ELECTIVE SURGERIES

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

NEUTERING / spaying

The average lifespan of a neutered / spayed pet is 40% longer than that of an unneutered / unspayed one. Unspayed females can develop breast cancer or severe uterine infections by the time they are 8-10 years of age. Unspayed female cats also are in heat frequently, about every 3 weeks, during which time they are noisy and troublesome to live with. Worst of all, millions of unwanted kittens are euthanized in this country every year because there aren't enough homes for them all.

Unneutered male cats over the age of 9 months have very strong smelling urine, which they like to spray in the house to mark their territory. They are also prone to wander in search of female cats and are also very territorial. These traits lead to high rates of death from being hit by cars, fight wounds and exposure to deadly contagious viral infections. Male cats are also, of course, equally responsible for pet overpopulation.

We recommend spaying (surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus) of female cats, and castration (surgical removal of the testicles) of males, for all pets that will not be used for purebred breeding. This should be done when your animal reaches 6 months of age. (Male cats can be neutered earlier while they are being declawed.) Your animal will be a healthier, happier pet, and you will have done your part to reduce the pet overpopulation problem.

While your pet is anesthetized we can also remove any retained baby teeth and implant a microchip ID. This is a helpful way to identify your pet should he or she become lost or stolen.

DECLAWING

 Many people who keep their cats indoors prefer to have their front paws declawed. Occasionally, we will declaw all four feet, but this is seldom necessary.  There are four options that you should consider: frequent nail clipping, nail shields, surgical declawing, and tendonectomy.
 

The nails may be clipped regularly (we can show you how). However, your cat's nails will re-grow and become sharp again within a few days. Therefore, to protect your property, it will be necessary to clip them one to two times per week. You must provide scratching posts or your cat will use the furniture.

 

There are some commercially available products that are called nail caps. These are generally made of smooth plastic and attach to the end of the nail with special glue. The nails are still present, but the caps prevent them from causing destruction. After two to four weeks the nails will grow enough that the caps will be shed. At that time, you should be prepared to replace them.

 

Surgical declawing is the removal of the nail at its base. This is done under general anesthesia and requires an overnight hospitalization.  There is very little post-surgical discomfort, especially when it is performed on a kitten.

Contrary to the belief of some, this surgery does not cause lameness or psychological damage. Actually, a declawed cat will not realize the claws are gone and will continue to "sharpen" the claws as normal without inflicting damage to your furniture. This surgery can be done as soon as your kitten has started his or her vaccination series, has been tested for internal parasites, and weighs at least two pounds or anytime thereafter.  Please decide early if you want your cat declawed. The earlier the better.  It can also be done the same time as spaying or neutering. Once declawed, your cat should always live indoors since the ability to defend itself is compromised.

 

Tendonectomy is the surgical removal of a small part of the tendon on the bottom of each toe. This tendon is needed to make the nail extend. The cat retains its nails, but it cannot extend them for sharpening and scratching. There are two disadvantages to this procedure. One is that the nails continue to grow. Therefore, the nails should be clipped every seven to fourteen days; if not, the nails may grow into the pads of the foot. Additionally, there is some loss of structure to the toes. The toes may splay, causing abnormal stress on the joints of the toes. Subsequent arthritis is of concern. It is generally recommended as an option in older cats.

 

Microchipping

The latest in pet identification and retrieval is microchipping. This tiny device is implanted with a needle so the process is much like getting an injection. Veterinary hospitals, humane societies and animal shelters across the country have microchip scanners used to detect the presence of a microchip and your cat’s unique identification. A national registry assists in the return of microchipped pets throughout the United States and Canada. We strongly recommend that all pets be microchipped.