Your cat had a declaw procedure performed.  With the assistance of a Carbon Dioxide Surgical LASER our doctors precisely removed the claw of each of the toes.  The LASER aids in reducing the discomfort of this procedure by cauterizing blood vessels, lymphatics and the nerves, all of this results in less swelling and pain.  The majority of the cats we declaw have no long term complications or concerns.  It is very likely you will find your cat is jumping, running, and playing normally with in just a few days, but its important to minimize complications you follow the instruction below.  

Post Operative Instructions

• Offer your pet normal amounts of food and water when you get home, but realize that appetite may not be completely normal for a day or two.
• Outdoor cats should be confined indoors for the next ten (10) days so that their recovery may be more accurately and consistently monitored by the owner, and so that the surgical site may stay cleaner.
• No bathing for the next ten (10) days.  Do NOT wash the feet or apply any type of topical medications without asking us first.
• Do not give Aspirin, Tylenol, or other pain medications for people.  Over-the-counter pain relievers can be poisonous to pets.  We have provided safe pain medication for your cat.  
• Discourage running and jumping for the next three (3) weeks.  This is especially important when laser surgery was used because of the greatly decreased pain these cats experience.  Returning to normal activity too quickly may cause extensive bruising of the tissues and can result in bleeding from the sutured incisions. 

Recheck Exam

• As most cats do very well after a few weeks rechecks are typically not needed. 
• If you have any concerns about your cats recovery please return for a free post operative recheck with in 10 days of surgery, or sooner if instructed by our team.  At that time we will remove any sutures if need be, and make sure no complications have occurred.

Incision Care

• Watch any toes for swelling, redness, or drainage.  Apply nothing to them without our knowledge. 
• Occasional dripping of blood or a blood tinged fluid is normal for first 24-48 hrs, but if it seems excessive please contact us.
• Mild amount of bleeding can be expected and is normal, specially as your cat becomes more active or allowed to jump off furniture or other high surfaces.
• Prevent excessive licking, and keep her in an environment that will keep incisions clean.
• Typically no sutures are used to close the declaws we perform, but occasional sutures may be needed.  If sutures were used they will absorb on their own and usually do not need to be removed.  

Medications

• Give the pain medication prescribed as directed on the label. 

Litter Box Instructions:

• Use shredded newspaper, alfalfa pellets or Yesterdays News in the litter box for ten (10) days after surgery. 
• Do not use any type of clumping litter while your cats toes are healing, as it can stick to the incisions and lead to infections and complications.
• Scoop and clean the litter box after each use by your cat.  Keeping the box clean reduces exposure to bacteria that can result in infections of the toes.

Other General Instructions

• Occasionally pets will lick and/or chew excessively at the surgical incisions.  Since little tongues and teeth can do a lot of damage in just a short time, this must be prevented.  If this occurs, place a restraint collar on your cat until the incisions have healed.  Restrain collars (e-collars) can be purchased here or at a pet store.
• Expect that it will take at  least 4-6 weeks before the cat walks completely normally.  The younger the cat, the quicker the recovery.
• Call for an Elizabethan collar if she licks the sutures excessively.  If after hours, they can be found at the pet stores as well.
• Many pets will not have bowel movements for 1 ‑ 3 days after anesthesia.  This is normal, provided she is acting normal otherwise.  
• It is best you do not give her a bath till any sutures are removed.  In the event she must be bathed, apply Vaseline or antibiotic ointment to the incisions and shower her.  Do not submerge in a bath.
• Our major concern is the comfort and healing of your pet.  Please call the clinic at any time you have a question or concern.

Notify the clinic if any of the following occur: 

• Vomiting or Diarrhea after 24 hours.
• Refusal to eat after 48 hours.
• Severe pain.
• Any evidence of significant bleeding from the toes.
• Continuous lick or pulling at any sutures.  (Restraint Collar May Be Needed)
• Excessive swelling of the incision.
• The incision comes open.  

High Risk Declaws

Cats over 5 years old or weigh over 15 lbs are at a higher risk for complications associated with declaw procedures.  If your cat is a High Risk feline, it is imperative you restrict exercise, licking at the feet, and jumping down off high perches and furniture for 10-14 days. In the event complications do occur they are typical manageable, and we find the cats do not suffer long term problems.

Please Recheck in 5 days ( or sooner) instead of 10 if you have any concerns about your cats recovery.

If your cat was also spayed yesterday  Click Here For More Instructions.

If your cat was also neutered yesterday Click Here For More Instructions.

Please feel free to contact us with any concerns or questions at:

615-459-0802

Is your pet a Premier Pet? If not you could be saving even more on your future pet care needs.

NOTE:  Despite our best efforts, occasionally a pet will open the incisions or infect the incisions.  This is nearly always due to excessive licking, chewing, or jumping.  Surgical complications are ALWAYS POSSIBLE with any procedure.  Please return your pet anytime you are concerned about complications.  Post-op rechecks are performed at no charge, but the client is responsible for any and all drugs and materials needed to treat the pet as a result of any complications occurring after surgery.