Having seen so many declaws done, I would never perform the procedure unless it was done to benifit the cat, such as an infected toenail on a polydactal cat being removed.
All the cats I had to care for after their surgery were always in so much pain, and often times bleeding from the incision site. The old vet at our practice (BTW I went back to work everyone, lol) did "botched" declaws, and the claws were actually growing back. Our price sheet actually has a price for re-declaws.
I always have clients call up and want to declaw right away. I always try my best to persuade them to not declaw. These people are morons. I ask if they have a scratching post, and they say NO! I ask if they try to train the cat to not scratch and they say they do not have the time etc. These people in my opinion should not own cats.
If all else fails, I at least try to get them to skip the declaw and opt for a tendenectomy instead. This procedure leaves the digits but cuts the tendon, not allowing the cat to retract their claws. Usually declaw cats have to stay overnight, but this procedure allows the cat to go home that day, avoid bandages and not experience so much pain. I always feel so happy when I talk someone out of declawing!
But if the choice was to declaw or euthanize, I would declaw the cat!
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