Plastic Surgery for Pets Getting More Popular

by Jennifer Mishler August 24, 2011
Categories: Animals.

People are reportedly getting more plastic surgery…for their pets.

The Huffington Post reports that cosmetic surgery for pets is gaining in popularity, including nose jobs and eyelifts. Oh, and of course Neuticles, the silicone testicle implants that dog owners are getting for their neutered canines.

Many people are opposed to this type of procedure for pets. One dog owner, Craig Swinson, told ABC News, “This type of procedure is really only for one thing: To promote the ego of the owners.” It was discovered that his rescue dog Percy had been given Neuticles while Percy was undergoing surgery to be neutered. ASPCA spokesman, Bret Hopman, also spoke out against unnecessary surgeries. He told Huffington Post, “The ASPCA is opposed to elective surgeries that are undertaken solely to conform to breed standards, including cropping ears and docking tails.”

Although, some veterinarians say that there are plastic surgery procedures that can be done to improve the animal’s health or quality of life. The Daily Mail reports one case in which a Shar-Pei’s wrinkles were hanging into his eyes, and a face lift has allowed him to see. Surgery is also done to improve breathing problems, or weight problems. Some pet owners are now getting liposuction for their overweight pets, although veterinarians typically recommend weight management pet food, exercise, or even medication instead of surgery for overweight dogs and cats.

Categories: Animals.
Photo: Flickr/Creative Commons

About Jennifer Mishler

Jennifer is an animal advocate and activist. She is a volunteer coordinator with The Girls Gone Green, a nonprofit organization advocating for animals rights, veganism, and environmentalism. She is also an Onshore Volunteer with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and a volunteer with CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm, a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates farm animals. Along with writing for Ecorazzi, she writes about veganism and animal rights on her blog, A Dog's Eye View. She lives in Jacksonville, FL with her husband and their three animal friends. Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jennygonevegan

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http://www.vegan-diet-success.com Vegan Diet Success

This should be considered animal abuse. Putting a being under unnecessary surgery without their own consent is cruel and unusual. I hope someday there are more laws in place to protect those who can’t protect themselves.

Mimi

I agree with you 100%. This is completely ridiculous, can someone be so uncomfortable in their own skin that they have to make their animal suffer? wow….that just blew my mind, I didn’t even know this existed!!!

LovesDogzz

At first this article seems a little shocking– but I read something similar about some of the reasons surrounding why people opt to do this to their pets. While I, personally, wouldn’t do it to my own dog– I guess some breeds are more sesceptable to getting infections if they have really droopy skin (like Bulldogs do.) So they tighten it up surgically. I read the similar article on Pets Best Insurance’s page, http://www.petsbest.com. The article is here, if you care to read it: http://www.petsbest.com/blog/dog-health-care-extremes/.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Becky-Cooper-king/545704710 Becky Cooper-king

I see your point about it being for their welfare; however it just shows why we shouldn’t breed these type of characteristics into dogs. Why is it fair that we do it because we like the look of the dog breed when it’s not good for the dog . Dogs with a brachycephalic skull are an excellent example, their brains are too big for their skull and they have bad breathing problems and bad tear ducts, yet we still breed them for our own satisfaction. The kennel club really need to step up and change this.

http://www.esteemstudio.com.au/t4blepharoplasty.php blepharoplasty

Our cat got an eye job, does that count? No really, he did. His eyelid was rolling in on itself, (it was a medical issue) so they did a little cut and pin. Unfortunately it didn’t work very well.