I’ve just read an article about cosmetic surgery for pets. Some of it was quite sensible and beneficial, like enlarging the nostrils and reshaping the nasal cavity of dogs such as pugs, to stop them gasping for breath and snoring. Some of it was at the level of nail varnish for dogs’ claws, with a photo of a poor poodle having a lurid pink polish applied – and my dears, it did not match the red collar at all!
The most amazing description was of prosthetic testicles for dogs who have been neutered and are suffering from depression. Called neuticles and $300 a pair. I always thought it was the lack of hormones that caused the problems. Still, if it gives the dogs something to lick. Needless to say there was no equivalent on offer for spayed bitches.
Boadicea's Chariot 
http://www.anaplasty-prague.com/plastic-surgery/cosmetic-surgeries-of-male-genitals/implantation-of-testicular-prostheses/
– you learn something new every day!
‘secondary psychic problems ‘ from the link CWJ gave us, made me smile!
“What psychic problems are you having Mr Jones?”
“I see this aura around my mother’s chair, even though she’s been dead 20 years…”
Gosh, Pseu, the thought of dogs having “psychic” problems really makes me wonder.
Isn’t it the ‘inbreeding’ of animals that causes half the problems with animals like pugs?
I would think that painting some poor dogs nails ‘lurid pink’ would cause ‘psychic problems’… some people have mors money than sense – slap a 200% VAT tax on it!
Yes, Boadicea, I think it is inbreeding. Whether the operation would actually lead after several generations to puppies born without the breathing difficulties is another matter. The nail varnish for dogs is awful – their paws and claws are for digging holes and burying bones.
Sheona
Having such an operation wouldn’t stop the problem in future generations – only breeding from animals that can breathe properly would do that. I believe that, finally, efforts are being made to stop dog-breeders from producing animals that have to spend their lives ‘suffering’ to satisfy the fashion whims of the public. About time.
The RSPCA collects almost £130M in revenue, whilst the NSPCC raises only marginally more – £150M. Britain seems to be awash in bunny-hugging animal lovers, desperately anxious that animals aren’t treated cruelly, but with a population enough of whom treat their children so appallingly as to require a National Society for their Protection…
Societies are formed to campaign against Continental Europeans hurling donkeys off towers, bull-fighting and a 1,001 other causes dear to our hearts, whilst children are being treated worse than any of these animals within Britain.
And we can euthanise pets without question, but not ourselves. Go figure.