Declawing is performed under general anesthesia so that the cat feels no pain during the surgery. Often, the procedure is practiced simultaneously with neutering or spaying. Preoperative bloodwork prior to the procedure is sometimes advised.
During surgery, a tourniquet is applied to the leg to control bleeding. The entire toenail is removed either by cutting the ligaments of the joint using a scalpel, or by making a cut with a sterilized nail trimmer. To prevent regrowth of any nail tissue, the remainder of the bony portion is removed with forceps and a scalpel. Care is taken to spare the toenail pads during the surgery, and a pressure bandage is applied to each foot to control postoperative bleeding when the tourniquet is removed. The bandages are removed in one to two days. While the pet is hospitalized, medications are administered in order to control pain.
The newest advance in declawing is the availability of carbon dioxide laser technology. Some veterinary practices have invested in the equipment and training necessary to provide this service. The laser technique is believed to offer better control of blood loss, and to be a less painful method of declawing.
