Vet's Fault/Small Claims Court?

Question:

: I like my animals to have all parts of their bodies if their anatomies are : completely healthy. I agree that declawing should be illegal. But, I dont’ think Brian is sayign he wants to declaw again (fi you note he posted that he would not do it again after learning what was done). I think he’s just telling epople to lay off who still insist on flaming him because of the mistake he made in the past. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

Response:

>Despite what I think most people are assuming here (and seem to want >to assume) my two cats are very happy now, walk and run around very >well, and are very well taken care of.  I love animals and have been >told a number of times that I care too much about my cats.  It’s >obvious how much my cats love me which is a direct reflection of how I >treat them.

I’m butting in when I haven’t been involved in the argument before, but here goes.   She is using that word ‘now’ again which others point out as what happened in the past before now?  How can you care too much about cats?  It is impossible…  you may treat them well now but you in the past you mutilated their bodies! >It still amazes me that some people (not you Barb) would rather put >down others as opposed to being understanding, tolerant of other >viewpoints, or even constructive.  Too many people seem to take the >easy way out by simply putting down others.  It takes a much better >person to try to be understanding or sympathetic in situations where >someone is uneducated on a topic or just nieve.  I thought it was >common practice to declaw cats.  So at the time I didn’t think I >needed to do any research prior to the surgery.  I wouldn’t declaw >another cat but some people find enjoyment in flaming me anyway.

It is banned here in the UK and most other countries, why?  Because it is a cruel and barbaric act and should not be legal in any country.  I am glad it is banned here. >Is flaming others for declawing any different than assuming that your >opinion is the ONLY right opinion on politics, religion, abortion or >even circumcision?  All those topics are never-ending debates that >will be better served by having constructive dialogue rather than >destructive.  

I like my animals to have all parts of their bodies if their anatomies are completely healthy. >Despite my current viewpoint, I will still be understanding of another >person’s right and opinion on declawing (and other topics) whether I >agree with the person or not.   >#

It should be made illegal over there as here, simple as that. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Just my two cents…. >Thanks again to all those who posted useful messages.  I plan on >asking the vet for the extra medical expenses.  But whether I get the >money or not, I still plan on contacting the AVA (or whatever group is >most appropriate) to do my part in protecting other animals and their >owners from this sub-par veterinarian.   >-Brian >I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by >surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little >kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray >almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. >There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t >imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 >years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a >day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her >claws. >Barb

Jules There are two respites from the miseries of life – music and cats.

Response:

Despite what I think most people are assuming here (and seem to want to assume) my two cats are very happy now, walk and run around very well, and are very well taken care of.  I love animals and have been told a number of times that I care too much about my cats.  It’s obvious how much my cats love me which is a direct reflection of how I treat them. It still amazes me that some people (not you Barb) would rather put down others as opposed to being understanding, tolerant of other viewpoints, or even constructive.  Too many people seem to take the easy way out by simply putting down others.  It takes a much better person to try to be understanding or sympathetic in situations where someone is uneducated on a topic or just nieve.  I thought it was common practice to declaw cats.  So at the time I didn’t think I needed to do any research prior to the surgery.  I wouldn’t declaw another cat but some people find enjoyment in flaming me anyway. Is flaming others for declawing any different than assuming that your opinion is the ONLY right opinion on politics, religion, abortion or even circumcision?  All those topics are never-ending debates that will be better served by having constructive dialogue rather than destructive.   Despite my current viewpoint, I will still be understanding of another person’s right and opinion on declawing (and other topics) whether I agree with the person or not.   Just my two cents…. Thanks again to all those who posted useful messages.  I plan on asking the vet for the extra medical expenses.  But whether I get the money or not, I still plan on contacting the AVA (or whatever group is most appropriate) to do my part in protecting other animals and their owners from this sub-par veterinarian.   -Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by >surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little >kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray >almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. >There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t >imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 >years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a >day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her >claws. >Barb

Response:

Warning – these pictures are not for the squeamish.  I probably should have known that but I just exercised the old curiosity anyway…   Chakolate – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > Its not unusual. In a recent university study, 50% of declawed cats > suffered early post op complications and 20% suffered late > complications. Regrow of deformed claws inside of the paw which is not > visible to the eye, was one of them.  This is why periodic x-rays are > necessary. > This is what it looks like in an x-ray: > http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/claw_x-ray.jpg > These are some of the other complications: > http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/Declaw%20Complications.jpg  The > first picture is probably what happened to your second cat. > Both of the complications you have described are the result > unnecessary amputations performed poorly. IOW, unnecessay trauma > compounded by incompetence. > http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > Sue the ignorant, incompetent bastard.  Even if you don’t win in > court, the bad publicity of his gross incompetence will hurt him. > Then use your horrible experience to educate others so their cats > don’t go through the same heinous experience and your cats will not > have suffered in vain. > http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm >  Phil > -Brian

– It is never too late to be what you might have been.  George Eliot

Response:

I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her claws. Barb

Response:

(snip story of all-too-common botched declaws) > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian

Don’t get any more cats.  Please. -L.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery.

Its not unusual. In a recent university study, 50% of declawed cats suffered early post op complications and 20% suffered late complications. Regrow of deformed claws inside of the paw which is not visible to the eye, was one of them.  This is why periodic x-rays are necessary. This is what it looks like in an x-ray: http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/claw_x-ray.jpg These are some of the other complications: http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/Declaw%20Complications.jpg  The first picture is probably what happened to your second cat. Both of the complications you have described are the result unnecessary amputations performed poorly. IOW, unnecessay trauma compounded by incompetence.   http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions?

Sue the ignorant, incompetent bastard.  Even if you don’t win in court, the bad publicity of his gross incompetence will hurt him. Then use your horrible experience to educate others so their cats don’t go through the same heinous experience and your cats will not have suffered in vain. http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm  Phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> -Brian

Response:

> really brave Brian and have so extra money to burn, you might want to go > ahead and sue just to teach the guy a lesson.

If enough people sued him often enough, and kept him tied up in court long enough, you’d figure he’d get the message and quit it altogether. GS

Response:

my brain is no good past 5pm… lots of typos in my last post.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Declawed cats, and Non-Declaw get along just fine most times. Always > investigate any surgery before you do, some goes for human surgery! Good > luck with your kitties, make sure they get lots of exercise, they sometimes > get back problems since cats are meant to walk on their toes and arenow > walking flat footed. I’m glad to hear they are feeling better! > -Sofia > : At least I know now, right?! > Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames > . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing > to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give > them lots of kitty kisses ) > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> First, thanks for all the good feedback on the situation.  It’s very > helpful! > Since everyone is flaming me for declawing I should probably explain > myself. > At the time, the first cat was being introduced into a house with > another cat that was already declawed (not by me).  I thought it would > be a little cruel for one cat to be clawed and another declawed, > especially during the times they play fight.  I know that’s still not > reason enough, so it really came down to the fact that I was nieve at > the time as to how "wrong" declawing" really is.  I wouldn’t do it > again after having read all that I’ve read.  I grew up hearing that > you should declaw indoor cats.  I just thought it was standard > practice until I learned otherwise after having the cats for a few > months. > At least I know now, right?! > I should also mention that both my cats are doing great now, both > physically and mentally! > Thanks again for all the useful posts!

