Guest guest Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 " WC Douglass " <realhealth Daily Dose - Pet Projects Tue, 29 Mar 2005 06:59:00 -0500 Daily Dose **************************************************** March 29, 2005 Making Fido fetch(ing) Do you think basset hounds say to themselves: " Ugh, look at these wrinkles! " Do greyhounds worry about losing their trim waistlines over time? When you call " Spot! " out loud, does he run to you - or run to the mirror to look at himself, thinking: " My goodness, where?!? " Apparently, a growing number of people think this is what their pets are thinking. According to a recent MSNBC piece, an increasing number of wealthy Americans (especially Californians - big surprise) are forcing their pets - mostly dogs - under the knife for procedures like facelifts, tummy tucks, nose jobs and other cosmetic surgeries. Although the article represents the first time I've ever heard of this sort of thing, cosmetic procedures on pets aren't performed exclusively in the Golden State, I'd bet the farm that most of them are. After all, the number of fake (sorry, enhanced) lips, hairlines, noses, chins, tummies, butts and boobs per capita among PEOPLE in California exceeds every other place on Earth... But I digress. Back to the topic at hand. Proponents of cosmetic surgery for pets insist there are medical reasons behind many such scalpel-ings - citing skin-fold infections in certain breeds (bulldogs, for example), which can warrant surgical attention after topical antibiotics fail. Similarly, excessive drooling among mastiffs and bloodhounds can result in chronic mouth infections, kidney, liver, and heart issues. However it's hard to buy the medical necessity of some of these procedures, including - get ready - testicular implants! Yep, you read that right: Owners are now able to give pets back their " family jewels " during the course of routine neutering (or up to 5 years afterward). A silicone implant called a Neuticle is available that can restore Rover's manly assets. Since 1995, nearly 150,000 pairs have been fitted worldwide. According to the manufacturer, Neuticle buyers swear their pets have more dog-park swagger and higher self-esteem than other canines. But I have trouble buying this, since it's testosterone, not testicles, that make a mammal masculine - and most all of that goes out the window after neutering. Bottom line: Unless your pet's got a real, medical problem that warrants surgery of a coincidentally cosmetic nature, leave it alone to age gracefully. I've never once seen a dog, cat, ferret, parrot, or any other critter staring intently into a mirror, pondering its facial wrinkles, sucking in its gut, or turning around to check out a sagging rump... **************************************************** Copycat company running out of lives? Last year (Daily Dose, 5/18/2004), I wrote to you about a company called Genetic Savings and Clone that offered genetically identical clones of dead pets - for a mere $50,000! Well, back in December, the company revealed that it had successfully delivered its first sale, a cat named Little Nicky, to a client in Texas. According to the company, at least 4 more " copycats " are on the way (apparently dogs are more challenging to duplicate)... But according to a recent CNN.com article, the California-based (where else, right?) company is facing heat from state legislators bent on protecting grieving pet owners from being fleeced - and protecting the environment from the unknown effects of unregulated cloning technologies. Back in February, a bill was introduced in the state's legislature banning the sale of any cloned pets. It's too early to tell whether the measure is expected to pass or not. I kind of hope it does, though. For one thing, pets are unique, just like we are, formed by both genetics and their environment and experiences. Even if you could exactly duplicate one physically, it would never be the same pet. Genetic Savings and Clone is selling a false hope at an exorbitant price. But most importantly, there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of perfectly good, loving pets in animal shelters, pet stores, and breeder's kennels across the country that need good homes. Buying a carbon copy of a dead pet at any price does nothing but deny one of these animals a happy life - or worse yet, serve a death warrant on a hapless victim of circumstance. Always " fetching " the truth - no matter how ugly, William Campbell Douglass II, MD ********************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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