The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently re-stated a policy that surgical correction of “genetic defects” for the purposes of concealing the defect is unethical. If surgical correction is undertaken for the purpose of improving the health of the individual, then it should be accompanied by sterilization to prevent the perpetuation of the genetic flaw.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) agrees with the intent of this position. In their communications the AVMA specifically mentions the substitution of prosthetic testicles for natural testicles in cryptorchid dogs. There is no doubt that this type of procedure is fraudulent in that the prosthetic substitute is a non-functional substitute for a body organ with a normal physiologic function and is aimed at deceptively representing that the dog has normal testicles. The AAEP concurs that this type of surgery is equally fraudulent in horses and is to be condemned as a surgical procedure intended only to deceive, not to treat. The procedure is of no benefit to the horse