While I was recently in the hospital twice, Tibbe's nails grew out a bit too long and I was having trouble getting them short enough using the Petipaws or whatever it is called. I called the vets office and asked them to quick the nails while he was under anesthesia. They refused, explaining that doing that causes the nails to be sore and can continue to hurt after the clipping. I fussed about it a bit and thanked them and hung up. Then I got to thinking, when I cut my nail very very short, into the quick, it is quite sore for a long, long time and often I have to put a bandaid over it until it grows out. I felt pretty contrite. So, they clipped Tibbe's nails very short but not into the quick and I feel good about it and know my vet wouldn't do something just for money that might be a problem for my dog.
So I know nails and nailbeds and quicks are very tender areas and likely declawing for cats is a problem but if they are tearing up your house, wonder what else can be done other than declawing? I don't know of anything as effective.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |