Ananova:

US dog lovers are paying £200 on prosthetic testicles for their castrated pets.

The 'Neuticles' are implanted in the dogs' scrotums to make them appear "anatomically intact", reports Sky News.

Louis Schwartz, chief of staff at the Overland Veterinary Clinic in Los Angeles, said: "What I find is the vast majority (of customers) are men.

"I can only think of one woman who has come to me to have the procedure on her pet. She was an animal control officer whose husband, because of his religious beliefs, did not want the dog to be neutered

"One weekend while he was away she came to me with the dog and years later, this man has no idea."

At Mr Schwartz's clinic dog lovers can also buy acupuncture treatment and medicine for separation anxiety and depression for their pets.

Pet care is now the fastest growing retail sector after electronics in the US with dog and cat owners spending about £20bn on their pets in 2007.