bloody paws

river blossom

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I recently sent my vet to get spayed and declawed, and her paws are really bloody. I'm not aloud to get her wet but she has been licking her paws like crazy. Is this normal, and is she aloud to lick them? They still get wet when she licks them so I didn't know if I should stop her.
 

stephenq

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I recently sent my vet to get spayed and declawed, and her paws are really bloody. I'm not aloud to get her wet but she has been licking her paws like crazy. Is this normal, and is she aloud to lick them? They still get wet when she licks them so I didn't know if I should stop her.
She is probably in pain, and could likely benefit from pain medication.  Just FYI, we are against declawing on TCS.
 
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river blossom

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I never said I wasn't. My father requires all of our cats to be declawed. I don't need people telling me how wrong it is because I already know. I just want to know what to do. She has white legs so the blood shows up more and its gross but I can't get them wet.
 

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This is a medical issue, I would even say an urgent one. Ring your vet, get your cat some pain meds, get her a visit to make sure the stitches are holding up.

In the meantime, dry up the paws and try to bandage them to avoid licking. 
 
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NewYork1303

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If its actively bleeding there is likely something wrong with the cats stitches. Don't let the cat lick the wounds! This will make it so that the stitches come out which could cause very dangerous bleeding. I don't think this sounds normal at all, but don't know since I've never declawed a cat.

People on here are guaranteed to give you a hard time about it, even if you tell them not to. Many would rather see a kitten rehomed than declawed. What's done is done in this case though, so we should focus on the problem you asked about. Bleeding seems abnormal, if the cat is licking the wounds then it needs to have a cone or something so that it won't lick them. If the wounds stay open, this could cause an infection and be very bad!
 
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river blossom

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I think the bleeding has stopped now. She has been licking but is asleep now so I don't want to wake her up. She seems fine for now but is there something I can do to keep her from licking? I do know people would go crazy because she was declawed but I consider this a serious problem especially if she could have severe bleeding if she keeps licking.
 

NewYork1303

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Hmm. I know that there are some alternatives to a cone, but paws are probably the most easy thing for a cat to reach. I would try using some kind of anti chewing spray on them (usually they taste bitter). You would just need one that wouldn't sting.

Does the cat have pain meds? In this case the pain might be causing her to nurse her paws more as well.
 

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I fully appreciate that the declawing wasn't your choice. Anyway, it's done now, and can't be undone. The priority now is protecting the wounds and keeping her as comfortable as possible.

Pain meds are a must, and you need to talk to your vet about them ASAP. She's probably extra stressed too, so some Feliway diffusers might help her stay calmer as she heals.

With the licking, there are anti lick strips available for this kind of problem. You apply them above the wound, and the smell and taste discourage the cat from fussing at it. The brand I've found is Buster Anti Lick Strips. I don't know if they're available in the US, but there might well be something similar. Do make sure you consult your vet before using though.

Make sure the litter you have is as soft as possible on her tender paws... a graveley litter will hurt.

I hope she recovers as well as is possible from the operation.
 

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Here are a couple of articles about caring for declawed cats that you may find helpful:

[article="31290"][/article]

If you plan on getting more cats in the future, here are some articles you may show your dad about what declawing really is:

[article="29667"][/article]

[article="22411"][/article]

[article="29644"][/article]
 
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river blossom

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I went and bought some litter ment for cats after their declawing surgery and its made out of recycled newspaper. The vet gave us pain meds and I got her to lick it up with some turkey+some cat treats. I couldn't find those strip things at Walmart and I just saw her licking. Is there anything like maybe human food that wouldn't burn but she wouldn't like? My friend suggested hot sauce but I'm afraid that would hurt her.
 
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magiksgirl

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Don't do it! 
 The smallest amount with burn in her wounds and she will certainly try to lick it of, which may put her in a panic from the taste. 

As everyone said, what's done is done. Since your vet is the one that did it. it would be best to contact your vet and ask him what can be done to help her. 

Declawing in a nutshell is getting the tips of their fingers cut off. So she much be in great pain. That in mind trying to walk must be very painful, so put her food and water dishes and her litter tray as close as possible so she doesn't have to walk far. 

Also consider putting very soft bedding where she lays down so she doesn't put any pressure on those paws.
 

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Please do not put anything on her paws unless directed by your vet. Doing so is likely to make the problem worse.

If an e-collar is not an option and she continued to lick her paws, it's likely she will need her paws rebandaged. If this is the case, be sure to follow your vet's instructions exactly as there can be serious complications if you don't.

What type of pain medication did the vet give you? I am hoping you have something stronger than meloxicam. Buprenex is often what is used. If you have Buprenex, the medication doesn't need to be swallowed or given on food; but, rather applied to her gums as that is how it is absorbed and enters the bloodstream.
 

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Ok, so robenacoxib is Onsior, which is an NSAID specifically for cats, often used for 3 days post-op. I've used this medication off-label for 2 of my cats for pain associated with arthritis/mild hip dysplasia.

It would be safe to give this medication and Buprenex (Buprenorphine) together. Buprenex is kind of like the equivalent to morphine. And Onsior kind of like Tylenol 3.

I would definitely encourage you to discuss the addition of Buprenex (or another psin medication...not another NSAID) with your vet. The fact that your kitten is constantly messing with her paws indicates that she is in pain.

Do you know what kind of pre-op medication she received? Did she have a pain patch applied the day before surgery? I also wonder if a nerve block was done (it should have).

As for your original question about the blood. The surgery is a very bloody proceedure. The staining on your kitten's paws is to be expected. The blood is just more obvious as her paws are white. The staining will go away eventually.

Now, if there is active bleeding, this should be addressed immediately by a vet. They may try and use tissue glue or, may sedate and resuture.
 
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river blossom

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Her paws actually bled a tiny bit earlier but they are fine now. Now for the pre-op medicine I have no clue. I had to babysit so I couldn't ask pur vet any questions. I do believe she had a nerve block done. We gave her the medicine earlier and she's been more her normal self. She is laying on me and purring for the first time since we brought her back home. I can call the vet in the morning and ask if we could get Buprenex for her as well. She's been eating and is getting the hang of getting a running start to get on the bed and couch.
 

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Yes, I would expect the paws to hurt much more so. She can also experience "phantom limb pain" in her paws as well. A declaw surgery is one of the most painful surgeries that is done.

I would limit her activity for at least a few more days to a week, especially since she has had some bleeding. No running, jumping, etc. Doing so can not only cause her abdominal sutures to rip; but, if she has sutures in her paws (many vets have switched to glue) these can rip as well, lengthening the overall healing time.

She need rest and a lot of cuddling right now.
 
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