DECLAWING IN CAT (demonstration in class for 3rd Prof. D.V.M. students)

Although each veterinarian may have his own technique for declawing but generally speaking there are two basic techniques which are commonly employed. One is trimming (either Resco or whites) and other is to remove entire third phalanx (Foster and Fowler, 1971 and Silverhorn and Taskulski 1972). With nail trimmer technique, if the corium of the claw is not completely removed, regrowth of a deformed nail will become evident in 3 to 6 months or even later. Since the regrowth occurs beneath the skin. It does not become evident until lameness, swelling and drainange tracts are noticed. To correct this it is necessary to remove a libral amount of skin and tissue from which the nail originated including the remnant of the third phalanx. The latter method has the advantages of removing the entirethird phalanx to make certain no regrowth of the nail occurs and it can be used on a large variety of animals such as dogs, lions, tigers and bears. By paying attention to the details of the anatomy of feline claw the considerable result of claw regrowth may be avoided.
ANATOMY OF DISTAL PHALANX:
The third phalanx of the cat is much like that of dog (Evan and Lahuta 1980) except that the cat claw is distinctly flattened and is retractile. Richard and Jenning (1963) stated that the proximal and base of the third phalanx forms a loose articulation with the second phalanx. The distal phalanx is made up of two main parts, the ungula process and the ungula crest. The ungula process is a curved cone shaped projection that extends distally into the claw. The ungula crest is an elevation that circumscribes the base of the third phalanx and forms a ridge and projects proximally over the distal end of the second phalanx. The ungula crest serves as an insertion for the deep digital flexor tendon on the volar surface of the third phalanx and for the insertion of the lateral and common digital extensor and extensors of the first and second digit muscles are located on the ungula crest of the third phalanx of the second digit. In addition to tendons that cross the joint, the cat has two strong dorsal elastic ligaments on each digit. These ligaments originate at the sides of the proximal end of the second phalanx and insert distally on the dorsal surface on the ungula crest. Their contraction results in the claws retraction. The flexing power of the deep digital flexor muscle can over come the elasticity of this ligament and allow the cat to extend its claws. A pair of collateral ligaments, one on the medial and the other on the lateral side of the joint crosses this joint. Being a true joint this distal articulation posses other typical joint structures. Including articular cartilage, synoval membrane and fibrous joint capsule. The basal germinal cells (stratum germinativum) of the claw extend proximally into the ungual crest encases the base of the nail. This area is important to consider when an onychectomy is performed. Regardless of surgical technique used to remove a cats claws, the dorsal aspect of the ungula crest must be removed in order to prevent regrowth. If the claw regrows, it most likely will be partial or misshapen this regrowth may not be evident for several weeks of even months following declawing when regrowth does occur excessive granulation tissue or a draining open wound which is subject to infection may precede eruption of the nail through the skin.


SURGICAL TECHNIQUES:
As previously described each veterinary surgeon ha his own technique and if the procedure is effective, there is no reason for change ( Michael 1983) It seems appropriate however to describe briefly a technique that has been used in past ten years and is working nicely at Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan. Declawing is performed as routine demonstration exercise on healthy crossbred/local cat aged around 2 years, at department of Surgery and Obetrics. The male cat was anaesthetized with Inj: diazepalm, Inj: acepromazine and Inj: Ketamine hydrochloride intramuscularly to prolong the recovery period and to prevent excessive shaking of the feet. The paws are prepared by cleaning with a soap scrub followed by detol to remove dirt and debris around the nail. Clipping the hair is usually unnecessary. A conventional tourniquet is applied to the leg starting at above the paw and extending to the elbow on the foreleg and to the hock on the rear leg. The proximal end of the tourniquet is secured with an artery forceps. The claw to be removed is grasped with artery forceps. The cuticle is incised dorsally with a No. 15 blade surgical blade and the ungual crest becomes exposed. By downward manipulation of the claw, the articular space is identified. The surgical blade when directed into the space and following the surface of articular cartilage of the third digit, a cut is made up to and around the extensor process. This maneuver places the blade on the ventral surface of the extensor process just above the digitalpad. The blade is pulled fprward with care teken not to cut the digital pad, the flexor tendon. Blood vessels and other tissues are then severed. The excised digit is placed on an instrument tray and the wound is closed with simple Interrupted suture techniwue using chromic catgut 3/0 transversally through the skin of each digit. The next claw is removed in a similar manner. On completion of declawing the digits are counted to be certain that none have been left. After all the claws are removed, the paw foot is bandaged placing a sterile guaze spong over the paw and an application of adhesive tape over that to hold it in place. The adhesive tape is applied tightly enough to control seeping heamorrhage without interfering with circulation to the foot. The tourniquet is released. The adhesive tape is continued up the leg at least 7 to 8 cms above the paw to prevent the cat from shaking of the bandage. Intramuscular Inj: dioxil is administered routinely at the conclusion of operation and the bandage removed after 12 hours. The procedure was immaculately done as described has no complication what soever.