If you had posted here before you  had the cat declawed, there would have been plenty of people who would have encouraged you not to declaw the new cat, and helped you introduce them to each other.  Funny how people can figure out how to ask questions on newsgroups after the damage is done, but don’t bother to do any research *beforehand*.

Response:

Just as a side note to this thread…this is actually a real problem that needs to change.  It can be very, very hard to sue a vet even in cases of gross misconduct and malpractice.  Even if one does manage to sue and win, the vet may suffer little more than a false scolding.  While things are slowly changing now, it can still be quite an experiance to even get admittance of clear, blaring malpractice.  One of my teachers once said that he hopes the day never comes when suing vets for malpractice is common, because it happens so often and they would have to raise their prices to get malpractice insurance, thus losing customers.  What kind of attitude is that?  All too common in the vet world, actually.  So if you’re feeling really brave Brian and have so extra money to burn, you might want to go ahead and sue just to teach the guy a lesson.  Regradless of how correct declawing is (and we all know where I stand on it), it is a common surgery and there is little excuse for botching it so badly.  Only thing worse than a declaw is a screwed up infected declaw, after all. Sethran

Response:

I never thought I’d say this but as outrageous as it sounds I have to agree here. Why would anyone declaw their cats? My cat will never be declawed as she needs the defenses in case she ever gets out. — Cat Galaxy- The Internet radio station for cats. Meow meow meow!! http://www.live365.com/stations/231353 Real Player and Winamp: 66.28.48.193:10518

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Maybe it’s the cats who should be taking YOU to small claims court for messing > with what God gave them. > GS

Response:

I’d consult a lawyer on this one. Perhaps there are lawyers in this person’s area that specialize in animal cases. — Cat Galaxy- The Internet radio station for cats. Meow meow meow!! http://www.live365.com/stations/231353 Real Player and Winamp: 66.28.48.193:10518

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a > piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think > there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the > cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped. > > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > > medical bills? > > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > > back and have this go on his record. > > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > > threads for that! > > Thoughts, Opinions? > > -Brian >     Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN! >     ob. > — > ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** > *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** > *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

Response:

First, thanks for all the good feedback on the situation.  It’s very helpful! Since everyone is flaming me for declawing I should probably explain myself. At the time, the first cat was being introduced into a house with another cat that was already declawed (not by me).  I thought it would be a little cruel for one cat to be clawed and another declawed, especially during the times they play fight.  I know that’s still not reason enough, so it really came down to the fact that I was nieve at the time as to how "wrong" declawing" really is.  I wouldn’t do it again after having read all that I’ve read.  I grew up hearing that you should declaw indoor cats.  I just thought it was standard practice until I learned otherwise after having the cats for a few months. At least I know now, right?! I should also mention that both my cats are doing great now, both physically and mentally! Thanks again for all the useful posts! -Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I think you’re going to have trouble really proving fault.  You might get >lucky, but problems after surgery are NOT rare in declaws, especially >leaving bone in.  I have a cat who was declawed prior to being mine and >still limps on both front feet.  Thousands in x-rays later we still can’t >figure out why but we’ve been assured that going after the original vet >would accomplish little. >One of mine just got a heart ultrasound.  We were warned by the attending >vet at the practice that the HCM the ultrasound doc said he had probably >wasn’t true.  So we ended up going to Penn and found out there was nothing >wrong with his heart.  They paid for the trip to Penn but we still ended up >$400 short…the amount we paid for the first ultrasound.  I believe they >should have both given us back the money and paid for the Penn trip simply >because of the sheer amount of anguish they caused us and the risk to my >cat’s health. >The best thing would be to confront the vet, see if he’ll pay, and threaten >to sue.  Sometimes the threat is enough.  But you might end up paying more >in court fees than you could gain so it might not be worth it.  I would >definitely file a record with the AVA about the problem. >And sorry, can’t leave it entirely alone…hope you’ll think twice next time >you want to chop off bits of your cat’s feet. >Sethran *you didn’t really think I could say NOTHING, right?*  ;)

Response:

: At least I know now, right?! Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give them lots of kitty kisses ) Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

Response:

Declawed cats, and Non-Declaw get along just fine most times. Always investigate any surgery before you do, some goes for human surgery! Good luck with your kitties, make sure they get lots of exercise, they sometimes get back problems since cats are meant to walk on their toes and arenow walking flat footed. I’m glad to hear they are feeling better! -Sofia

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : At least I know now, right?! > Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames > . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing > to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give > them lots of kitty kisses ) > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

Response:

>It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s >supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money >back and have this go on his record.  

I took a vet to small claims and won. VCA animal hospital let my cat die after the riots here in Los Angeles, CA. You will have to show that he of course did not do a good job. If you could get a note from another vet, that would be great. You cannot sue for pain and suffering of an animal here in my state. Check your own state laws. You can only sue for the cost of the extra medical care that was needed and any other direct costs. Good luck.

Response:

I think you’re going to have trouble really proving fault.  You might get lucky, but problems after surgery are NOT rare in declaws, especially leaving bone in.  I have a cat who was declawed prior to being mine and still limps on both front feet.  Thousands in x-rays later we still can’t figure out why but we’ve been assured that going after the original vet would accomplish little. One of mine just got a heart ultrasound.  We were warned by the attending vet at the practice that the HCM the ultrasound doc said he had probably wasn’t true.  So we ended up going to Penn and found out there was nothing wrong with his heart.  They paid for the trip to Penn but we still ended up $400 short…the amount we paid for the first ultrasound.  I believe they should have both given us back the money and paid for the Penn trip simply because of the sheer amount of anguish they caused us and the risk to my cat’s health. The best thing would be to confront the vet, see if he’ll pay, and threaten to sue.  Sometimes the threat is enough.  But you might end up paying more in court fees than you could gain so it might not be worth it.  I would definitely file a record with the AVA about the problem. And sorry, can’t leave it entirely alone…hope you’ll think twice next time you want to chop off bits of your cat’s feet. Sethran *you didn’t really think I could say NOTHING, right?*  ;)

