Surgical procedures
It is only permitted to operate on an animal when it is necessary for veterinary medical reasons. This means, for example, that it is not allowed to remove a dog’s vocal cords just to stop it from barking.
You are also not allowed to perform procedures that alter your dog’s appearance. Tail docking and ear cropping are not permitted unless they are necessary for veterinary medical reasons.
A dog that has had its ears cropped abroad may not enter Sweden until the ears have fully healed and no longer need taping or support devices. In Sweden, it is forbidden to tape the ears or keep them in supports after cropping, because the dog is in pain and this causes suffering. It is also illegal to tape, tie, or otherwise force a dog’s ears up or down if it causes the animal to suffer.
Exceptions for ID marking and neutering
Identification with a microchip or tattoo is an exception to the ban on surgical procedures that are not necessary for veterinary medical reasons. Only veterinarians or other trained staff are allowed to ID-mark dogs.
Neutering is another exception. Only veterinarians or other animal health professionals are allowed to neuter dogs.
