Take care of your feline's nails for overall good health

I have tried to address the "how to" of feline claw trimming in the past. Just the mere task of learning the technique is fraught with frustration. So much so, that many feline enthusiasts simply leave the task to the professionals such as groomers or veterinarians. Still others, seek surgical alternatives. The reality of all the fuss is to gage your feline's overall health.

Some of us might believe all this claw trimming is necessary to preserve household harmony. That is, to keep our belongings and house furnishings from becoming ruined feline shreddings. In reality, it is to lessen nail and nail-bed problems that may, over time, lessen your feline's mobility.

True, felines try to keep their claws in good condition by play hunting, marking (scratching) and climbing, but they still need our assistance to stay in top form. A mere scratching post is not enough. Playing alone does not take the edge off the nails like real hunting and tree climbing.

As inside felines have evolved, they need us more to keep them conditioned in every aspect of health.

If you think of your feline's claws as epidermal structures, not unlike our fingernails, the idea of maintenance is easier to grasp. Their claws are much more complex than our nails because they can retract them at will.

Their paws house tissue like rubberbands to allow retraction and extension. Your feline is literally flexing its muscles when it chooses to extend its claws. That translates to more parts of the paw to keep healthy.

If you routinely clip their claws, you are regularly monitoring the health of the tissue. If you hear your feline's claws clicking on the floor, you may have waited too long to trim, so much so that you may be flirting with a future medical issue.

Besides you monitoring the condition of your feline's claws and paws, watch how your feline treats its own paws. His behavior is an indicator of health, both good an poor.

Constant licking or limping may indicate an obvious trauma problem. In play or jumping, he may have distended or pulled a claw by snagging something. The toes or nails may appear inflamed and swollen. Some felines may just be uncharacteristically inactive or uninterested.

Swelling or inflammation can be caused by bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics. Besides inflammation, check the color of the claws for abnormalities and discharge. Prompt detection and veterinary care are important for an accurate diagnosis.

Infections can also be fungal and autoimmune. Ringworm is a fungal that can attack the nail and nail beds. When a feline suffers from autoimmune problems, antibodies usually attack the nail-beds and skin. Left untreated, this type of infection results not only in hair loss, but can escalate into open sores that will cause the infection to spread further.

Your feline can also suffer trauma to its paws and claws from your failure to properly monitor or control you home environment. Chemicals and thermal burns can account for some major paw injuries.

Cleaning agents, stove tops, older furnaces and dryers can send a feline to the veterinarian for a bandage job (if lucky) or for a serious surgery.

Your job description as "feline caregiver," does not stop with mere claw trimming. It requires an evaluation of overall paw, claw and nail-bed health as preventive maintenance. Your scratching post and cat tree do not do an adequate stand-in for you either.

You need to be "hands on" when assessing your feline's health in all areas, especially, as your feline ages gracefully. Age alone can present even more issues with epidermal health.

Did you know?

June is national Adopt A Shelter Cat Month. Please stop by the shelter to see why cats rock and rule this June.

Featured felines

June and Brandi: June is a gray and white female, while her sister Brandi is black and white. Both have medium length fur and are very friendly. June and Brandi were both rescued from an outdoor life by one of Buddy's volunteers.

June is outgoing and likes to curl up on the couch and receive attention. Brandi is inquisitive. She enjoys chasing small balls around the floor, being brushed and petted. The two of them would be a wonderful pair for any loving family.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter dedicated to the welfare of stray, abused and abandoned cats and dogs. For information, call The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.