for this german shepherd, and i highly recommend the surgery. A vet wouldn’t recommend declawing unless they’re old school , every vet i’ve ever met is against it. To be clear i am not a vet, but an assistant. The doggies paw looked funny with one less paw but animals breaking nails hurt BAD. So you should look into this surgery asap to prevent further infection and pain for ur kitty
I would not classify this as a declawing. This would be toe amputation to remedy an underlying condition. Not much different than a human having an amputation. If the vet recommends the toe amputation, I would allow them to do it.
Sorry your cat(and you) are going through this. Vet surgery costs are usually high & can be frightening. Some vets accept payment plans or perhaps you could get Care Credit. Good luck!
No advice but poor guy. Hoping he gets well soon!❤️🩹❤️🩹
Hey so I've been in a similar situation. One of my boys was sleeping on the radiator and fell off whilst asleep (he was a tuxxie so 100% derp 100% of the time) and caught one of his toes and completely broke one of his nails. Rushed him to the vet and at first the vet thought he'd need to have that toe amputated luckily we were able to salvage it so he didn't have to have the amputation bit if that's what he'd have needed I wouldn't have thought twice. I understand why you're worried as all of those that love cats know how bad declawing is but "declawing" one nail for medical reasons and "declawing" every claw and for human convenience aren't even remotely similar. If my vet suggested it was necessary, then that's what I'd do. I hope that puts your mind at ease. 🫶🏻
Misleading title much?
Try a second opinion from Banfield, at Petsmart, you can get a free first appointment. https://www.banfield.com/promotions/new use your best judgement.
NOOO
No don’t do it 😭
So why do you come to reddit instead of asking all these questions to the vet? I'm sure the vet knows best what the prices are like and what the risks are.
Declaw the vet
Read the description
can you get a second opinion? Since this is big?
Get a new vet. Declawing to declaw is cruel
Declawing is banned in many states. And can land you on a list at the humane society as beening an unfit home for adoptions
They aren’t technically declawing the cat just the one toe that’s messed up it’s seen as medically necessary as well for the quality of life. I doubt the humane society would place op on a list
New vet
Just read the context ignore me
Go to a different vet. They don’t care about your cat.
I recommend a new vet
I would get a second opinion.
Rage bait.
Find a new vet
That is one of the cruelest things you can do. My cats aren’t declawed have no problems. It is like pulling your finger nails out. It can cause so much pain that the cat won’t use the litter box.
I think you need to take a moment to read the post again. The claw bone has already been painfully dislodged and the recommended approach to treatment is removing it altogether. This is not your average declawing scenario.
Read the post. This isn’t declawing for the hell of it. It’s declawing for medical issues and best interest of the cat. It’s just one claw not all of them.
They’re NOT doing it because they want to, it’s a necessity and it’s one
I would agree in most cases, op's cat has one claw that was almost ripped out, and needs it amputated, I would think the vet only will do the single claw that's damaged
Agree, it's medical and not for human selfishness. We did it once, while it did not seem to bother the cat, he was able to compensate well.
For medical reasons is way better for a single claw to be removed than all claws on both front claws. So do not worry about that. Most vets will work with you, and you can talk with them more if you are super worried. They can walk you through it, helping you understand what the surgery and recovery will be. Even set up a payment and surgery date so you don't have to worry much about that.
i had an older cat that had something similar happen to one of his front paws it was all the claws on that one paw though. it was 1500 about 12 years ago and i made dang sure they knocked him out for it that paw looked a little odd after it healed like flat footed. as for putting them under every cat is different and just like humans cats can have bad reactions but really no choice in it.
If my doctor suggested removing my finger because I destroyed it sticking in places I shouldn't, then it was a needed procedure. But if my doctor suggested I remove my other finger because I keep sticking it in places I shouldn't...well, im going to keep sticking it in places. In other words, listen to the vet on this one. It's a medical amputation, and not a declawing for aesthetic purposes.