MSNBC:" Well, get ready for a fresh dose of reality: those going under the knife to be nipped and tucked are not people but pets. “Pets are no longer considered property, but family members," says Dr. Alan Schulman, a board-certified orthopedic veterinary surgeon who performs plastic surgery and also sees general practice cases at the Animal Medical Center of Southern California in Los Angeles. "With the evolution of this emotional bond, people with a discretionary income are taking advantage of technology and veterinary expertise to give their animals medically indicated reconstructive surgery resulting in a better quality of life.
Schulman sees many pets belonging to celebrities and says he gets his fair share of requests to perform unnecessary cosmetic procedures, reconstructive procedures that amount to an eyelift, full facelift, rhinoplasty or abdominoplasty. The costs are about $1,000 per procedure and the pet is usually hospitalized overnight in order to be properly monitored after anesthesia. The most common are skin-fold problems, particularly around the eyes, lips, tail and vaginal area, nose jobs and chin lifts. Neuticles(animal-balls) are testicular implants designed to give neutered pets a more "masculine," unneutered look.
To date, about 148,000 implants have been fitted worldwide. The recipients are mainly dogs, but Miller now has three implants available that range in softness and size to fit cats as well as horses and bulls. Prices range from $79 to $400 a pair. “The implants are FDA approved and are inserted at the time of neutering. It’s like changing a light bulb; it takes less than three minutes," says Miller. Veterinarians usually charge around $60 in addition to the neutering operation....Now this one is just plain dumb to me, come-on I had our male dog fixed many years ago when he was just 6-months old. I don't think he even knows that he ever had them, and as for hmasculinitytiy I don't feel it has ever effected him in this area he isn't afraid to thump any dog that wants to take him on, if any thing I wish I could mellow this one he's 12-years old. And as for giving my dog a face lift...I've got better things to do with my money!!"
