Declawing a Savannah is an intense procedure called a onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, that eliminates the claw from each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the Savannah’s forepaw. There is a remote chance of a fatality during the operation, and a declawed Savannah might experience an increased risk of infection and life-long discomfort in its paws. This procedure isn’t advised for an adult Savannah and is considered an act of animal cruelty in some regions (shown below).
People typically get Savannahs declawed to hinder them from damaging furniture and hunting. Seldom, vicious Savannahs are declawed. In America, some landlords demand that tenants’ Savannahs are declawed.
Doctors are generally negative about the operation and some decline to perform it because the lack of claws in a Savannah:
- Hinders its primary self-protection skills, like running away from predators by climbing trees;
- Hinders its exercising and stretching habits, which can lead to muscle atrophy;
- Reduces its ability to balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, which can lead to injury from falls;
- Can lead to insecurity and a subsequent biting habit.
The operation is rare outside of North America. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing a Savannah is forbidden per the statutes against animal cruelty. In many other European countries, it is forbidden under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless a doctor considers such non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of the Savannah. In the UK, animal shelters are finding it difficult to place imported Savannahs that have been declawed and as a result most are euthanized.
An substitute for declawing a Savannah is the application of wide, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, sometimes requiring replacement when the Savannah sheds its claw sheaths (about every 4 to 6 weeks). Yet, the Savannah will still have difficulties since the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Savannahs.Was this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂
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