Posted by Martisimo on March 04, 2003 at 12:14:25:
In Reply to: Declawing & Bleeding posted by littlebit1 on March 03, 2003 at 22:55:52:
I must first say that I am adamantly, adamantly against declawing. I think it's awful. But having worked in a vet clinic for 7 years, four of those years assisting in declaw surgeries, I will be happy to address your concerns...because I'm thinking you should be concerned about this vet.
I have never personally heard of a cat bleeding to death while recovering from a declaw in my area. Believe me, a story like that would travel around to different clinics. That said, there are plenty of blood vessels and nerve endings in the ends of the paws, which is why a tourniquet is used on the leg before performing the declaw, so yes, it would be possible for such a vessel to be cut or injured if a vet wasn't careful.
Years ago it would not have been as unusual as it is today, because vets have 'perfected' the amputation and healing more. (For instance, more 'old' vets use sutures, many newer ones use surgical glue to hold the toe pads together, things like that.) Even three days afterwards the blood vessels would still be prone to being re-opened if they were cut during surgery. Did your kitty still have his bandages on? Perhaps they had just removed them that day and caused the vessels to re-open.
What I find odd about your vet is the long hospitalization period after the declaw. Was this something that is routine for that clinic or was that at your request? Usually declaws require an overnight stay, or maybe one day, but three days is quite a long time and is unusual for this day and age. Perhaps the long stay is because the vet really isn't very good with his declaws.
Also, I would be VERY concerned about what the heck could have scared your poor kitten that badly. What the heck is roaming his clinic at night anyway? Perhaps a barking dog? But I would hope he keeps cat cages and dog cages a bit seperated. Although my best guess would be that he somehow hurt one of his declawed feet and reacted in a panic to the pain, which paniced and hurt him all the more, and so on.
But yes, bleeding to death in the cage from the feet should NOT happen (didn't say 'can't happen', just should not). I think a few factors probably contributed: 1.) Sloppily done declaw. 2.) Bandage removal may have irritated/injured the wounds. 3.) Something (probably a sharp pain, possibly something scary) sent your kitten into a panic, further opening the 10 incisions and paining him, if this was a 2-paw declaw.
I would NOT take my pets to this place again. That's my opinion.
:Has anyone had the problem of declawing a cat and then the cat bleeding to death three days after surgery? My kitten went to the vet on friday to be nuetered and declawed, (my first experience declawing a cat) he did fine all day friday, sat, and sunday in the daytime. No complications, no excessive bleeding or infections. He was eating well and was relatively calm for being at the vet. Then Sunday night after the vet left he was apparently spooked and freaked out. The vet came in monday morning and found him laying in a puddle of blood. Caius had broken open all his wounds and died. The vet said that his litter and papers in his cage were shredded and spilled everywhere (as though he was severely spooked, something scared the crap out of him) and that he had apparently tried to claw his way out of the cage, tearing open his wounds. Has this ever happened to you or anyone you know? My vet said that in the 25 years of his practice he had never had this happen or seen it happen to any other cats. Am I being fed a line or is this really a rare thing? I am very upset at losing my baby, and was leary about having it doen in the first place, I am just unsure of how to feel or respond to this.
:Thank you for your help,
:Tonya