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I remeber, you work at the pet smart right? Just yesterday I saw a declaw victim up for adoption at the petsmart near me. The only reason people have is so they don’t scratch the furniture. There are many good ways to keep cats from scratching furniture. Cats commonly have bad litterbox habits after a declaw, also biting becoms comon. Wlaking on hind legs, and sleeping on their back cause of the pain in their paws.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > : supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > : back and have this go on his record. > : Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > : threads for that! > Well, sorry, but if you are posting a group that you know is very > anti-declawing, you are going to have to expect some. It’s like posting > pitbulls= evil on the dog breeding group or speed  is always bad on the > car newsgroup. Especially when you write that the vet would do such a poor > job on the animals he’s *helping*!!! Declawing the animal is not helpikng > the animal at all. Sorry, but I probably would have stayed silent except > for that one line… I just had to see a poor cat that was declawed > yesterday (that is my one beef with my vet, they don’t see anything wrong > with declawing… and yes, they are moral about things, my vet will not > debark a dog because he does believe that is cruel). He was trying not to > stand on his paws and he was mostly nice, but I think ever now and then > his paws would shooot up pain and he’d hiss at me out of frustration cause > of the pain. How taking away claws helps the cat I have yet to hear a good > explanation. It surely doesn’t help to keep them in homes (ask the poor > cat I posted about earlier that is going back to the shelter cause she > pee’d on the woman’s couhc…. that cat was declawed a week to two weeks > before the woman decided to return her. It may have even been because of > the declaw the cat was peeing elsewhere ebsides the litterbox). > : Thoughts, Opinions? > Don’t go to that vet anymore… if he can’t even do a declaw surgery right > (yes the declaw surgery is harsh and is harder but it should be one that > is probably sadly enough common enough that he shouldn’t botch on both > cats like that), what happens when he has to do a surgery that he probably > hasn’t done near as much? > Sure, ask if he can pay for the fixes to his botched surgeries, if he is > reasonable he might help. > Third, don’t declaw any more cats. There are lots of things that can go > wrong without the vet botching the surgery. Hell… one day you might find > you have a cat that doesn’t deal with anesthetic well and dies during hte > surgery (it happens.. even to the best of vets.. my cat died during a > surgery that was supposed to be 99% effective. Not much he could have > done.. he just couldn’t get her to wake up from the anesthetic). Or the > cat could heal badly. Or the cat could start having behavior problems. > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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: It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s : supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money : back and have this go on his record.   : Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news : threads for that! Well, sorry, but if you are posting a group that you know is very anti-declawing, you are going to have to expect some. It’s like posting pitbulls= evil on the dog breeding group or speed  is always bad on the car newsgroup. Especially when you write that the vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s *helping*!!! Declawing the animal is not helpikng the animal at all. Sorry, but I probably would have stayed silent except for that one line… I just had to see a poor cat that was declawed yesterday (that is my one beef with my vet, they don’t see anything wrong with declawing… and yes, they are moral about things, my vet will not debark a dog because he does believe that is cruel). He was trying not to stand on his paws and he was mostly nice, but I think ever now and then his paws would shooot up pain and he’d hiss at me out of frustration cause of the pain. How taking away claws helps the cat I have yet to hear a good explanation. It surely doesn’t help to keep them in homes (ask the poor cat I posted about earlier that is going back to the shelter cause she pee’d on the woman’s couhc…. that cat was declawed a week to two weeks before the woman decided to return her. It may have even been because of the declaw the cat was peeing elsewhere ebsides the litterbox). : Thoughts, Opinions? Don’t go to that vet anymore… if he can’t even do a declaw surgery right (yes the declaw surgery is harsh and is harder but it should be one that is probably sadly enough common enough that he shouldn’t botch on both cats like that), what happens when he has to do a surgery that he probably hasn’t done near as much? Sure, ask if he can pay for the fixes to his botched surgeries, if he is reasonable he might help. Third, don’t declaw any more cats. There are lots of things that can go wrong without the vet botching the surgery. Hell… one day you might find you have a cat that doesn’t deal with anesthetic well and dies during hte surgery (it happens.. even to the best of vets.. my cat died during a surgery that was supposed to be 99% effective. Not much he could have done.. he just couldn’t get her to wake up from the anesthetic). Or the cat could heal badly. Or the cat could start having behavior problems. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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: Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a : piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think : there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the : cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped. Wow… I didn’t even know that (not that it would matter for me, I don’t think there was ever a point where I would have declawed a cat). Yet another reason not to declaw, apparently it is common to have it botched. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian >     Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN! >     ob. > — > ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** > *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** > *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

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Maybe it’s the cats who should be taking YOU to small claims court for messing with what God gave them. GS

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record.   > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian

    Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN!     ob. — ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

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I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was the first time he had ever seen this happen. The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this is very unusual following a declaw surgery. So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional medical bills? The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money back and have this go on his record.   Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news threads for that! Thoughts, Opinions? -Brian

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: I like my animals to have all parts of their bodies if their anatomies are : completely healthy. I agree that declawing should be illegal. But, I dont’ think Brian is sayign he wants to declaw again (fi you note he posted that he would not do it again after learning what was done). I think he’s just telling epople to lay off who still insist on flaming him because of the mistake he made in the past. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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>Despite what I think most people are assuming here (and seem to want >to assume) my two cats are very happy now, walk and run around very >well, and are very well taken care of.  I love animals and have been >told a number of times that I care too much about my cats.  It’s >obvious how much my cats love me which is a direct reflection of how I >treat them.

I’m butting in when I haven’t been involved in the argument before, but here goes.   She is using that word ‘now’ again which others point out as what happened in the past before now?  How can you care too much about cats?  It is impossible…  you may treat them well now but you in the past you mutilated their bodies! >It still amazes me that some people (not you Barb) would rather put >down others as opposed to being understanding, tolerant of other >viewpoints, or even constructive.  Too many people seem to take the >easy way out by simply putting down others.  It takes a much better >person to try to be understanding or sympathetic in situations where >someone is uneducated on a topic or just nieve.  I thought it was >common practice to declaw cats.  So at the time I didn’t think I >needed to do any research prior to the surgery.  I wouldn’t declaw >another cat but some people find enjoyment in flaming me anyway.

It is banned here in the UK and most other countries, why?  Because it is a cruel and barbaric act and should not be legal in any country.  I am glad it is banned here. >Is flaming others for declawing any different than assuming that your >opinion is the ONLY right opinion on politics, religion, abortion or >even circumcision?  All those topics are never-ending debates that >will be better served by having constructive dialogue rather than >destructive.  

I like my animals to have all parts of their bodies if their anatomies are completely healthy. >Despite my current viewpoint, I will still be understanding of another >person’s right and opinion on declawing (and other topics) whether I >agree with the person or not.   >#

It should be made illegal over there as here, simple as that. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Just my two cents…. >Thanks again to all those who posted useful messages.  I plan on >asking the vet for the extra medical expenses.  But whether I get the >money or not, I still plan on contacting the AVA (or whatever group is >most appropriate) to do my part in protecting other animals and their >owners from this sub-par veterinarian.   >-Brian >I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by >surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little >kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray >almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. >There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t >imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 >years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a >day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her >claws. >Barb

Jules There are two respites from the miseries of life – music and cats.

