Pain and analgesia following onychectomy in cats: a systematic review

Wilson, Deborah V.; Pascoe, Peter J

doi:10.1111/vaa.12314

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Onychectomy has been linked with numerous complications, including pain, 14,32–34 infection, 14,33,35 hemorrhage, 33,35 swelling, 33 lameness, 14,33–35 incomplete healing, 35 reluctance to jump, 14 reluctance to scratch, 14 chewing at the digits, 14 neuropathic pain, 14 neuropraxia, 35 claw regrowth, 14,16,33–35 protrusion of the second phalanx, 33,35 callused and misshapen toe pads, 33,35,36 tissue necrosis, 35 increased aggression and biting behavior, 37 inappropriate elimination, 16,34,37 back pain, 16 muscle loss, 34 barbering, 16 and flexor tendon contracture. 36,38 Based on the current case, neoplasia may also be considered a potential complication of onychectomy in cats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-onset osteosarcoma after onychectomy in a cat

Breitreiter¹

2019

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Case summary A 12-year-old neutered male onychectomized Ragdoll cat presented for a 3 day history of swelling and hemorrhagic purulent discharge on the first digit of the left manus. Radiographs revealed fragments of the third phalangeal bone (P3) present in the partially amputated digits with swelling adjacent to the P3 fragment on the first digit of the left manus. Thoracic radiographs revealed no evidence of primary or metastatic neoplasia. Surgery was performed to remove all P3 fragments and the associated swelling on the diseased digit. On gross examination of the excised swelling, a mass was present at the cut edge of P3. The bone fragment and associated mass were submitted for histopathological evaluation. Osteosarcoma was diagnosed. Because neoplastic cells extended to the surgical margins, amputation of the left thoracic limb was performed. The cat recovered from surgery, and survival time at the time of writing was 8 months. Relevance and novel information To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of onychectomy-associated osteosarcoma. Trauma from partial P3 amputation during onychectomy is suspected to have played a role in osteosarcoma development in this case. Malignant transformation may be considered a potential complication of onychectomy achieved by partial P3 amputation.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-onset osteosarcoma after onychectomy in a cat

Breitreiter¹

2019

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It should come as no surprise that evidence shows declawing causes pain in cats, in part due to a number of surgical sequelae including retained bone fragments, osteomyelitis, excessive tissue handling during surgery, and complications from bandaging ( 124 ). While pain is an expected outcome of any surgery and should be ameliorated appropriately, there is evidence that there is short- and long-term pain due to onychectomy ( 124 – 129 ). Behaviors indicative of pain, such as forepaw shaking and laying on their side, were seen in cats that were declawed compared to those having a sham procedure performed ( 125 ).…”

Section: Elective Surgical Procedures and Animal Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Surgical and Behavioral Relationships With Welfare

Bain¹

2020

Front. Vet. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Veterinarians perform surgery for a number of reasons, from treating a problem to preventing future problems. There is an inextricable link between the physical and psychological aspects of an animal's health, and surgery is often a conduit to bridge that gap. Some surgical procedures can affect an animal's behavior, such as castration, and some pose an ethical dilemma, such as ear cropping and declawing. Ameliorating pain, decreasing stressful experiences for the animal, and identifying and treating concurrent problem behaviors are hallmarks of improving animal welfare. The purpose of this article is to outline some of these interrelationships and ethical dilemmas, providing evidence-based verification as applicable.

show abstract

“…2,4–6 Pain, lameness and changes in behavior can also be present in cats regardless of the method of amputation or anesthetic and analgesic protocols. 7,8 Scratching is a natural behavior that is inherited and learned in cats that allows them to deposit pheromones, stretch and sharpen their claws. 9,10 Because scratching is a natural behavior that cannot be eliminated, treatment recommendations focus on redirecting scratching behavior to more desirable surfaces, such as scratching posts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of a provincial feline onychectomy ban on cat intake and euthanasia in a British Columbia animal shelter system

Ellis¹,

Haaften²,

Protopopova

et al. 2021

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an increase in cat relinquishment for destructive scratching behavior, a change in overall feline surrender intake and euthanasia, or a change in average length of stay in a British Columbia shelter system after provincial legislation banning elective onychectomy. Methods Records of cats admitted to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the 36 months prior to (1 May 2015–30 April 2018, n = 41,157) and after (1 May 2018–30 April 2021, n = 33,430) the provincial ban on elective onychectomy were reviewed. Total intake numbers, euthanasia and length of stay were descriptively compared between periods. Proportions of cats and kittens surrendered for destructive scratching, as well as the proportion of cats and kittens surrendered with an owner request for euthanasia, were compared using two-sample z-tests of proportions. Results Destructive behavior was found to be an uncommon reason for surrender (0.18% of surrendered cats) during the study period. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of cats surrendered for destructive scratching behavior ( z = −1.89, P >0.05) after the provincial ban on elective onychectomy. On the contrary, the proportion of owner-requested euthanasias decreased after the ban ( z = 3.90, P <0.001). The total number of cats surrendered, the shelter live release rate and average length of stay all remained stable or improved following the ban, though causation could not be determined. Conclusions and relevance The findings in this study suggest that legislation banning elective onychectomy does not increase the risk of feline shelter relinquishment – for destructive behavior or overall – and is unlikely to have a significant effect on shelter euthanasia or length of stay.

show abstract

Pain and analgesia following onychectomy in cats: a systematic review

Cited by 13 publications

References 32 publications

Late-onset osteosarcoma after onychectomy in a cat

Late-onset osteosarcoma after onychectomy in a cat

Surgical and Behavioral Relationships With Welfare

Effect of a provincial feline onychectomy ban on cat intake and euthanasia in a British Columbia animal shelter system

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About