Banfield & VCA Animal Hospitals Stopped Declawing in Early 2020
We believe that every pet owner has the responsibility for providing a safe and supportive home for their animal that enables appropriate expression of natural behaviors and fully integrates them into the home and family. Every medical procedure supported by our veterinary practices has been put in place with the health and wellbeing of pets in mind and, based on this, we do not support the elective declawing of any animal in our veterinary practices.
Declawing includes surgical onychectomy, digital flexor tendonectomy, and generalized phalangectomy for non-medical reasons. Feline scratching and nail sharpening are normal behaviors and the removal of nails has been shown to lead to chronic pain and, in some cases, to cause long-term behavioral issues. We believe that education of pet owners about appropriate behavioral and environmental modifications are humane alternatives to these elective procedures.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners Are Masters At Hiding The Truth
The majority of American Association of Feline Practitioners’ (AAFP) Cat Friendly Practices perform declawing.
We did a recent survey of 156 Cat Friendly Practices in 10 states and found that 85% of them declaw cats.
AAFP.
AAFP is hiding respectful comments about how declawing causes pain and behavioral issues.
Declawing A Cat Is NOT “Cat Friendly”
An American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Cat Friendly Practice, recently posted a video on facebook of a ragdoll kitten that was just declawed and said he is doing “great” after having his toes amputated. Here is a screenshot of the video that was posted on June 15, 2017.
This vet has declawing info on her website that says, “The declaw procedure is a surgical removal of the claw. Contrary to rumors and misinformed sources, declawing is not the removal of any of the actual toe itself, just the claw.”
This is a complete lie.
Amputating Laboratory Cat’s Toes To Test A Pain Med
These unethical humans used some of their cats that were purpose-bred laboratory cats from their colony and amputated the toes and claws on ONE paw, then did a washout/crossover, and 2 weeks later amputated the toes and claws on the cat’s other paw. Whatever treatment they got (Simbadol or nothing) the first time, they got the opposite the second.
They say in this study that none of the cats required “rescue” pain meds. Really??? In this day and age, why would anyone think it’s EVER okay for ANY cat to receive ZERO pain meds after barbarically having their toe bones and claws amputated is beyond me.
AAFP, Cat Friendly Should Be Reserved For Vets Who Don’t Declaw Cats
Dear American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), “Cat Friendly” should mean exactly that and should be reserved for vets who actually don’t declaw cats. PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO AAFP- AAFP PETITION “Surgical declawing is the removal of the nail at its base. This is done under general anesthesia and there is very little post-surgical […]