Pet Care


Feature Writer: Charla Dawson
charla, Charla Dawson

This site features articles and tips for the proper care of dogs, cats, rats, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes, lizards, birds, and fish.

We'll cover intestinal parasite control, heart worm prevention, obesity and diet tips, vaccinations, pet first aid kits, disaster preparedness for pets, spaying and neutering, microchips, fleas and ticks, dentistry, dog mange, and everything else concerning your pet.

Peruse the latest articles and feel free to take part in the discussions to find answers to your pets ailments. Ask about products, diets, and medications for your pets, and all pet care issues.

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Pet Care, Charla Dawson
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Charla Dawson

Cat Declaw Recovery

In: Pet Care (general)

How to take care of a cat after it has been declawed. Cats may need a little extra TLC after the declaw surgery. more...

Cat Declaw Procedure

In: Pet Care (general)

Detailed outline of how a veterinarian declaws a cat. more...

Alternatives To Declawing Your Cat

In: Pet Care (general)

Removing the cat's claws does not have to be the solution to clawed carpets and furnishings. more...

The Declaw Debate

In: Pet Care (general)

Consider both sides of the debate before making the decision to declaw your cat. more...

Laser Surgery For Pets

In: Pet Care (general)

Laser surgery can provide many advantages to your pets surgery including less bleeding and less pain and less swelling. more...

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Charla Dawson

May 9, 2008

Cat Declaw Controversy

Is it inhumane to declaw a cat? The debate rages on!


Declawing cats is among the most controversial procedures performed in veterinary medicine. Many consider the surgery mutilation and think it should be made illegal. Others think the opposite, and believe it improves the bond between cat and human.

Those that oppose the procedure make a good argument. The surgery entails amputating the first joint from each toe. This removes the claw and the tissue that is responsible for growth. If the procedure is done poorly the claw can start to grow back, which requires more surgery. Those that find nothing wrong with declawing cats will tell you that there are risks involved with every surgery.

It has been recommended by the CDC that cats, who are owned by immunocompromised individuals, be declawed. This is to protect these individuals from acquiring bacterial infections from cat scratches.

Whether or not you choose to declaw your cat is a personal decision. Most veterinarians in the United States still perform the procedure. There is a movement to try to make the procedure illegal in the US; as it is in many European countries. The ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Cat Fanciers Association all oppose declawing cats and find the procedure inhumane.

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