Ok, I don't want to start a hotbed of anti-declawing hysteria here. I have never, ever considered declawing one of my cats. Until now. Our sweet, loving 3 year old cat has had a self-mutilation scratching problem since she was about a year old. Several times a year, she will get a "hot spot" and scratch at it until it is raw and bleeding. Her currently outbreak is about the side of a half dollar and is raw, oozing and she keeps on scratching, sometime pulling out small chunks of flesh. We have taken her to several vets who have ruled out infections, fleas, and any other underlying cause. No one can figure this out. This happens several times a year and lasts for about 4-6 weeks. We've tried anti-anxiety medications, soft claws (they stay on about an hour), clipping her claws. When the spots are on her back, we can usually break the scratch/itch cycle by making her wear a doggie shirt so she can't reach the bare skin. Right now, her spot is on her neck and the shirt won't cover it. We tried bandanas to cover the spots but she just gets underneath them. Our vet had agreed to declaw only her back claws so she can't keep doing this to herself. I know she has to be in extreme pain now and I'm at my wit's end. She is an indoor cat and has no desire to go outside. Any thoughts?
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Declawing
- Thread starter pandora3
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Yes. Please try a holistic vet. http://www.ahvma.org
Our Chumley was eating spots on his body bare. Several traditional vets were unable to help him. The holistic vet we found addressed his "extreme Yin deficiency" (Chinese Medicine diagnosis) with herbals, and it was clear inside of a few days it was working. Within a few weeks, he was no longer scratching, and within a few months all the hair on his body had grown back in (takes a while for the hair on the abdomen to all grow back, and his was bare).
Someone on TCS had a cat that was basically self-mutilating from stress. Her vet prescribed Neo-predef powder to use on the spots. It helps stop the itching, addresses any potential bacterial infection, and helps the spot heal up VERY quickly. You need a prescription for it.
Our Chumley was eating spots on his body bare. Several traditional vets were unable to help him. The holistic vet we found addressed his "extreme Yin deficiency" (Chinese Medicine diagnosis) with herbals, and it was clear inside of a few days it was working. Within a few weeks, he was no longer scratching, and within a few months all the hair on his body had grown back in (takes a while for the hair on the abdomen to all grow back, and his was bare).
Someone on TCS had a cat that was basically self-mutilating from stress. Her vet prescribed Neo-predef powder to use on the spots. It helps stop the itching, addresses any potential bacterial infection, and helps the spot heal up VERY quickly. You need a prescription for it.
DON'T declaw because of this. It is fixable. 
if the self mutilating doesn't stop, you can buy a product called Soft Claws. They are little covers for your kitty's nails.
if the self mutilating doesn't stop, you can buy a product called Soft Claws. They are little covers for your kitty's nails.
Kittylover, she already tried them. Her kitty removes them.
To stop the problem, the underlying issue needs to be addressed. With immune-related problems, western medicine often is unable to determine the source, and attempts to treat the symptoms, with immune suppressants (steroids) or other symptom-related medicines. Chinese Medicine does a far superior job at resolving immune-related problems, in my experience.
In the meantime, neo-predef may help stop the itching and help the sores heal, while giving a little time for herbals prescribed by a holistic vet to do their work.
To stop the problem, the underlying issue needs to be addressed. With immune-related problems, western medicine often is unable to determine the source, and attempts to treat the symptoms, with immune suppressants (steroids) or other symptom-related medicines. Chinese Medicine does a far superior job at resolving immune-related problems, in my experience.
In the meantime, neo-predef may help stop the itching and help the sores heal, while giving a little time for herbals prescribed by a holistic vet to do their work.
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For the time being have you tried Biocaine or some anti pain cream?
Besides the possible side effects of de-clawing, I don't know if it would help a whole lot. I mean, if a person has a bad spot, and they don't use their fingernails to scratch it but just use their fingertips, it can still get raw and nasty from the rubbing. Same if she kicked at the spot with clawless feet, I think.
The underlying cause needs to be addressed. I agree that a holistic vet may be able to help. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, that kind of thing. Western medicine is notoriously bad at managing chronic illnesses.
The underlying cause needs to be addressed. I agree that a holistic vet may be able to help. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, that kind of thing. Western medicine is notoriously bad at managing chronic illnesses.
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I agree, fix the underlying problem, not the result of it.
