Gregg Miller didn’t plan to become the world’s leading provider of testicular implants for pets. But when his bloodhound Buck came back from the vet “missing something,” Miller had a brainstorm — and a business plan. Nearly three decades later, Neuticles, his patented silicone dog testicles, have been implanted in more than 500,000 animals.
“Our customers range from the poor to the super rich; we have something for everyone,” he says. “It is the American dream come true.”
That dream goes well beyond dog balls. Cosmetic procedures for animals — especially canines — have quietly ballooned into a booming industry, with some vets reporting a spike in requests for everything from eye lifts to tummy tucks. In a city like Los Angeles, where image is currency and a French bulldog’s Instagram page may generate more income than its owner’s, the pressure to look polished applies to pets, too.
Most surgeries fall into two camps: corrective (like eyelid lifts for vision problems) and purely aesthetic (tightening a bulldog’s wrinkles or cropping ears for symmetry). Dental specialists are now doing canine braces and porcelain veneers. And while actual Botox is still rare, lipomas (fat deposits) are regularly removed in ways that double as body contouring.
Miller, who now runs SynDaver, a surgical supply company in Tampa, has expanded his catalog accordingly. In addition to Neuticles, he sells prosthetic eyeballs, synthetic muscles and a silicon ear implant designed to help surgically cropped ears stand up straight — no taping required.
Other doctors are pioneering other specialties, like Django Martel, an oral surgeon at New York’s Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, who says he’s seeing more owners inquire about orthodontic options. “Only a tiny number of dogs who get braces are for cosmetic reasons,” he says. “The majority are animals who’ve suffered profound genetic issues or been in traumatic accidents.” Still, that hasn’t stopped some pet parents from requesting straighter smiles.
But back to Neuticles, still Miller’s signature product — and a best-seller in Hollywood. The Kardashians famously Neuticled their boxer. Jake Gyllenhaal once thanked Miller on late night TV for helping restore his German shepherd’s dignity. Some customers even keep the balls after Rover passes away, transplanting them to their new dogs “as a way of keeping a connection” to a beloved pet,” Miller says.
They come in four models and in a range of sizes, from ferret to Great Dane, generally costing between $400 to $500 (not including the surgery). Miller couldn’t be prouder of his work. “Please go ahead, feel them, really feel them,” he insists, “and you tell me the difference.”
This story appeared in the Oct. 22 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.