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Despite what I think most people are assuming here (and seem to want to assume) my two cats are very happy now, walk and run around very well, and are very well taken care of.  I love animals and have been told a number of times that I care too much about my cats.  It’s obvious how much my cats love me which is a direct reflection of how I treat them. It still amazes me that some people (not you Barb) would rather put down others as opposed to being understanding, tolerant of other viewpoints, or even constructive.  Too many people seem to take the easy way out by simply putting down others.  It takes a much better person to try to be understanding or sympathetic in situations where someone is uneducated on a topic or just nieve.  I thought it was common practice to declaw cats.  So at the time I didn’t think I needed to do any research prior to the surgery.  I wouldn’t declaw another cat but some people find enjoyment in flaming me anyway. Is flaming others for declawing any different than assuming that your opinion is the ONLY right opinion on politics, religion, abortion or even circumcision?  All those topics are never-ending debates that will be better served by having constructive dialogue rather than destructive.   Despite my current viewpoint, I will still be understanding of another person’s right and opinion on declawing (and other topics) whether I agree with the person or not.   Just my two cents…. Thanks again to all those who posted useful messages.  I plan on asking the vet for the extra medical expenses.  But whether I get the money or not, I still plan on contacting the AVA (or whatever group is most appropriate) to do my part in protecting other animals and their owners from this sub-par veterinarian.   -Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by >surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little >kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray >almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. >There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t >imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 >years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a >day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her >claws. >Barb

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Warning – these pictures are not for the squeamish.  I probably should have known that but I just exercised the old curiosity anyway…   Chakolate – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > Its not unusual. In a recent university study, 50% of declawed cats > suffered early post op complications and 20% suffered late > complications. Regrow of deformed claws inside of the paw which is not > visible to the eye, was one of them.  This is why periodic x-rays are > necessary. > This is what it looks like in an x-ray: > http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/claw_x-ray.jpg > These are some of the other complications: > http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/Declaw%20Complications.jpg  The > first picture is probably what happened to your second cat. > Both of the complications you have described are the result > unnecessary amputations performed poorly. IOW, unnecessay trauma > compounded by incompetence. > http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > Sue the ignorant, incompetent bastard.  Even if you don’t win in > court, the bad publicity of his gross incompetence will hurt him. > Then use your horrible experience to educate others so their cats > don’t go through the same heinous experience and your cats will not > have suffered in vain. > http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm >  Phil > -Brian

– It is never too late to be what you might have been.  George Eliot

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I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her claws. Barb

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(snip story of all-too-common botched declaws) > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian

Don’t get any more cats.  Please. -L.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery.

Its not unusual. In a recent university study, 50% of declawed cats suffered early post op complications and 20% suffered late complications. Regrow of deformed claws inside of the paw which is not visible to the eye, was one of them.  This is why periodic x-rays are necessary. This is what it looks like in an x-ray: http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/claw_x-ray.jpg These are some of the other complications: http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/Declaw%20Complications.jpg  The first picture is probably what happened to your second cat. Both of the complications you have described are the result unnecessary amputations performed poorly. IOW, unnecessay trauma compounded by incompetence.   http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions?

Sue the ignorant, incompetent bastard.  Even if you don’t win in court, the bad publicity of his gross incompetence will hurt him. Then use your horrible experience to educate others so their cats don’t go through the same heinous experience and your cats will not have suffered in vain. http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm  Phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> -Brian

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> really brave Brian and have so extra money to burn, you might want to go > ahead and sue just to teach the guy a lesson.

If enough people sued him often enough, and kept him tied up in court long enough, you’d figure he’d get the message and quit it altogether. GS

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my brain is no good past 5pm… lots of typos in my last post.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Declawed cats, and Non-Declaw get along just fine most times. Always > investigate any surgery before you do, some goes for human surgery! Good > luck with your kitties, make sure they get lots of exercise, they sometimes > get back problems since cats are meant to walk on their toes and arenow > walking flat footed. I’m glad to hear they are feeling better! > -Sofia > : At least I know now, right?! > Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames > . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing > to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give > them lots of kitty kisses ) > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> First, thanks for all the good feedback on the situation.  It’s very > helpful! > Since everyone is flaming me for declawing I should probably explain > myself. > At the time, the first cat was being introduced into a house with > another cat that was already declawed (not by me).  I thought it would > be a little cruel for one cat to be clawed and another declawed, > especially during the times they play fight.  I know that’s still not > reason enough, so it really came down to the fact that I was nieve at > the time as to how "wrong" declawing" really is.  I wouldn’t do it > again after having read all that I’ve read.  I grew up hearing that > you should declaw indoor cats.  I just thought it was standard > practice until I learned otherwise after having the cats for a few > months. > At least I know now, right?! > I should also mention that both my cats are doing great now, both > physically and mentally! > Thanks again for all the useful posts!

If you had posted here before you  had the cat declawed, there would have been plenty of people who would have encouraged you not to declaw the new cat, and helped you introduce them to each other.  Funny how people can figure out how to ask questions on newsgroups after the damage is done, but don’t bother to do any research *beforehand*.

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Just as a side note to this thread…this is actually a real problem that needs to change.  It can be very, very hard to sue a vet even in cases of gross misconduct and malpractice.  Even if one does manage to sue and win, the vet may suffer little more than a false scolding.  While things are slowly changing now, it can still be quite an experiance to even get admittance of clear, blaring malpractice.  One of my teachers once said that he hopes the day never comes when suing vets for malpractice is common, because it happens so often and they would have to raise their prices to get malpractice insurance, thus losing customers.  What kind of attitude is that?  All too common in the vet world, actually.  So if you’re feeling really brave Brian and have so extra money to burn, you might want to go ahead and sue just to teach the guy a lesson.  Regradless of how correct declawing is (and we all know where I stand on it), it is a common surgery and there is little excuse for botching it so badly.  Only thing worse than a declaw is a screwed up infected declaw, after all. Sethran

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I never thought I’d say this but as outrageous as it sounds I have to agree here. Why would anyone declaw their cats? My cat will never be declawed as she needs the defenses in case she ever gets out. — Cat Galaxy- The Internet radio station for cats. Meow meow meow!! http://www.live365.com/stations/231353 Real Player and Winamp: 66.28.48.193:10518

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Maybe it’s the cats who should be taking YOU to small claims court for messing > with what God gave them. > GS

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I’d consult a lawyer on this one. Perhaps there are lawyers in this person’s area that specialize in animal cases. — Cat Galaxy- The Internet radio station for cats. Meow meow meow!! http://www.live365.com/stations/231353 Real Player and Winamp: 66.28.48.193:10518

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a > piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think > there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the > cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped. > > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > > medical bills? > > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > > back and have this go on his record. > > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > > threads for that! > > Thoughts, Opinions? > > -Brian >     Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN! >     ob. > — > ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** > *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** > *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

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First, thanks for all the good feedback on the situation.  It’s very helpful! Since everyone is flaming me for declawing I should probably explain myself. At the time, the first cat was being introduced into a house with another cat that was already declawed (not by me).  I thought it would be a little cruel for one cat to be clawed and another declawed, especially during the times they play fight.  I know that’s still not reason enough, so it really came down to the fact that I was nieve at the time as to how "wrong" declawing" really is.  I wouldn’t do it again after having read all that I’ve read.  I grew up hearing that you should declaw indoor cats.  I just thought it was standard practice until I learned otherwise after having the cats for a few months. At least I know now, right?! I should also mention that both my cats are doing great now, both physically and mentally! Thanks again for all the useful posts! -Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I think you’re going to have trouble really proving fault.  You might get >lucky, but problems after surgery are NOT rare in declaws, especially >leaving bone in.  I have a cat who was declawed prior to being mine and >still limps on both front feet.  Thousands in x-rays later we still can’t >figure out why but we’ve been assured that going after the original vet >would accomplish little. >One of mine just got a heart ultrasound.  We were warned by the attending >vet at the practice that the HCM the ultrasound doc said he had probably >wasn’t true.  So we ended up going to Penn and found out there was nothing >wrong with his heart.  They paid for the trip to Penn but we still ended up >$400 short…the amount we paid for the first ultrasound.  I believe they >should have both given us back the money and paid for the Penn trip simply >because of the sheer amount of anguish they caused us and the risk to my >cat’s health. >The best thing would be to confront the vet, see if he’ll pay, and threaten >to sue.  Sometimes the threat is enough.  But you might end up paying more >in court fees than you could gain so it might not be worth it.  I would >definitely file a record with the AVA about the problem. >And sorry, can’t leave it entirely alone…hope you’ll think twice next time >you want to chop off bits of your cat’s feet. >Sethran *you didn’t really think I could say NOTHING, right?*  ;)

