United Pet Club

Extirpación de los espolones: the law by country

Where it is banned, allowed only under conditions or permitted. Each rule names its law and links to the source.

How Extirpación de los espolones is regulated across 11 places
  • Prohibido con excepciones: 2 places
  • Solo por veterinario: 1 place
  • Restringido: 8 places

Australia

Australian Capital Territory

RestringidoPerro

Cualquier persona hasta 4 días después del nacimiento. Después, solo un veterinario, con fines profilácticos o terapéuticos.

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Anyone up to 4 days after birth. Later, a veterinary practitioner only, for a prophylactic or therapeutic purpose.

Animal Welfare Act 1992 (ACT), ss 19(2)(d), 19A(2)Checked 4/11/2026

Canadá

Nova Scotia

Prohibido con excepcionesAll species

Se permite cuando un veterinario opera para tratar una lesión o enfermedad o por otras razones médicas necesarias o beneficiosas para la salud del animal (s.28(a)), y para prácticas agrícolas conformes con los códigos del NFACC u otros códigos prescritos (s.28(b)). Se aplica a cualquier persona, no solo a los veterinarios.

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Allowed when a veterinarian operates to treat an injury or disease or for other medical reasons necessary or beneficial to the animal's health (s.28(a)), and for agricultural practices in line with the NFACC codes or other prescribed codes (s.28(b)). Applies to any person, not only veterinarians.

Animal Protection Act, S.N.S. 2018, c. 21, ss.27-28Checked 4/11/2026

Eslovaquia

Whole country

RestringidoPerro

Solo puede hacerlo una persona conforme a la s.10(2) de la Ley. Versión del 1 de enero de 2022; existe una modificación de 2025 (307/2025) que no se revisó.

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May be done only by a person under s.10(2) of the Act. Version of 1 January 2022; a 2025 amendment (307/2025) exists and was not checked.

Act 39/2007 Z.z. on veterinary care, s.22(2)(c)Checked 4/11/2026

Estados Unidos

Maryland

Solo por veterinarioPerro

Solo un veterinario con licencia, que use anestesia cuando corresponda. Delito menor.

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Only a licensed veterinarian, using anesthesia when appropriate. Misdemeanor.

Md. Code, Criminal Law s.10-624Checked 4/11/2026

Pennsylvania

RestringidoPerro

Es una infracción en un perro de más de cinco días, salvo que lo haga un veterinario con licencia. Quien lo encargue debe conservar un registro hasta que cicatrice la herida.

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An offense on a dog over five days old unless a licensed veterinarian does it. Whoever procures it must keep a record until the wound heals.

18 Pa.C.S. s.5542(e)Checked 4/11/2026

Irlanda

Whole country

Prohibido con excepcionesPerro

Por un veterinario (el S.I. 304/2017 excluyó a los enfermeros veterinarios), en un pointer, spaniel o terrier o una combinación, de menos de 8 días de edad, con la madre presente o prueba de su muerte, ante evidencia de uso en el control lícito de plagas, la caza o el tiro; declaración y microchip.

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By a vet (S.I. 304/2017 removed vet nurses), on a pointer, spaniel or terrier or combination, not yet 8 days old, with the dam or proof of her death, on evidence of use in lawful pest control, hunting or shooting; declaration and microchip.

Prohibition on Tail Docking and Dew Claw Removal (Dogs) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 128/2014), as amended by S.I. 304/2017In force since 6/03/2014Checked 4/11/2026

Nueva Zelanda

Whole country

RestringidoPerro

Espolones delanteros y traseros articulados, a cualquier edad, y espolones traseros no articulados a partir de los 4 días de edad: veterinario (o estudiante de veterinaria supervisado) con alivio del dolor. Los espolones traseros no articulados de menos de 4 días quedan fuera de esos límites.

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Front and articulated hind dew claws, at any age, and non-articulated hind dew claws from 4 days of age: veterinarian (or supervised veterinary student) with pain relief. Non-articulated hind dew claws under 4 days old are outside those limits.

Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, r 56In force since 1/10/2018Checked 4/11/2026

Reino Unido

England

RestringidoPerro

Permitido; se requiere anestésico, salvo que el cachorro todavía no haya abierto los ojos.

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Permitted; an anaesthetic is required unless the puppy's eyes have not yet opened.

Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/1100), Sch. 1 and Sch. 9In force since 6/04/2007Checked 4/11/2026

Northern Ireland

RestringidoPerro

Una persona lega solo puede quitar los espolones antes de que los cachorros abran los ojos; en otro caso, un veterinario (s.5(5)).

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A lay person may remove dew claws only before the pups' eyes are open; otherwise a vet (s.5(5)).

Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures by Lay Persons) Regulations (NI) 2012 (S.R. 2012/153), Sch. 8In force since 2/04/2012Checked 4/11/2026

Scotland

RestringidoPerro

Exento para el manejo general de los animales; el Reglamento no fija condición de edad. La guía del RCVS cita la Protection of Animals (Anaesthetic) Act 1954: anestesia, salvo antes de que se abran los ojos.

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Exempted for general animal management; the Regulations set no age condition. RCVS guidance cites the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetic) Act 1954: anaesthesia unless before the eyes are open.

SSI 2010/387, Sch. 9In force since 5/11/2010Checked 4/11/2026

Wales

RestringidoPerro

Se requiere anestésico, salvo que el cachorro todavía no haya abierto los ojos.

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An anaesthetic is required unless the puppy's eyes have not yet opened.

Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (WSI 2007/1029), Sch. 1 and Sch. 9In force since 28/03/2007Checked 4/11/2026

What each status means

Prohibido con excepciones
Prohibited except under named exemptions, such as certified working dogs or a vet's medical decision.
Solo por veterinario
Allowed only when a vet performs it, often with pain relief or an age limit.
Restringido
Allowed with conditions other than a vet: an age limit, a method, a licence.

The law on other procedures

All procedures and the law