Neuticles are prosthetic testicular implants for neutered dogs and other domestic animals. The implants may be made of polypropylene or silicone.
Video Neuticles
History
Gregg Miller developed the idea for Neuticles after his bloodhound, Buck, was castrated to stop his wandering. Miller, along with a veterinarian, patented the procedure for implanting Neuticles. To sell his idea, Miller established CTI (Canine Testicular Implant) Corporation, and the first commercial Neuticles were implanted in 1995. Miller won the 2005 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine, a parody of the real Nobel Prize, for the invention of Neuticles.
While recognizing that responsible pet ownership requires neutering, nonetheless, many pet owners find themselves uncomfortable with such a disfiguring procedure. The permanently altered appearance of their pet serves as a constant reminder of their surgical choice. Comments by strangers who misidentify the gender of the pet may serve to exacerbate this discomfort.
The patent on the surgical method and apparatus to implant Neuticles lapsed in 2003.
Maps Neuticles
Opposition
In the UK, the regulatory body for veterinarians, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, states that the use of testicular implants in dogs is unethical.
The Code of Professional Conduct published by the Veterinary Council of New Zealand says "the insertion of neuticles (prosthetic testicles) cannot be justified. This procedure has no benefit to the animal and can be used to conceal genetic defects."
Popular culture
- On the US reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim Kardashian's dog, Rocky, was given Neuticles.
References
External links
- Neuticles web site
- US 5868140A, Miller, Greg A. & Holder, R. Duane, "Surgical method and apparatus for implantation of a testicular prosthetic device", issued 9 February 1999, assigned to CTI Corp
Source of article : Wikipedia
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