The trend for cosmetic surgery on pets started in the US, where all kinds of treatments have been devised for animals. Chin-lifts among dogs became popular in the 1990s in order to curb excessive drooling. In the mid-1980s ‘Neuticles’ were invented; testicular implants that were designed to give neutered pets a more masculine look.
Brian Faulkner, a vet at Petplan, said that pets in the UK often require treatment due to medical defects, rather than vanity on behalf of their owner. For example, eye-lid lifts are particularly common among Bloodhound, Bulldog and Mastiff breeds of dog, which tend to suffer from an inherited eye condition called entropion. Nose jobs are often used to widen nostrils to help fix breathing issues.
Photo by Monsieur Gordon.