How Much Does Laser Cat Declawing Cost?
Laser cat declawing is the process of removing parts of the cat’s claw by using a laser. This is known to be less painful than the traditional ways of declawing a cat, yet the procedure is still controversial at this time. While most vets still perform an old-fashioned way of declawing a cat through surgery, many higher tech clinics are resorting to the laser method. The laser method is known to be the most expensive type of cat declawing; however, the risk of bleeding is lowered as well as the pain felt by the cat, which is why many owners tend to choose this option over the traditional method.
How much does laser cat declawing cost?
On average, laser cat declawing can cost anywhere from $250 to $600, depending on your veterinarian, how many claws you want to be declawed and geographical location. Keep in mind that some vet offices aren’t equipped with this type of equipment since it can cost north of $50,000 to purchase the equipment alone. There could be additional costs, as noted below, such as blood work and pain medication.
The Lafayette Veterinary Care Center, located in Lafayette, Louisiana, charges $294 for the front claws only.
Laser cat declawing overview
Compared to traditional methods that have a longer recovery period and uses incisions, laser declawing will remove the claw, along with the first digit using a laser instead of a scapel. The claws can’t be removed on its own because it can grow back if the digits aren’t removed. Once these claws are removed, the nerve endings will be severed and the blood vessels will be sealed to help control the pain and bleeding during the surgery. Like the traditional method, the cat will be put under an anesthesia, but it will be slightly longer due to the procedure taking longer. The entire procedure will take about 30 to 40 minutes.
The recovery period, if everything goes smoothly, should take about one to two days. Most veterinarians will want the cat to stay overnight at the facility to monitor their progress.
What are the extra costs?
A blood test prior to the procedure is needed to determine liver and kidney function to see if the cat is healthy enough to go under a general anesthesia. A typical blood test ranges from $30 to $50.
Pain medication will be prescribed after the procedure and can cost about $10 to $30, depending on what the vet prescribes.
While rare, there are some instances when the procedure wasn’t 100 percent effective. If the nail were to grow back, a second surgery would be needed.
While most vets will include the hospital stay in the quote, some may charge an additional fee if the cat has to stay longer due to complications.
Tips to know
The laser will cauterize the cut, minimizing the bleeding during the procedure. The laser also helps cauterize the nerve endings to help deal with the pain after the procedure is done. However, it doesn’t mean the cat won’t be in pain. Anytime the first knuckle is removed, regardless of how it’s done, complications can be seen in the future.
Compared to the traditional declawing, there’s minimal swelling and the cat won’t need bandages afterward.
Declawing, however, regardless of how it’s done, can still be uncomfortable and painful for your feline.
Some owners have reported that declawing has changed their cat’s temperament, but this isn’t always the case. Issues may include not using the litter box or acting differently.
Even if a cat has its back claws, it still won’t be able to defend itself in the case of an attack. If you plan on having this procedure done, it’s important to keep your cats indoors as they will have no way of defending themselves if they were let outside.
The Animal and Bird Hospital in Clearwater, Florida, recommends declawing a kitten around 10 weeks old because, at this time, the recovery time is fast.
In the United States, declawing is legal; however, some countries ban the procedure. Some of these countries include Israel, Portugal, the Netherlands, Malta, Germany, France, Serbia and Austrailia.
How can I save money?
Advocates say declawing, regardless of how it’s done, should be the last resort. Consider trying a scratching post or even claw caps to see if the scratching problems go away. If you’re on the brink of taking your cat to a shelter to be put down and declawing will save its life, then it may be hard to argue this decision. This is one of the reasons many vets will still perform the procedure because they would rather see a cat with no claws than be on its death bed at a local shelter.
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