Lion’s forelimbs declawing (Onychectomy)

Objective: Onychectomy is the elective surgical amputation of the claws and the attached P3 bone. The procedure was performed to eliminate destructive scratching behaviors in lions. The aim was to elucidate the declawing (onychectomy) of the thoracic limbs of the lion and to report the kind of complications in lions undergoing these onychectomies by the incisional method. Materials and Methods: Three healthy home lions that were between nine and ten months old were used in the study. To stay far away from the lion, we administered the first dose using a pole syringe. It took 13 minutes to reach the xylazine and ketamine dosages needed for anesthesia, which were 1.0 and 3.5 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The surgical plane of anesthesia was maintained for 11 min then the dose was repeated every 11 to 15 minute until surgery was done for all bilateral forelimb digits. The paw, digits, and nails were aseptically scrubbed for surgery. The animal was positioned in lateral recumbency, and a tourniquet below the elbow was applied to minimize blood loss. P3 disarticulation is accomplished with a no. 20 blade. The extensor tendon and dorsal elastic ligament were cut dorsally after the nail bed's skin. After that, the joint capsule is cut open to reveal and transsect the collateral ligaments. After the claw was flexed, the pad was preserved by carefully dissecting the flexor process and transsecting the deep digital flexor tendon. The bleeding was stopped by gauze direct pressure and suturing with absorbable suture (polyglactin 910 size 1USP). Results: In stage 3 of anesthesia, during plane one the eyeball undergo nystagmus and then rotated ventrally in plan 2 and 3. During 2-3 days after surgery, the animals were recumbent most of the time and licked the site of surgery. One stitch lost its tensile strength at the 3rd day post-surgery but the wound healed by second intention without protruding the second phalanx. Licking the toes habit was started again 7 days after surgery. The licking continued for 5 to 6 days. At the 1st day after surgery, there was noticeable lameness, which was exposed by the animals, which were tried to step on them metacarpal pads without depending on digital pads, and the signs of lameness gradually disappeared at the 4th to 5th day post-surgery. The sites of the surgery healed without complication, and the animals returned to normal behavior without any bad habits (like biting). Conclusion: This type of surgery is simple and easy to do with minimal bleeding. Onychectomy did not affect lions' behaviors. It was done under sterile conditions by experienced veterinary surgeons and the results gave a minimal side effect or complication. Complications after bilateral declawing of lions were lameness and itching (licking the operation area), which led to knot failure, but the wound healed by second intention without protruding the 2nd phalanx. The claws did not re-grow after these surgeries, and therefore the incisional blade method is suitable for onychectomy in lions.