I Have A Claw Clipping Concern

A few weeks back, I came across an article that stated that frequent claw clipping can cause cuticle problems. I'll search again for the article so that I can post it here.

Now, I'm a hardcore non-declaw person. I know that it is heartless amputation and will never go down that road. But now I'm seriously rethinking about frequent claw clipping. Perhaps we should just leave our babies natural.

The article that I read stated (and is true) that the way a cat's claw grows is different from humans in that they grow from the inside out and shed their outter husk. When you clip the claws, the old husk remains at and in the cuticle and they continue to accumlate and enlarge about the area each time you clip them. Some times, the old cuticle husk drops off naturally, but sometimes they don't and eventually acculimate causing pain and eventual problems.

I can logically see this as a potential problem. Yet I've not seen any other grooming site mention this potential hazard.

I can see the logic behind it. Am I just being overly protective or what?

Here's a pic of my first find of Booger's husk that I've found:



Notice the sharp verticle edge from her last claw clipping. The remainder husk is still under her cuticle.

 

Somebody mentioned this a few weeks ago and it was the first time that i'd heard of it. When i clip Vianne's claws and i see a loose husk, i usually just gently rub it a little and it falls off. Sometimes I'll even take a nail file to it to smooth down the rough tips. Me personally, I'd rather continue clipping her claws and simply make sure that i check them over well for anything like you mentioned, with a husk that hasn't shed, than to let her claws get so overgrown that they begin to curl around and poke into her paw pads. I've seen this in real life many times and its not a pretty sight. Of course, I would never declaw my baby, but if those are my only three options, I'll stick to the nail trimming.

I'd like to see that article tho.

 

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm still ok about trimming. But I will take time to examine her cuticle's and make sure that husks aren't accumilating and if I see any problem, I'll take her to the vet ASAP.

I just wanted to pass the info on and mention that the article made me rethink clipping and to be more abservent for potential problems

 

I have never clipped Kyrre's claws, and I don't think I will begin with it unless he develops a bad habit, like scratching furniture or people.
But how do you do it? Do you clipp just the tip, or what?

(I'm at work now, and our screen sucks big time, so I can't see your pic Cassie... But I'll have a look at it when I get home :wink: )

 

I just clip the tip of the claws. I've watched my vet remove the thickened husk from Zeus' claws. I do have to keep Zeus' claws clipped. On his extra toe he has 2 claws. The middle one tends to grow in toward his main paw so that one I have to watch closely. I don't want it getting long enough to impale is main paw...and it would.

I believe in clipping inside cats claws as they aren't able to keep them down. When I had outside cats I hardly ever had to clip their claws cause the ground/pavement helped to keep them low.

I find claw husks all over the scratching post at my house - I think when they use the posts on a regular basis they are able to shed the husks.

 

I'll continue clipping, yet checking the cuticle and massageing them to loosen the husks. The article I read just made sense and I don't want my baby to suffer

 

That's good info to know. I think sometimes the husks accumulate regardless of whether or not it gets clipped. I've seen this happen in Pumpkin when she was younger and we'd pull them out for her.
I infrequently trimm my kitties' nails. I was told I need to trim Pumpkin's nails because they curl inwards and will injure her pads. This is a normal occurence in cats 8 years and older or so my vet says. I have yet to trimm their nails since their last vet visit.

 

I find those husks all around the scratching posts too. Not being a cat person, I thought it was just c-r-a-z-y. :lol: Copper will bite at and pull off any loose husks. Anyone else's cat do that? Or is it just a nervous habit?? He really doesn't do much other detailed grooming.

 

It makes sense to me Cassie. If the nails are'nt pointy I imagine it would be harder for the husk to come off by them just scratching. I still trim but only when I really feel I need to.....some of my cats just are'nt good at keeping their nails trimmed down and they start getting caught on things which is when I clip them.
coppersmom: I've seen some of mine do this....more often to their back claws though.

 

Yeah nern, I've noticed that Booger gets her claws hung up on stuff some times too. I'm still gonna clip occasionally, but I'll keep an eye on her cuticles.

 

I never ever thought of that...interesting information and I will keep an eye on Hunter's claws.

I clip his claws about once a month, usually when he scratches my neck "making biscuits" in the middle of the night. So, the claw clipping is really for my benefit (it hurts to get kneaded in the neck by a cat!!)

Now that Hunter is older I don't worry about the furniture or anything like that. He uses the scratching post and the approved rug area for saying "HI" to mommy when I get home.

Just to go on a "no declaw" high horse....the behavioral modification with Hunter definately has taken a lot more time than ripping out his claws...but with consitency, time and patience I really think that it's worth it for anyone with pets.

 

I don't really know my opinion on this really. Most of our cats are left natural most of the time. But when we get new rescues who usually have clawing issues then we clip nails. I don't know I think unless your cat has a problem clawing things or you then thy could just stay natural. But this is your decision.

 

I finally got around to clipping Pumpkin's nails. To my surprise, she doesn't mind at all! :shock: Her gait actually improved after the clippings! She used to walk very gingerly.