Neuticles are prosthetic testicular implants for neutered dogs and other domestic animals. The implants may be made of

polypropylene Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer Propene, propylene. Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefin ...

silicone In Organosilicon chemistry, organosilicon and polymer chemistry, a silicone or polysiloxane is a polymer composed of repeating units of siloxane (, where R = Organyl group, organic group). They are typically colorless oils or elastomer, rubber ...

History

Gregg Miller developed the idea for Neuticles after his

bloodhound The bloodhound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting deer, wild boar, rabbits, and since the Middle Ages, for tracking people. Believed to be descended from hounds once kept at the Abbey of Saint-Hubert, Belgium, in French it is ...

, Buck, was castrated to stop his wandering. Miller, along with a veterinarian, patented the procedure for implanting Neuticles. To sell his idea, Miller established the Canine Testicular Implant Corporation. The first commercial Neuticles were implanted in 1995. Miller won the 2005 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine, a parody of the real

Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...

, for the invention of Neuticles. The typical pair costs about $310. The company has produced customized prosthetic testicles, such as a $2800 watermelon-sized set for an elephant. Miller said he sold more than 500,000 sets of Neuticles in his first 20 years of business. The company states that humans cannot legally get Neuticle implants. While the materials in them are approved by the

FDA The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food ...

, a second approval is required for similar implants in any specific areas of the human body. In 2018 it was reported that Miller has no plans for Neuticles for humans due to the cost and the time needed for FDA approval.

Ethical concerns

In the UK, the regulatory body for veterinarians, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, states that the use of any form of cosmetic surgery is unethical. 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."

In popular culture

On the reality television show ''

Keeping Up with the Kardashians ''Keeping Up with the Kardashians'' (often abbreviated ''KUWTK'') is an American reality television series which focused on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian family, Kardashian–Jenner Stepfamily, blended family. It aired ...

'',

Kim Kardashian Kimberly Noel Kardashian (born October 21, 1980) is an American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman. She first gained media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, but received wider notice after the celebrity sex tape ...

's dog, Rocky, was given Neuticles. On Season 2, Episode 10 “High School Reunion” of the television comedy ''

The League ''The League'' is an American television sitcom that aired on FX and later FXX from October 29, 2009, to December 9, 2015, for a total of seven seasons. The series, set in Chicago, is a semi-improvised comedy show about a fantasy football l ...

'', Kevin publishes in the group's high school reunion program that Andre had a “nudicle” inserted after he was “sack-tapped so hard that my left testicle was damaged and eventually had to be removed.” On Season 2, Episode 7 "Who's the Boss?" of the adult animated TV show HouseBroken, one episode revolves around the character Diablo getting a pair of canine testicular implants called "Fauxnads"

References

External links

Neuticles web site
* {{cite patent , country=US , number=5868140A , status= , title=Surgical method and apparatus for implantation of a testicular prosthetic device , pubdate= , gdate=9 February 1999 , fdate=12 August 1996 , pridate=7 November 1995 , inventor= , invent1=Miller, Gregg A. , invent2=Holder, R. Duane , assign1=CTI Corp , url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5868140A/ Veterinary castration American inventions Prosthetics Prosthetic manufacturers