Onychectomy, popularly known as declawing, is an operation to remove an animal's claws surgically by means of the amputation of all or part of the distal phalanges, or end bones, of the animal's toes. Because the claw develops from germinal tissue within the third phalanx, amputation of the bone is necessary to fully remove the claw. The terms onychectomy (origin: Greek , 'nail' + , 'excision') and declawing imply mere claw removal, but a more appropriate description would be phalangectomy, excision of toe bone.
Although it has been somewhat common in Canada and the United States, declawing is considered an act of animal cruelty in many countries, (see "Declawing practices" below) as it causes physical and psychological suffering to the animal (although the extent of this suffering is subject to debate).
Medically indicated onychectomy
The amputation of the distal phalanx is indicated in case of chronic inflammatory processes, tumours, persistent and severe infections and gangrene that are limited to the distal phalanx. The procedure is usually limited to the affected claw, leaving the healthy claws (if any) intact.
Elective onychectomy
Elective onychectomy is usually done on all toes on the front paws. Sometimes the rear paws are declawed as well.
Despite the fact that it is a surgery without medical cause, in some parts of the world, particularly in Northern America, declawing was for many years a relatively standard practice, and "surveys of routine elective procedures" in 1988 and 1996 showed it was performed along with neutering in more than 20% of cases.
Although increasingly controversial, when the procedure is presented and perceived as mundane and innocuous, non-medical reasons for this procedure can be convincing:
Risks from scratching
Data on relinquishment to shelters indicate that a popular belief among veterinarians that many owners would relinquish cats who engage in unwanted scratching is well-founded. For example, a survey of veterinarians in Brazil reported scratching as the second-most-given behavioural reason for abandonment of cats.
While sometimes framed as concern for household possessions, people are indeed concerned with pain and infection. In fact, although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control do not recommend declawing, even for felines in contact with immunocompromised humans, one American vet reported performing an onychectomy out of concern for a loved one with a weakened immune system.
Need to trim cat's nails
Trimming a cat’s claws is time consuming, may require two people and can be intimidating, especially considering accidentally cutting into the quick (the pink part of the nail, similar to the pink part of a human fingernail, where blood vessels and nerve endings lie) will likely cause the cat bleeding and pain.
Nevertheless, trimming is often required with cats who do not go outdoors and have not been declawed, as even with scratching posts, indoor cats' nails can grow very long. In fact, owners are sometimes warned that elderly cats may “need help with nail trims” to avoid nails that “become so long that they actually curve around and grow into the paw pads, causing an infection.“
Methods
Despite the prevalence of elective onychectomy in North America, no standard practices exist regarding the surgical techniques or surgical tools used, the administration of post-operative analgesics or other follow-up care, or the optimal age or other attributes of cats undergoing the procedure. There are three surgical methods: scalpel blade, guillotine trimmers, and laser.
No technique or method has been proven to eliminate the many complications associated with declawing. The International Society of Feline Medicine states that "Even if future improvements in surgical techniques can negate some of the adverse effects associated with declawing, iCatCare and ISFM believe this procedure is unethical other than if required to manage a medical condition and should be banned."
Recovery, health and behavioral effects
Onychectomy is an orthopedic surgery involving one (or more) separate phalangeal amputations, which requires general anesthesia and multi-modal pain management before, during, and after surgery.