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: At least I know now, right?! Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give them lots of kitty kisses ) Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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Declawed cats, and Non-Declaw get along just fine most times. Always investigate any surgery before you do, some goes for human surgery! Good luck with your kitties, make sure they get lots of exercise, they sometimes get back problems since cats are meant to walk on their toes and arenow walking flat footed. I’m glad to hear they are feeling better! -Sofia

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : At least I know now, right?! > Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames > . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing > to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give > them lots of kitty kisses ) > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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>It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s >supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money >back and have this go on his record.  

I took a vet to small claims and won. VCA animal hospital let my cat die after the riots here in Los Angeles, CA. You will have to show that he of course did not do a good job. If you could get a note from another vet, that would be great. You cannot sue for pain and suffering of an animal here in my state. Check your own state laws. You can only sue for the cost of the extra medical care that was needed and any other direct costs. Good luck.

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I think you’re going to have trouble really proving fault.  You might get lucky, but problems after surgery are NOT rare in declaws, especially leaving bone in.  I have a cat who was declawed prior to being mine and still limps on both front feet.  Thousands in x-rays later we still can’t figure out why but we’ve been assured that going after the original vet would accomplish little. One of mine just got a heart ultrasound.  We were warned by the attending vet at the practice that the HCM the ultrasound doc said he had probably wasn’t true.  So we ended up going to Penn and found out there was nothing wrong with his heart.  They paid for the trip to Penn but we still ended up $400 short…the amount we paid for the first ultrasound.  I believe they should have both given us back the money and paid for the Penn trip simply because of the sheer amount of anguish they caused us and the risk to my cat’s health. The best thing would be to confront the vet, see if he’ll pay, and threaten to sue.  Sometimes the threat is enough.  But you might end up paying more in court fees than you could gain so it might not be worth it.  I would definitely file a record with the AVA about the problem. And sorry, can’t leave it entirely alone…hope you’ll think twice next time you want to chop off bits of your cat’s feet. Sethran *you didn’t really think I could say NOTHING, right?*  ;)

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I remeber, you work at the pet smart right? Just yesterday I saw a declaw victim up for adoption at the petsmart near me. The only reason people have is so they don’t scratch the furniture. There are many good ways to keep cats from scratching furniture. Cats commonly have bad litterbox habits after a declaw, also biting becoms comon. Wlaking on hind legs, and sleeping on their back cause of the pain in their paws.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > : supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > : back and have this go on his record. > : Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > : threads for that! > Well, sorry, but if you are posting a group that you know is very > anti-declawing, you are going to have to expect some. It’s like posting > pitbulls= evil on the dog breeding group or speed  is always bad on the > car newsgroup. Especially when you write that the vet would do such a poor > job on the animals he’s *helping*!!! Declawing the animal is not helpikng > the animal at all. Sorry, but I probably would have stayed silent except > for that one line… I just had to see a poor cat that was declawed > yesterday (that is my one beef with my vet, they don’t see anything wrong > with declawing… and yes, they are moral about things, my vet will not > debark a dog because he does believe that is cruel). He was trying not to > stand on his paws and he was mostly nice, but I think ever now and then > his paws would shooot up pain and he’d hiss at me out of frustration cause > of the pain. How taking away claws helps the cat I have yet to hear a good > explanation. It surely doesn’t help to keep them in homes (ask the poor > cat I posted about earlier that is going back to the shelter cause she > pee’d on the woman’s couhc…. that cat was declawed a week to two weeks > before the woman decided to return her. It may have even been because of > the declaw the cat was peeing elsewhere ebsides the litterbox). > : Thoughts, Opinions? > Don’t go to that vet anymore… if he can’t even do a declaw surgery right > (yes the declaw surgery is harsh and is harder but it should be one that > is probably sadly enough common enough that he shouldn’t botch on both > cats like that), what happens when he has to do a surgery that he probably > hasn’t done near as much? > Sure, ask if he can pay for the fixes to his botched surgeries, if he is > reasonable he might help. > Third, don’t declaw any more cats. There are lots of things that can go > wrong without the vet botching the surgery. Hell… one day you might find > you have a cat that doesn’t deal with anesthetic well and dies during hte > surgery (it happens.. even to the best of vets.. my cat died during a > surgery that was supposed to be 99% effective. Not much he could have > done.. he just couldn’t get her to wake up from the anesthetic). Or the > cat could heal badly. Or the cat could start having behavior problems. > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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: It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s : supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money : back and have this go on his record.   : Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news : threads for that! Well, sorry, but if you are posting a group that you know is very anti-declawing, you are going to have to expect some. It’s like posting pitbulls= evil on the dog breeding group or speed  is always bad on the car newsgroup. Especially when you write that the vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s *helping*!!! Declawing the animal is not helpikng the animal at all. Sorry, but I probably would have stayed silent except for that one line… I just had to see a poor cat that was declawed yesterday (that is my one beef with my vet, they don’t see anything wrong with declawing… and yes, they are moral about things, my vet will not debark a dog because he does believe that is cruel). He was trying not to stand on his paws and he was mostly nice, but I think ever now and then his paws would shooot up pain and he’d hiss at me out of frustration cause of the pain. How taking away claws helps the cat I have yet to hear a good explanation. It surely doesn’t help to keep them in homes (ask the poor cat I posted about earlier that is going back to the shelter cause she pee’d on the woman’s couhc…. that cat was declawed a week to two weeks before the woman decided to return her. It may have even been because of the declaw the cat was peeing elsewhere ebsides the litterbox). : Thoughts, Opinions? Don’t go to that vet anymore… if he can’t even do a declaw surgery right (yes the declaw surgery is harsh and is harder but it should be one that is probably sadly enough common enough that he shouldn’t botch on both cats like that), what happens when he has to do a surgery that he probably hasn’t done near as much? Sure, ask if he can pay for the fixes to his botched surgeries, if he is reasonable he might help. Third, don’t declaw any more cats. There are lots of things that can go wrong without the vet botching the surgery. Hell… one day you might find you have a cat that doesn’t deal with anesthetic well and dies during hte surgery (it happens.. even to the best of vets.. my cat died during a surgery that was supposed to be 99% effective. Not much he could have done.. he just couldn’t get her to wake up from the anesthetic). Or the cat could heal badly. Or the cat could start having behavior problems. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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: Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a : piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think : there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the : cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped. Wow… I didn’t even know that (not that it would matter for me, I don’t think there was ever a point where I would have declawed a cat). Yet another reason not to declaw, apparently it is common to have it botched. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian >     Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN! >     ob. > — > ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** > *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** > *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

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Maybe it’s the cats who should be taking YOU to small claims court for messing with what God gave them. GS

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record.   > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian

    Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN!     ob. — ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

Response:

I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was the first time he had ever seen this happen. The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this is very unusual following a declaw surgery. So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional medical bills? The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money back and have this go on his record.   Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news threads for that! Thoughts, Opinions? -Brian

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: I like my animals to have all parts of their bodies if their anatomies are : completely healthy. I agree that declawing should be illegal. But, I dont’ think Brian is sayign he wants to declaw again (fi you note he posted that he would not do it again after learning what was done). I think he’s just telling epople to lay off who still insist on flaming him because of the mistake he made in the past. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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>Despite what I think most people are assuming here (and seem to want >to assume) my two cats are very happy now, walk and run around very >well, and are very well taken care of.  I love animals and have been >told a number of times that I care too much about my cats.  It’s >obvious how much my cats love me which is a direct reflection of how I >treat them.