I have to ask though, are you sure you are putting enough glue on the Soft Claws? They shouldn't be able to be removed by the cat without also taking part of the claw with it... You could maybe also try dog booties?
I have to ask though, are you sure you are putting enough glue on the Soft Claws? They shouldn't be able to be removed by the cat without also taking part of the claw with it... You could maybe also try dog booties?
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Have you tried changing her diet, and what treatments has the vet tried?
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We've also changed her diet to eliminate any possible food allergies.
We'd love to try holistic treatment, but the closest holistic vet I can find is an hour and a half away, and if she is stressed now, just think what three hours in the car would do. She doesn't travel well. I'm going to take her back to our vet and ask about the powder. We've tried steroids, B12 and allergy shots. We've had lab work done to rule out any other underlying causes. The vet seems to think it is psychological, but the anti anxiety meds aren't working. She is such a sweet lap kitty when she's not having one of her "episodes", but now (for the past couple of weeks) she hides from us. Ugh, what to do?
We'd love to try holistic treatment, but the closest holistic vet I can find is an hour and a half away, and if she is stressed now, just think what three hours in the car would do. She doesn't travel well. I'm going to take her back to our vet and ask about the powder. We've tried steroids, B12 and allergy shots. We've had lab work done to rule out any other underlying causes. The vet seems to think it is psychological, but the anti anxiety meds aren't working. She is such a sweet lap kitty when she's not having one of her "episodes", but now (for the past couple of weeks) she hides from us. Ugh, what to do?
What anti-anxiety meds, and how long for? What anti-allergy meds and for how long?
If it's behavioral, have you tried a combination of a calming collar, a number of feliway plug-ins and/or feliway spray, AND using 3-4 drops of rescue remedy in a yummy wet treat several times a day? This is the solution that worked for the member that also used the neo-predef. The steps to help calm kitty down gave the powder the time to work.
Another member's kitty who suffers from SEVERE stress is improving on prozac. Have you tried that? Here are links: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/244155/photo-update-of-lucas
And have you tried limited ingredient diets yet? Is the cat on kibble or canned? I realize these episodes only occur 4-6 weeks several times a year (spring and fall?) but.... :dk:
Personally, I'd rather douse a crate with feliway and subject kitty to a three hour round trip than mutilate her by removing her claws. She can recover from a three hour round trip stressful trip. The decision to remove her claws can never be reversed.
When Lazlo needed chemotherapy, we drove him two hours round one way every week for nine weeks. He is alive and well, and playing like a kitten now.
Another member's kitty who suffers from SEVERE stress is improving on prozac. Have you tried that? Here are links: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/244155/photo-update-of-lucas
And have you tried limited ingredient diets yet? Is the cat on kibble or canned? I realize these episodes only occur 4-6 weeks several times a year (spring and fall?) but.... :dk:
Personally, I'd rather douse a crate with feliway and subject kitty to a three hour round trip than mutilate her by removing her claws. She can recover from a three hour round trip stressful trip. The decision to remove her claws can never be reversed.
When Lazlo needed chemotherapy, we drove him two hours round one way every week for nine weeks. He is alive and well, and playing like a kitten now.
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Honestly, I think we've tried everything, Feliway plugins, spray, collar. We've also tried the Rescue Remedy. Also tried lysine for her immune system. The med she is on is Amitriptyline. Should we ask for something else? Holistic vet is out of the question. Hours are 8-4 Mon-Thurs and since I'm 1 1/2 hours away I'd have to quit my job to take her several times a week for treatments.
I will check into changing her medication and check on the neo prednef powder, Thanks for all the suggestions. I may even get her a turtleneck doggie shirt so she can't get to her neck to scratch.
I will check into changing her medication and check on the neo prednef powder, Thanks for all the suggestions. I may even get her a turtleneck doggie shirt so she can't get to her neck to scratch.
You wouldn't have to take her several times a week for treatments. We had to take Chumley once. She made the diagnosis, gave us the prescription, and we adjusted via email. I'm SURE the vet would understand the situation and work with you over the phone or via email, and without further charge.
And Lucas (the thread I linked to for you to see photos of how bad off that poor baby was) is on prozac. There are MANY other drugs besides elavil (amytriptaline) that can be tried before resorting to such a drastic measure.
I'm sorry, but I beg to differ that you have tried everything. I can understand being at the end of your rope.
