[Emoore]

I don't really see how you could remove a dog's claws without altering its locomotion.

 

[Eiros]

My parents declawed their old cat after she blinded our GSD puppy in one eye, but only in the front legs. This was in the early 90's and I thought the practice was sort of outdated now. I haven't met a declawed cat in a long time. I can't imagine doing it to dogs either, maybe because their nails and feet are so much bigger.

 

[GSDkid]

Don't get me wrong, I DON'T think he should do this, at all. But I find it difficult to argue against his point other than an emotional reaction "that's wrong, you shouldn't do it."

I understand from your stand point though. I'm just stating in argument to my idiot brother. lol. Those claws were meant to be used and serve a purpose.

Great to know that most vets no longer practice declawing.

 

[Thru the Viewfinder]

Every cat my sisters and mom have had were declawed. I never have heard them say they couldn't find a vet who wouldn't do it.

I'm not for or against it. The cat we had for awhile, we didn't declaw. Although, I probably would've opted for it because he kept attacking my kids in some sort of -way too rough- play. We chose to rehome him though. He didn't only attack them with his front claws, he'd bite down, too. You wanna talk inhumane, lol, how about detoothing?

Sorry, that cute cat was a turd. (I say that in the most loving way possible btw.) I was the only one, and the dog, who put up with it, and didn't hold it against him. (I also don't know much about cats, and wasn't getting anywhere training it out of him.)

I don't think you should declaw a dog. They do have different anatomy, their claws do not retract as a cats does. Not that that makes it okay to declaw cats though, I guess. Dewclaws I don't mind being removed, but Dakota has them and when we had her spayed we had the option of getting them removed too, but we said no thanks. Boudreaux, the Dane, had them removed as a puppy before we brought him home. I like the look better. Kota's dewclaws scratch me now and again. But she doesn't jump up on people, never has, so I don't have much to complain about.

 

[stealthq]

I would think that declawing a dog would decrease their ability to get traction on various surfaces. I wonder if the surgery is the same as for cats where they amputate the last digit?

Declawing a cat is also a bad idea because the claws help the cat keep the muscles in their legs and back stretched, flexible, and strong. When they stretch to their full length, dig their claws in and pull they're exercising those muscles in a way they can't when declawed. That said, I've known tons of cats (one of them mine when I was a kid and we didn't know any better) who were declawed and were very sweet and social so like everything it seems to be a very individual response. I don't declaw any of my cats anymore. I train them to claw their trees and scratching posts instead of the furniture.

 

[Stella's Mom]

No, that thought would never occur to me. I don't declaw my cats so I most certainly would not declaw my dog.

 

[BlackthornGSD]

How is declawing a dog supposed to make it unnecessary to spay/neuter? It wouldn't affect a female's ability to get pregnant and would make a minimal impact (if any) on a dog's ability to get a female pregnant.

 

[Draugr]

How is declawing a dog supposed to make it unnecessary to spay/neuter? It wouldn't affect a female's ability to get pregnant and would make a minimal impact (if any) on a dog's ability to get a female pregnant.

The argument her brother was making was that since we spay/neuter for convenience, that it's okay to declaw for convenience, too. Not that declawing is a substitute for spaying/neutering.

 

[doggiedad]

i've never had my dogs neutered and i've
never had my cats declawed.

 

[BlackthornGSD]

The argument her brother was making was that since we spay/neuter for convenience, that it's okay to declaw for convenience, too. Not that declawing is a substitute for spaying/neutering.

Huh.
Well.... I like my dogs athletic and agile. I have no doubt that "declawing" would interfere with their ability to be active and athletic--to go on hikes and play ball and to do any sort of working/sport activity.

Dogs USE their nails when they move. They protect their feet/toes from impact and wear and tear.

When cats are declawed, the first joint is removed. Many (although not all) declawed cats experience pain and discomfort for the rest of their lives--they can end up with litterbox issues because it hurts to dig in the box.

I can only imagine the discomfort a big dog might go through following a "declaw"--and I'd never consider it for a dog. And I'd only consider it for a cat if the only alternative were euthanasia.

 

[Draugr]

Yeah I wouldn't either. I just hadn't thought of it in the terms some of the other people brought it. It just sat with me wrong just thinking about it and I had no clue the problems cats went through with the procedure.

 

[Verivus]

Honestly, I think declawing and how it affects the cat depends on the individual. I had a cat once; he had all his claws and would not let me clip him without a fight. He'd also scratch things other then his tree and posts. He was a rescue and a pain in the butt. I would have no problem in the future with declawing if I ever decided to get another one. Declawing dogs though, that's strange. Didn't even know people did that.

 

[katieliz]

of course not. why on earth would anyone even THINK of doing that???

 

[NewbieShepherdGirl]

I really didn't realize people did that. I also didn't realize what declawing was until I was on this forum; by that I mean I didn't realize they cut off part of the toe. I'm not sure how I thought it was done...anyways, since knowing that I don't know that I could declaw a cat (should I ever have an inside cat...which is highly unlikely), but I can at least see why people do. They don't know how to train a cat, the cat is destructive, they remove the source of the destruction. I've never heard of a dog just spontaneously clawing things, chewing yes, scratching things on purpose, not so much. So the only reason I can come up with is people don't like it when dogs claws scratch them when they jump; however that is something you can train out.

So I guess long story short, no I would not declaw a dog unless it was medically necessary for some odd reason.

 

[Countrymama]

I can't see declawing a dog, that just seems strange. Cats don't really have a job in the same way that dogs do.Dogs need their claws to dig and such..cats,not really. When I had cats growing up we got the front claws done but not the back. My mom said it was so they they could still grip when they jumped and could scratch an itch, just not the furniture. If we had an indoor/outdoor cat then it kept its claws for survival and such.

 

[JackB.]

Never heard of declawing a dog, sounds absurd. I do however hear of declawing cats. Growing up we had a cat and my parents decided to declaw her front feet (that way she could still defend herself if needed with her back claws). She was happy, healthy, very social, and lived to be just over 20 years old!

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

I don't really see how you could remove a dog's claws without altering its locomotion.

I agree with that, my dogs definitely use their toes AND toenails when turning and running.

 

[Stevenzachsmom]

I have never heard of declawing a dog and never would. I have never owned a cat. My cousins own cats. One family has their cats declawed in the front. The other family does not declaw at all. They get into some heated arguments about it. And yes - there are MANY vets I know of here in Maryland that still declaw cats. I am currently pet sitting my neighbors' cat. He is very old and came to her declawed. He is a total sweetheart. Very affectionate.

 

[Germanshepherdlova]

I think it is awful and NO! I'd never do that to my dogs.

 

[sparra]

Just in regards to the "dewclaws" we did recommend removing HIND ones if they were present at the time of desexing because we treated quite a few dogs who had ripped them off and caused a lot of damage. Not all dogs are born with them but some are and they seem to stick out on the hind legs and get caught on things.
Why you would declaw a dog is beyond me.....seems ridiculous really.