Vets have warned about a painful cosmetic procedure designed to give animals cartoonish 'Mickey Ears'.
The dangerous, painful and unnecessary procedure has sparked outrage in China, where it has become an increasingly popular trend.
Veterinary clinics are offering to cut off the ears of cats and dogs to make them resemble the Disney character for as little as 300 yuan (£33).
More worryingly, local news media have also discovered dozens of online stores selling “do-it-yourself” clips to mutilate animals' ears at home.
However, animal experts warn that the procedure can cause animals pain, damage their hearing and limit their ability to communicate.
Vets have warned about a dangerous and painful procedure that will see pets grow cartoonish ears that resemble Mickey Mouse
The procedure is a form of ear cropping, in which animals' ears are cut away to give them a specific shape.
Cropping pets' ears into a round shape reminiscent of Mickey Mouse is becoming an increasingly popular trend in China.
To produce the Mickey Ear shape, animals must undergo two separate procedures.
First they must be put under anesthesia for a half-hour operation to cut the ear.
The second phase is a 'styling phase' that can last between 20 and 60 days and requires frequent adjustments to keep the ear in place.
The procedure is currently rare in most animal hospitals, but may be common in breeding facilities and dog kennels. This was reported by the South China Morning Post.
During the procedure, pets' ears are cut into round shapes and forced to stand erect for a correction period of 20 to 60 days
Ads like this have sparked outrage in China after some veterinary clinics offered to reshape pets' ears for as little as £33.
Perhaps more worryingly, local reporters discovered that unlicensed online stores are selling tools for pet owners to perform the cruel procedure themselves.
One ad in particular for a veterinary clinic in Chongqing, southwestern China, has sparked controversy on Chinese social media platforms.
The advertisement advertises “Mickey Ear” clamps for sale, noting that whether they can be delivered before the Spring Festival depends on the “factory production schedule.”
Sohu News, a Chinese media outlet, reported that online sellers were offering specialized clamps that restrict blood flow to parts of an animal's ear, causing the animal to die and fall off.
These haemostatic clamps are offered in a number of different sizes, with sets of 40 retailing for 196 yuan (£21.60).
Unfortunately, there is currently no law prohibiting this procedure in China.
However, the public is now urging the government to ban the operation and crack down on the unscrupulous vets who perform it.
An advertisement on social media announces that sales of 'Mickey Ear' clips have now begun and shows details of their use on animals
Hemostatic clamps like these are sold online by unlicensed sellers, allowing pet owners to perform the cruel procedure themselves
Bill Lambert, director of health, welfare and breeders at The Kennel Club, told MailOnline that this procedure could be extremely detrimental to the welfare of dogs.
“Dogs are not fashion accessories, and such procedures are cruel, unnecessary, and do not take into account the welfare of dogs,” he said.
'Dogs regularly use their body language to show how they are feeling, including movement of their ears. In addition to causing stress, pain and discomfort, altering their appearance in this way can be detrimental to the bond between you and your dog. and a dog's ability to communicate.'
Dogs rotate their ears independently to direct sound to their ear canals, so changing the shape of the ear can be harmful to their hearing.
Although the procedure is currently legal in China, members of the public have called for a ban on the operation
Any form of ear cropping is illegal in Britain, as is tail docking unless carried out for medical reasons.
However, the RSPCA has reported a significant increase in the number of dogs having their ears cut off in Britain.
Between 2015 and 2019, the RSPCA saw a 236 percent increase in the number of dogs entering care with cropped ears.
Dominika Jagoda, companion animal expert at the RSPCA, told MailOnline: 'Not only is this a form of ear clipping, which we oppose and which is illegal in England and Wales, but it also prioritises appearance and perceived cartoonishness' cuteness'. above prosperity.
'We are concerned that some potential dog owners may not be aware that this is illegal and that celebrity culture and images on social media may be normalizing this cruel practice and even increasing its popularity.'
While it is illegal to cut off a dog's ears or send a dog abroad to have its ears clipped, it is not illegal to purchase a dog that already has ears clipped.
This means that people can buy animals that have undergone unnecessary cosmetic surgery without knowing that this is illegal.
Prominent celebrities including boxer Nicola Adams, Love Island's Jack Fincham and Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock have all been pictured with their dogs with cropped ears.
However, there is no evidence that these individuals broke the law or were aware of the trial.