It may soon be illegal to declaw cats in West Hollywood, CA. The City Council there has unanimously approved a resolution condemning cat declawing and will soon vote on legislation banning the practice.

If the ban is enacted, it would be the first of its kind to go into effect in the United States.

City Councilman John Duran, who has had the claws of several of his cats removed, proposed the ban after learning that declawing is a surgical procedure that does not only involve removing a cat's claws.
"It's the equivalent of removing a knuckle off of a human finger," said Duran. "Had I known that, I would have sought alternatives."

Declawing is banned in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and most of Europe, except in cases of medical necessity.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.

Antifreeze may pose a serious health threat to pets, but seeking treatment quickly can prevent irreversible damages, according to a Kansas State University toxicologist.

Fred Oehme, Director of K-State's comparative toxicology laboratories, says that although cats and dogs are both prone to antifreeze poisoning, it is more common in dogs. Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning include vomiting, weakness and acting drunk or depressed. If the animal does not receive treatment, symptoms will worsen and eventually the kidneys will fail.

According to Oehme, if treatment is received within four to six hours, the chances are good for avoiding irreversible damages and there is a better chance for recovery.

K-State's Animal Poison Control Hotline is 785-532-5679.