Declawing a Havana Brown is a major procedure called a onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, which removes the claw from each finger (from the first knuckle out) of the Havana Brown’s paw. There’s a remote possibility of a fatality in the surgery, and a declawed Havana Brown may have an increased risk of infection and permanent displeasure in her paws. This procedure isn’t appropriate for a full-grown Havana Brown and is deemed an act of animal cruelty in some countries (as shown below).
Owners generally get Havana Browns declawed to hinder them from damaging furniture and hunting. Rarely, vicious Havana Browns are declawed. In America, some landlords demand that residents’ Havana Browns be declawed.
Animal doctors are usually critical of the surgery and sometimes refuse to perform it because the lack of claws in a Havana Brown:
- Inhibits its primary defense abilities, such as running away from predators by climbing trees;
- Impairs its exercising and stretching habits, which can lead to muscle atrophy;
- Impairs its ability to walk on narrow surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falling;
- Can lead to insecurity and as a result a tendency to bite.
The operation is rarely performed outside of North America. In Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Finland, declawing a Havana Brown is forbidden per the statutes forbidding cruelty to animals. In many other countries in Europe, it is not allowed under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless a veterinarian considers such non-curative procedures beneficial either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of the Havana Brown. In the UK, animal shelters are finding it difficult to place imported Havana Browns that have been declawed and subsequently many are killed.
An substitute for declawing a Havana Brown is the use of blunt, vinyl claw caps that are stuck to the claws with safe glue, requiring periodic replacement when the Havana Brown sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). Although, the Havana Brown will still have difficulties since the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Havana Browns.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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