User:Scientizzle/Invasive animal management procedures

This is an overview of invasive animal management procedures. These invasive procedures are all performed on domesticated animals, typically in non-emergency settings (which includes preventative treatment), and may or may not have established therapeutic benefits. The procedures may differ between species, and each have been variously justified based on some combination of perceived therapeutic, convenience, cosmetic, and economic value. Many of these procedures are actively opposed by a variety of animal welfare and animal rights organizations, and some have legal limitations on their use. Some procedures are surgical and performed by Veterinarians, others are done by animal owners.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) described many of these treatment, in a 1986 report, as animal mutilations. The term mutilations was used to refer to procedures "which involve interference with the sensitive tissues or the bone structure of an animal". The RCVS acknowledged that the word mutilation was problematic in that its common use is "emotive" and carries "implications of maiming and disfigurement", but found no alternative term that was satisfactory for their purposes.

Common in many species

 * Vaccination is done to prevent diseases.
 * See also feline vaccination.
 * Tattooing is done for animal identification.
 * Ear tagging is done for animal identification.
 * Earmarking is done for animal identification.
 * Castration, neutering/spaying, and vasectomies are done to sterilize animals, perhaps also to alter the behavior of the animal.
 * Livestock branding is done for animal identification. Using an extremely hot or extremely cold brand held against the animal's skin produces a permanent marking. Many organizations support the replacement of branding with the development of less-painful identification techniques, such a microchipping or tattooing.

Cats

 * Onychectomy, or declawing, is the surgical removal of a cat's claws by means of the amputation of all or part of the distal phalanges, or end bones, of the cat's toes. It is commonly performed on housecats to to prevent scratching of people and to prevent damage to household possessions. The practice is common in the United States but is legally restricted or illegal in many other countries.
 * Tendonectomy, a surgical alternative to onychectomy, involves the removal of a portion of the tendon in each of a cat's toes, preventing the cat from being able to extend its claws.

Cattle

 * Dehorning
 * Nose ringing
 * Tongue amputation (calves)

Dogs

 * Devocalisation
 * Dewclaw removal
 * Ear cropping
 * Tail docking
 * Eyelid tacking
 * Tail nicking
 * Teeth removal

Horses

 * Branding
 * Devoicing
 * Pin firing
 * Tail blocking
 * Tail docking
 * Tail nicking

Laboratory mice

 * Ear tagging
 * Ear notching
 * Tail clipping
 * Tattooing
 * Toe clipping

Pigs

 * Ear docking
 * Ear notching
 * Nose ringing
 * Tail docking
 * Teeth cutting
 * Tusk trimming

Poultry

 * Caponization
 * Beak-trimming
 * Blinders
 * Desnooding
 * Detoeing
 * Devoicing
 * Dewinging
 * Dubbing
 * Pinioning
 * Spur removal
 * Toe clipping

Sheep

 * Ear tagging
 * Ear notching
 * Dehorning
 * Marking
 * Mulesing
 * Tail docking
 * Teeth grinding