Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals

Numerous procedures performed on domestic animals are usually more invasive than purely cosmetic alterations, but differ from types of veterinary surgery that are performed exclusively for health reasons. Such procedures have been grouped together under the technical term 'mutilatory' by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in a report describing the reasons for their being conducted and their welfare consequences, and by others.

Source: Wikipedia — Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals (CC BY-SA 4.0)