I’m butting in when I haven’t been involved in the argument before, but here goes.   She is using that word ‘now’ again which others point out as what happened in the past before now?  How can you care too much about cats?  It is impossible…  you may treat them well now but you in the past you mutilated their bodies! >It still amazes me that some people (not you Barb) would rather put >down others as opposed to being understanding, tolerant of other >viewpoints, or even constructive.  Too many people seem to take the >easy way out by simply putting down others.  It takes a much better >person to try to be understanding or sympathetic in situations where >someone is uneducated on a topic or just nieve.  I thought it was >common practice to declaw cats.  So at the time I didn’t think I >needed to do any research prior to the surgery.  I wouldn’t declaw >another cat but some people find enjoyment in flaming me anyway.

It is banned here in the UK and most other countries, why?  Because it is a cruel and barbaric act and should not be legal in any country.  I am glad it is banned here. >Is flaming others for declawing any different than assuming that your >opinion is the ONLY right opinion on politics, religion, abortion or >even circumcision?  All those topics are never-ending debates that >will be better served by having constructive dialogue rather than >destructive.  

I like my animals to have all parts of their bodies if their anatomies are completely healthy. >Despite my current viewpoint, I will still be understanding of another >person’s right and opinion on declawing (and other topics) whether I >agree with the person or not.   >#

It should be made illegal over there as here, simple as that. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Just my two cents…. >Thanks again to all those who posted useful messages.  I plan on >asking the vet for the extra medical expenses.  But whether I get the >money or not, I still plan on contacting the AVA (or whatever group is >most appropriate) to do my part in protecting other animals and their >owners from this sub-par veterinarian.   >-Brian >I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by >surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little >kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray >almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. >There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t >imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 >years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a >day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her >claws. >Barb

Jules There are two respites from the miseries of life – music and cats.

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Despite what I think most people are assuming here (and seem to want to assume) my two cats are very happy now, walk and run around very well, and are very well taken care of.  I love animals and have been told a number of times that I care too much about my cats.  It’s obvious how much my cats love me which is a direct reflection of how I treat them. It still amazes me that some people (not you Barb) would rather put down others as opposed to being understanding, tolerant of other viewpoints, or even constructive.  Too many people seem to take the easy way out by simply putting down others.  It takes a much better person to try to be understanding or sympathetic in situations where someone is uneducated on a topic or just nieve.  I thought it was common practice to declaw cats.  So at the time I didn’t think I needed to do any research prior to the surgery.  I wouldn’t declaw another cat but some people find enjoyment in flaming me anyway. Is flaming others for declawing any different than assuming that your opinion is the ONLY right opinion on politics, religion, abortion or even circumcision?  All those topics are never-ending debates that will be better served by having constructive dialogue rather than destructive.   Despite my current viewpoint, I will still be understanding of another person’s right and opinion on declawing (and other topics) whether I agree with the person or not.   Just my two cents…. Thanks again to all those who posted useful messages.  I plan on asking the vet for the extra medical expenses.  But whether I get the money or not, I still plan on contacting the AVA (or whatever group is most appropriate) to do my part in protecting other animals and their owners from this sub-par veterinarian.   -Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by >surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little >kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray >almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. >There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t >imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 >years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a >day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her >claws. >Barb

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Warning – these pictures are not for the squeamish.  I probably should have known that but I just exercised the old curiosity anyway…   Chakolate – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > Its not unusual. In a recent university study, 50% of declawed cats > suffered early post op complications and 20% suffered late > complications. Regrow of deformed claws inside of the paw which is not > visible to the eye, was one of them.  This is why periodic x-rays are > necessary. > This is what it looks like in an x-ray: > http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/claw_x-ray.jpg > These are some of the other complications: > http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/Declaw%20Complications.jpg  The > first picture is probably what happened to your second cat. > Both of the complications you have described are the result > unnecessary amputations performed poorly. IOW, unnecessay trauma > compounded by incompetence. > http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > Sue the ignorant, incompetent bastard.  Even if you don’t win in > court, the bad publicity of his gross incompetence will hurt him. > Then use your horrible experience to educate others so their cats > don’t go through the same heinous experience and your cats will not > have suffered in vain. > http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm >  Phil > -Brian

– It is never too late to be what you might have been.  George Eliot

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I try to skip over stories here that are too sad but yours caught me by surprise.  I’m glad you seem to have a happy ending.  Those poor little kittens.  A lawsuit won’t heal their pain.  My Sapphire was a declawed stray almost grown kitten when I brought her home to a dog and 2 cats with claws. There was never a problem about defending herself in my home but I can’t imagine how she managed out in the street for 3 weeks.  Now, more than 10 years later Sapphire still pretends to sharpen her claws several times a day.  She must still miss them so much.  I wish I could give her back her claws. Barb

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(snip story of all-too-common botched declaws) > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian

Don’t get any more cats.  Please. -L.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery.

Its not unusual. In a recent university study, 50% of declawed cats suffered early post op complications and 20% suffered late complications. Regrow of deformed claws inside of the paw which is not visible to the eye, was one of them.  This is why periodic x-rays are necessary. This is what it looks like in an x-ray: http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/claw_x-ray.jpg These are some of the other complications: http://maxshouse.com/anatomy/claws/Declaw%20Complications.jpg  The first picture is probably what happened to your second cat. Both of the complications you have described are the result unnecessary amputations performed poorly. IOW, unnecessay trauma compounded by incompetence.   http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions?

Sue the ignorant, incompetent bastard.  Even if you don’t win in court, the bad publicity of his gross incompetence will hurt him. Then use your horrible experience to educate others so their cats don’t go through the same heinous experience and your cats will not have suffered in vain. http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm  Phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> -Brian

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> really brave Brian and have so extra money to burn, you might want to go > ahead and sue just to teach the guy a lesson.