Was the feliway, calming collar, and rescue remedy drops (3-4 3-4 times a day) used/given all at the same time? If that calming collar didn't work, try another brand.
And Lucas (the thread I linked to for you to see photos of how bad off that poor baby was) is on prozac. There are MANY other drugs besides elavil (amytriptaline) that can be tried before resorting to such a drastic measure.
I'm sorry, but I beg to differ that you have tried everything. I can understand being at the end of your rope.
Was the feliway, calming collar, and rescue remedy drops (3-4 3-4 times a day) used/given all at the same time? If that calming collar didn't work, try another brand.
It sounds like seasonal allergies since you mentioned it happens several times a year. It could also be a reaction to a rabies or other vaccines, one of my foster cats had this.
I do agree with the other posters, that it is best to fix the underlying problem because the itchy feeling will not stop :-( and it is best that you get to the bottom of it.
II know what you mean about the scratching; my foster boy would scratch himself and cry as he was doing it, and as you said, drawing blood. And he is a four paw polydactyl kitty so he was really mutilating himself like your kitty. .
I used homeopathic allergy pills from 2docs pet health online and they seemed to help my foster boy a lot, together with steroid shots. It looks like they are currently out of these pills however http://www.2docspethealth.com/. I can give you some of mine if you would like them. My boy no longer needs them because I no longer give him any vaccines and he is fine now. All you need to do is sprinkle a half capsule on your kitty's food each day. They are liver flavored so most cats are fine with eating them.
On the food, I switched my foster boy to the BG (before grain) turkey wet food and he did very well with that food. Natural Balance (green pea) sensitive wet food formulas did not work with my cat.
Make sure and ask your vet to give your cat only Merial purevac non-adjuvanted shots and NO three year shots. Only Merial makes these vaccines and there are no three year vaccines without an adjuvant. An adjuvant is serum added to vaccine formulas and designed to trigger an immune response. Unfortunately in felines that immune response can be unpredictable and result in a skin allergy, food allergy, allergic reaction at the location of the shot, or even a sarcoma. In the case of my cat, the skin allergy did go away after about a year.
Also anything that you do for your kitty, know that it can take several months for the allergic reaction, whatever it is, to dissipate. This was extremely frustrating for me, to watch my kitty clawing, crying, and gouging his fur. But the shots and allergy pills did work over time. Let me know if you want to try them.
I do agree with the other posters, that it is best to fix the underlying problem because the itchy feeling will not stop :-( and it is best that you get to the bottom of it.
II know what you mean about the scratching; my foster boy would scratch himself and cry as he was doing it, and as you said, drawing blood. And he is a four paw polydactyl kitty so he was really mutilating himself like your kitty. .
I used homeopathic allergy pills from 2docs pet health online and they seemed to help my foster boy a lot, together with steroid shots. It looks like they are currently out of these pills however http://www.2docspethealth.com/. I can give you some of mine if you would like them. My boy no longer needs them because I no longer give him any vaccines and he is fine now. All you need to do is sprinkle a half capsule on your kitty's food each day. They are liver flavored so most cats are fine with eating them.
On the food, I switched my foster boy to the BG (before grain) turkey wet food and he did very well with that food. Natural Balance (green pea) sensitive wet food formulas did not work with my cat.
Make sure and ask your vet to give your cat only Merial purevac non-adjuvanted shots and NO three year shots. Only Merial makes these vaccines and there are no three year vaccines without an adjuvant. An adjuvant is serum added to vaccine formulas and designed to trigger an immune response. Unfortunately in felines that immune response can be unpredictable and result in a skin allergy, food allergy, allergic reaction at the location of the shot, or even a sarcoma. In the case of my cat, the skin allergy did go away after about a year.
Also anything that you do for your kitty, know that it can take several months for the allergic reaction, whatever it is, to dissipate. This was extremely frustrating for me, to watch my kitty clawing, crying, and gouging his fur. But the shots and allergy pills did work over time. Let me know if you want to try them.
Something else that I thought of: just because you get rid of the claws doesn't mean you'll stop the gouging. If she has an itch and doesn't have claws to scratch it with, she may just turn around and chew the spot instead. So then you'll have an itchy declawed cat that bites itself. 
What foods have you tried? What about a raw, novel protein diet?
Does your kitty get any spot-on flea treatments?
