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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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some years ago, my dear Mr Bingley started a thread (which i can't find) about all the specialized words for animal 'droppings'
manure, (chicken sh*t)
Frass (insect)
Offal (i forget)
Others (lots, that i forgetten, but often recognize when i see them)
and it got me thinking..
a dog is spayed
a cat neutered
a horse gelded--resulting in a gelding
a cow? (the result is oxen, but the process? does it have a specific name?)
are there other words specifically for neutering different species?
when it's done to a camel or an elephant, or a ram (the result is a bellwether, but is it called neutering or spaying or bellwethering? or something else?)
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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>which I can't find easy peasy - joe (yes, we once kept things on a spectral plane) friday
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Neutered vrs spayed is more about gender, I though. Females are spayed, males are neutered. Castration was the more generic term used on the ranch, which applied to the process for any male animal (and covers humans as well). 'Fixed' is also a common choice from vets.
tempus edax rerum
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Joined: Nov 2007
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
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a cow? (the result is oxen, but the process? does it have a specific name?)
According to the OED, one meaning of "ox" is a castrated bull. It does not list a desexed cow as a definition of "ox"
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Joined: Feb 2008
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
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An ox can be simply a bovine, not necessarily neutered, of either gender. The term in general usage is applied especially to draught animals. From Oxford Compact Dictionary:
• noun (pl. oxen) 1 a domesticated bovine animal kept for milk or meat; a cow or bull. 2 a castrated bull, especially as a draught animal. — ORIGIN Old English.
Female cats are spayed or neutered - either term is used, along with colloquial terms like 'done' or 'fixed.'
An uncastrated ram is sometimes called a 'tup.' But I think the verb can mean to castrate. It can also mean to copulate.
Cutting of lambs tails is often done at the same time as castration and is called 'docking.'
As for the scatalogical discussions, I wish to state at the outset that "The Pook" has no etymology whatsoever relating to the word 'poo.'
Here in Australia, the droppings of wild or feral animals are called 'scats.' Dog poos on footpaths (which is what we call sidewalks) are sometimes reffered to as landmines.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Females of most farm animals aren't fixed. Animals that are kept as pets, yes, animals that are kept for meat or produce (wool, eggs, milk, etc) are not. Female skunks are typically 'fixed' simply because a female skunk in heat is not really a tolerably house pet.
tempus edax rerum
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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a female skunk in heat is not really a tolerably house pet. Oh, dear. 
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Are y'all sure this topic is apolitical enough? 
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addict
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addict
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Are you concerned about offending any skunks who may be reading?
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old hand
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old hand
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Well, I'm sure animals don't vote! :0)
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