If enough people sued him often enough, and kept him tied up in court long enough, you’d figure he’d get the message and quit it altogether. GS

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my brain is no good past 5pm… lots of typos in my last post.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Declawed cats, and Non-Declaw get along just fine most times. Always > investigate any surgery before you do, some goes for human surgery! Good > luck with your kitties, make sure they get lots of exercise, they sometimes > get back problems since cats are meant to walk on their toes and arenow > walking flat footed. I’m glad to hear they are feeling better! > -Sofia > : At least I know now, right?! > Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames > . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing > to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give > them lots of kitty kisses ) > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> First, thanks for all the good feedback on the situation.  It’s very > helpful! > Since everyone is flaming me for declawing I should probably explain > myself. > At the time, the first cat was being introduced into a house with > another cat that was already declawed (not by me).  I thought it would > be a little cruel for one cat to be clawed and another declawed, > especially during the times they play fight.  I know that’s still not > reason enough, so it really came down to the fact that I was nieve at > the time as to how "wrong" declawing" really is.  I wouldn’t do it > again after having read all that I’ve read.  I grew up hearing that > you should declaw indoor cats.  I just thought it was standard > practice until I learned otherwise after having the cats for a few > months. > At least I know now, right?! > I should also mention that both my cats are doing great now, both > physically and mentally! > Thanks again for all the useful posts!

If you had posted here before you  had the cat declawed, there would have been plenty of people who would have encouraged you not to declaw the new cat, and helped you introduce them to each other.  Funny how people can figure out how to ask questions on newsgroups after the damage is done, but don’t bother to do any research *beforehand*.

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Just as a side note to this thread…this is actually a real problem that needs to change.  It can be very, very hard to sue a vet even in cases of gross misconduct and malpractice.  Even if one does manage to sue and win, the vet may suffer little more than a false scolding.  While things are slowly changing now, it can still be quite an experiance to even get admittance of clear, blaring malpractice.  One of my teachers once said that he hopes the day never comes when suing vets for malpractice is common, because it happens so often and they would have to raise their prices to get malpractice insurance, thus losing customers.  What kind of attitude is that?  All too common in the vet world, actually.  So if you’re feeling really brave Brian and have so extra money to burn, you might want to go ahead and sue just to teach the guy a lesson.  Regradless of how correct declawing is (and we all know where I stand on it), it is a common surgery and there is little excuse for botching it so badly.  Only thing worse than a declaw is a screwed up infected declaw, after all. Sethran

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I never thought I’d say this but as outrageous as it sounds I have to agree here. Why would anyone declaw their cats? My cat will never be declawed as she needs the defenses in case she ever gets out. — Cat Galaxy- The Internet radio station for cats. Meow meow meow!! http://www.live365.com/stations/231353 Real Player and Winamp: 66.28.48.193:10518

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Maybe it’s the cats who should be taking YOU to small claims court for messing > with what God gave them. > GS

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I’d consult a lawyer on this one. Perhaps there are lawyers in this person’s area that specialize in animal cases. — Cat Galaxy- The Internet radio station for cats. Meow meow meow!! http://www.live365.com/stations/231353 Real Player and Winamp: 66.28.48.193:10518

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a > piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think > there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the > cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped. > > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > > medical bills? > > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > > back and have this go on his record. > > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > > threads for that! > > Thoughts, Opinions? > > -Brian >     Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN! >     ob. > — > ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** > *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** > *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

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First, thanks for all the good feedback on the situation.  It’s very helpful! Since everyone is flaming me for declawing I should probably explain myself. At the time, the first cat was being introduced into a house with another cat that was already declawed (not by me).  I thought it would be a little cruel for one cat to be clawed and another declawed, especially during the times they play fight.  I know that’s still not reason enough, so it really came down to the fact that I was nieve at the time as to how "wrong" declawing" really is.  I wouldn’t do it again after having read all that I’ve read.  I grew up hearing that you should declaw indoor cats.  I just thought it was standard practice until I learned otherwise after having the cats for a few months. At least I know now, right?! I should also mention that both my cats are doing great now, both physically and mentally! Thanks again for all the useful posts! -Brian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I think you’re going to have trouble really proving fault.  You might get >lucky, but problems after surgery are NOT rare in declaws, especially >leaving bone in.  I have a cat who was declawed prior to being mine and >still limps on both front feet.  Thousands in x-rays later we still can’t >figure out why but we’ve been assured that going after the original vet >would accomplish little. >One of mine just got a heart ultrasound.  We were warned by the attending >vet at the practice that the HCM the ultrasound doc said he had probably >wasn’t true.  So we ended up going to Penn and found out there was nothing >wrong with his heart.  They paid for the trip to Penn but we still ended up >$400 short…the amount we paid for the first ultrasound.  I believe they >should have both given us back the money and paid for the Penn trip simply >because of the sheer amount of anguish they caused us and the risk to my >cat’s health. >The best thing would be to confront the vet, see if he’ll pay, and threaten >to sue.  Sometimes the threat is enough.  But you might end up paying more >in court fees than you could gain so it might not be worth it.  I would >definitely file a record with the AVA about the problem. >And sorry, can’t leave it entirely alone…hope you’ll think twice next time >you want to chop off bits of your cat’s feet. >Sethran *you didn’t really think I could say NOTHING, right?*  ;)

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: At least I know now, right?! Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give them lots of kitty kisses ) Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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Declawed cats, and Non-Declaw get along just fine most times. Always investigate any surgery before you do, some goes for human surgery! Good luck with your kitties, make sure they get lots of exercise, they sometimes get back problems since cats are meant to walk on their toes and arenow walking flat footed. I’m glad to hear they are feeling better! -Sofia

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : At least I know now, right?! > Ah, why didn’t you say so? That would have alleviated a lot of the flames > . We like to hear when people won’t do it again (there’s really nothing > to be done about what has already been done cept to love the cats and give > them lots of kitty kisses ) > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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>It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s >supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money >back and have this go on his record.  

I took a vet to small claims and won. VCA animal hospital let my cat die after the riots here in Los Angeles, CA. You will have to show that he of course did not do a good job. If you could get a note from another vet, that would be great. You cannot sue for pain and suffering of an animal here in my state. Check your own state laws. You can only sue for the cost of the extra medical care that was needed and any other direct costs. Good luck.

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I think you’re going to have trouble really proving fault.  You might get lucky, but problems after surgery are NOT rare in declaws, especially leaving bone in.  I have a cat who was declawed prior to being mine and still limps on both front feet.  Thousands in x-rays later we still can’t figure out why but we’ve been assured that going after the original vet would accomplish little. One of mine just got a heart ultrasound.  We were warned by the attending vet at the practice that the HCM the ultrasound doc said he had probably wasn’t true.  So we ended up going to Penn and found out there was nothing wrong with his heart.  They paid for the trip to Penn but we still ended up $400 short…the amount we paid for the first ultrasound.  I believe they should have both given us back the money and paid for the Penn trip simply because of the sheer amount of anguish they caused us and the risk to my cat’s health. The best thing would be to confront the vet, see if he’ll pay, and threaten to sue.  Sometimes the threat is enough.  But you might end up paying more in court fees than you could gain so it might not be worth it.  I would definitely file a record with the AVA about the problem. And sorry, can’t leave it entirely alone…hope you’ll think twice next time you want to chop off bits of your cat’s feet. Sethran *you didn’t really think I could say NOTHING, right?*  ;)

