Declawing a Ojos Azules is an intense operation known as onychectomy, performed with anesthesia, which eliminates the claw from each toe (from the first knuckle out) of the Ojos Azules’s paw. There is always a miniscule possibility of a fatality in the procedure, and a declawed Ojos Azules might have an increased risk of infection and permanent displeasure in its paws. This surgery isn’t appropriate for a full-grown Ojos Azules and is called an act of animal cruelty in some countries (as shown below).
People typically get Ojos Azuless declawed to prevent them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Seldom, vicious Ojos Azuless are declawed. In the United States, some landlords require that residents’ Ojos Azuless be declawed.
Animal doctors are typically critical of the operation and at times decline to do it since the absence of claws in a Ojos Azules:
- Compromises its main defense skills, such as escaping from predators by climbing trees;
- Compromises its stretching and exercise routines, which can lead to muscle loss;
- Inhibits its ability to balance on narrow surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falling;
- Can lead to insecurity and a subsequent biting habit.
The procedure is rarely performed outside of North America. In Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Finland, declawing a Ojos Azules is forbidden per the statutes forbidding animal cruelty. In many other countries in Europe, it is illegal under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless a doctor deems such non-curative procedures beneficial either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of the animal. In England, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported Ojos Azuless that have been declawed and subsequently many are killed.
One substitute for declawing a Ojos Azules is the use of dull, vinyl claw caps that are affixed to the claws with safe glue, requiring periodic changing when the Ojos Azules sheds its claw sheaths (about every 4 to 6 weeks). However, the Ojos Azules may still have difficulties since the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Ojos Azuless.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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