By Justine Kelsie

Cat declawing should be banned in Alberta: advocate

Jan 26, 2018 | 4:00 AM

Although it is not malpractice in the province, the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association opposes cosmetic declawing in cats.

Nova Scotia became the first province in Canada to ban medically unnecessary onychectomy in domestic felines. The Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association decided to amend its code of ethics with the ban going into effect on March 15, 2018. This came after the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association strengthened its stand against the surgery.

Dr. Jocelyn Forseille, assistant to the registrar for the AVMA and veterinarian says there is more understanding about pain in animals than there was before. The procedure goes back to people wanting to have a pet in the home and for it to do minimal damage, explained Forseille.

“It is the surgical removal of the last digit on each toe. It is an amputation…”  

“It is the surgical removal of the last digit on each toe. It is an amputation. In the past, we didn’t use such finite words to describe it, but I think there was some misunderstanding sometimes that clients thought we were just removing the nail, so it wouldn’t grow back. But, it is an amputation.”   

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On top of the Atlantic province, the procedure is banned in the U.K., Europe, Australia, and several places in California.

Forseille says the AVMA follows the CVMA’s position statements including the one on declawing.

“The position is that we oppose elective and cosmetic, or non-therapeutic because there may be medical reasons the cat needs to be declawed. We oppose the elective type of declawing. We have not made it illegal or said it was unprofessional practice to declaw cats because our members feel there may be rare situations where it may be the last resort before euthanasia.”

This could include a pet owner that develops a medical condition, such as chemotherapy, where a cat scratch could be fatal, according to Forseille.

A list of vet clinics that will not declaw is shown on the Paw Project website. The non-profit organization was started in the United States to work on getting the surgery taken off a list of optional procedures. The list includes Alberta locations in Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge. Grande Prairie clinics have not been included on the list, but Dr. Forseille explains that it doesn’t mean they aren’t against the surgery. She says it may be that they haven’t heard of the list.

Retired vet and Atlantic Canada Director with the Paw Project Dr. Hugh Chisholm was part of the movement in Nova Scotia. He explains that he made an official motion in 2014, but the association in the east wasn’t ready for it. According to the Director, current members had a more progressive view on the subject and went forward with the ban.

The former vet says one day the procedure will be banned in Alberta as well.

“It is going to happen. It all depends if Alberta wants to be at the front of the curve or the last gasp in the curve…”
 

“It is going to happen. It all depends if Alberta wants to be at the front of the curve or the last gasp in the curve. It is coming. It is inevitable. Why not show that you are leaders in the veterinary community and just do it.”

If a person is wanting to advocate for a ban in the province, Chisholm recommends finding a local vet to speak up about their position.

“If you can find someone to lead the charge, it is about lobbying veterinarians, lobbying vet associations, and lobbying the provincial government as well as getting the word out there. Making sure that people get educated about what declawing is. Once people learn what declawing is, they are horrified.”