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I remeber, you work at the pet smart right? Just yesterday I saw a declaw victim up for adoption at the petsmart near me. The only reason people have is so they don’t scratch the furniture. There are many good ways to keep cats from scratching furniture. Cats commonly have bad litterbox habits after a declaw, also biting becoms comon. Wlaking on hind legs, and sleeping on their back cause of the pain in their paws.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > : supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > : back and have this go on his record. > : Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > : threads for that! > Well, sorry, but if you are posting a group that you know is very > anti-declawing, you are going to have to expect some. It’s like posting > pitbulls= evil on the dog breeding group or speed  is always bad on the > car newsgroup. Especially when you write that the vet would do such a poor > job on the animals he’s *helping*!!! Declawing the animal is not helpikng > the animal at all. Sorry, but I probably would have stayed silent except > for that one line… I just had to see a poor cat that was declawed > yesterday (that is my one beef with my vet, they don’t see anything wrong > with declawing… and yes, they are moral about things, my vet will not > debark a dog because he does believe that is cruel). He was trying not to > stand on his paws and he was mostly nice, but I think ever now and then > his paws would shooot up pain and he’d hiss at me out of frustration cause > of the pain. How taking away claws helps the cat I have yet to hear a good > explanation. It surely doesn’t help to keep them in homes (ask the poor > cat I posted about earlier that is going back to the shelter cause she > pee’d on the woman’s couhc…. that cat was declawed a week to two weeks > before the woman decided to return her. It may have even been because of > the declaw the cat was peeing elsewhere ebsides the litterbox). > : Thoughts, Opinions? > Don’t go to that vet anymore… if he can’t even do a declaw surgery right > (yes the declaw surgery is harsh and is harder but it should be one that > is probably sadly enough common enough that he shouldn’t botch on both > cats like that), what happens when he has to do a surgery that he probably > hasn’t done near as much? > Sure, ask if he can pay for the fixes to his botched surgeries, if he is > reasonable he might help. > Third, don’t declaw any more cats. There are lots of things that can go > wrong without the vet botching the surgery. Hell… one day you might find > you have a cat that doesn’t deal with anesthetic well and dies during hte > surgery (it happens.. even to the best of vets.. my cat died during a > surgery that was supposed to be 99% effective. Not much he could have > done.. he just couldn’t get her to wake up from the anesthetic). Or the > cat could heal badly. Or the cat could start having behavior problems. > Tigress > — > The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t > worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev >     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress >    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress >  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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: It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s : supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money : back and have this go on his record.   : Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news : threads for that! Well, sorry, but if you are posting a group that you know is very anti-declawing, you are going to have to expect some. It’s like posting pitbulls= evil on the dog breeding group or speed  is always bad on the car newsgroup. Especially when you write that the vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s *helping*!!! Declawing the animal is not helpikng the animal at all. Sorry, but I probably would have stayed silent except for that one line… I just had to see a poor cat that was declawed yesterday (that is my one beef with my vet, they don’t see anything wrong with declawing… and yes, they are moral about things, my vet will not debark a dog because he does believe that is cruel). He was trying not to stand on his paws and he was mostly nice, but I think ever now and then his paws would shooot up pain and he’d hiss at me out of frustration cause of the pain. How taking away claws helps the cat I have yet to hear a good explanation. It surely doesn’t help to keep them in homes (ask the poor cat I posted about earlier that is going back to the shelter cause she pee’d on the woman’s couhc…. that cat was declawed a week to two weeks before the woman decided to return her. It may have even been because of the declaw the cat was peeing elsewhere ebsides the litterbox). : Thoughts, Opinions? Don’t go to that vet anymore… if he can’t even do a declaw surgery right (yes the declaw surgery is harsh and is harder but it should be one that is probably sadly enough common enough that he shouldn’t botch on both cats like that), what happens when he has to do a surgery that he probably hasn’t done near as much? Sure, ask if he can pay for the fixes to his botched surgeries, if he is reasonable he might help. Third, don’t declaw any more cats. There are lots of things that can go wrong without the vet botching the surgery. Hell… one day you might find you have a cat that doesn’t deal with anesthetic well and dies during hte surgery (it happens.. even to the best of vets.. my cat died during a surgery that was supposed to be 99% effective. Not much he could have done.. he just couldn’t get her to wake up from the anesthetic). Or the cat could heal badly. Or the cat could start having behavior problems. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

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: Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a : piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think : there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the : cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped. Wow… I didn’t even know that (not that it would matter for me, I don’t think there was ever a point where I would have declawed a cat). Yet another reason not to declaw, apparently it is common to have it botched. Tigress — The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation.  People just aren’t worth very much any more, and they know it.  Makes ‘em testy. …Bev     |    _,,,—,,_          Tigress    /,`.-’`’    -.  ;-;;,_     http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress  ’—”(_/–’  `-’_)         Cat by Felix Lee.

Response:

Actually from all the REAL stories i’ve read it’s not that uncommon for a piece of bone to be left after having their knuckles removed.  I don’t think there is anything you can do legally, as there is a great chance that the cat will react badly to having the bones in their paws chopped.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record. > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian >     Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN! >     ob. > — > ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** > *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** > *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

Response:

Maybe it’s the cats who should be taking YOU to small claims court for messing with what God gave them. GS

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both > cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. > One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. > The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew > into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was > the first time he had ever seen this happen. > The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw > surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully > trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally > took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more > antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery > and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this > is very unusual following a declaw surgery. > So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I > had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If > he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims > court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional > medical bills? > The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through > a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye > infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he > referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The > new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this > problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the > original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. > It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s > supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money > back and have this go on his record.   > Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news > threads for that! > Thoughts, Opinions? > -Brian

    Hope you have learned not do do this EVER AGAIN!     ob. — ****    Odette Brown ** I love Cats    ***** *** La Belle Province ** Quebec ** CANADA *** *** http://www.igs.net/~rathey/odette1.htm ***

Response:

I have two cats that both were declawed when they were kittens.  Both cats have had to go through follow-up surgeries b/c of problems later. One cat had a bleeding paw a few months later, which required surgery. The original vet found a piece of surgery glue in his paw (it grew into his paw after the declaw surgery).  The vet claimed that this was the first time he had ever seen this happen. The second cat had puss coming out of her paw months after her declaw surgery.  The original vet performed surgery (after unsuccessfully trying antibiotics) and found nothing wrong with her paw.  I finally took her to another vet and went unsuccessfully through more antibiotic treatments.  As a last resort the new vet performed sugery and found a piece of bone (claw) in her paw.  The vet said that this is very unusual following a declaw surgery. So, I’m considering asking the original vet for the $500+ in bills I had to incur following both of the "botched" declaw surgeries.  If he’s unwilling to pay I’m also considering taking him to small claims court.  Am I justified in asking for reimbursement of the additional medical bills? The first cat also has a missing tear duct in one eye.  I went through a number of office visits b/c the original vet thought it was an eye infection.  After he ran out of ideas (limited to infection) he referred me to a specialist who discovered the missing tear duct.  The new vet and several other people I’ve talked to have told me that this problem is common in cats.  So, if it’s common why wouldn’t the original vet know this.  He never even mentioned it is a possibility. It upsets me that a vet would do such a poor job on the animals he’s supposed to be helping.  So, I would like to .get some of my money back and have this go on his record.   Please no flaming over the declawing!  There’s plenty of other news threads for that! Thoughts, Opinions? -Brian

Response:

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