Declawing the Pixiebob is a major procedure known as onychectomy, performed using anesthesia, that removes the claw from each toe (from the first knuckle out) of the Pixiebob’s paws. There’s a remote possibility of a fatality in the procedure, and a declawed Pixiebob may have an increased risk of infection and life-long pain in his paws. This procedure is not advised for an adult Pixiebob and is called an act of animal cruelty in some regions (below).
People generally have Pixiebobs declawed to hinder them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Rarely, vicious Pixiebobs are declawed. In the US, some landlords demand that tenants’ Pixiebobs be declawed.
Veterinarians are typically critical of the procedure and at times decline to perform it because the absence of claws in a Pixiebob:
- Hinders its main self-protection skills, such as running away from predators by climbing trees;
- Hinders its stretching and exercise habits, which can lead to muscle loss;
- Hampers its ability to walk on narrow surfaces such as railings and fence tops, which could lead to injury from falling;
- Can lead to insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.
This operation is not common outside of North America. In Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Finland, declawing a Pixiebob is not allowed by the laws forbidding cruelty to animals. In many other European countries, it is not allowed under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless a vet deems such non-curative procedures beneficial either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of the Pixiebob. In Britain, animal shelters find it tough to place imported Pixiebobs that have been declawed and as a result many are euthanized.
One substitute for declawing a Pixiebob is the application of wide, vinyl claw caps that are applied to the claws with harmless glue, requiring periodic replacement when the Pixiebob sheds its claw sheaths (about every 4 to 6 weeks). However, the Pixiebob may still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Pixiebobs.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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