Suppression of Fertility in Adult Dogs

Abstract

Contents Unfortunately, the overpopulation of dogs is still a problem in the majority of countries and even though surgical methods of sterilization, the most traditional and commonly used technique, have been intensively performed, the impact on the dog population is negligible. The neutering of companion animals as ovariohysterectomy (spaying) or orchidectomy (castration) has its limitations because of the cost, the need of a surgical environment and the risk of surgical and/or anaesthetical complications (ACCD 2009). In fact, surgical castration has been banished in some northern European countries and has limited acceptance in other countries. In a survey performed in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 56.5% of the owners of adopted shelter dogs were against the surgical procedure for different reasons (Soto et al. 2005). Currently, the options for contraception, defined as suppression of fertility are based on hormonal treatment. The treatments can be divided into analogues of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), progestins and androgens. Other possibilities of contraception are via the immunological system with vaccinations against GnRH, the luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor and the zona pellucida proteins. Finally, there is also the intra‐epididymal or intratesticular injection of sclerosing substances in dogs. Mechanical devices to disrupt fertility are not used anymore due to the side effects. Suppression of fertility in adult dogs will be reviewed in order of use and possible impact on the dog population.

Fertility in Adult Bitches Previously Treated with a 4.7 mg Subcutaneous Deslorelin Implant

“…For suppression of oestrus in bitches, the duration of efficacy varies greatly, ranging from 2.1 months (Maenhoudt et al. ) to 27 months (Trigg et al. ; Sung et al.…”

Barriers to innovation in human rabies prophylaxis and treatment: A causal analysis of insights from key opinion leaders and literature

“…Although rabies is an ancient disease, the importance of biomedical innovations for rabies is further increasing. For example, a decline of vultures in some developing countries may result in an increase of carcasses and the number of stray dogs, influencing disease dynamics to an extent that conventional surgical dog sterilization techniques are unable to provide adequate contraceptive compensation for (Maenhoudt, Santos, & Fontbonne, 2014;Markandya et al, 2008). Moreover, the emergence of novel Lyssavirus species that are divergent from phylogroup I and cause rabies-like diseases can limit the relevance of current vaccines (Evans, Horton, Easton, Fooks, & Banyard, 2012).…”

Chemical Control of Fertility in Male Dogs: A Review

“…The theory behind immunocontraception/ immunosterilization is the induction of the production of antibodies against specific targets such as testicular proteins, spermatozoa, Gnrh, LH receptors and zonapellucida proteins which consequently affects fertility temporary and permanently respectively, however, at present, there are no contraceptive vaccines available which have been licensed for contraception or sterilization of male dogs (Munks, 2012;Maenhoudt et al, 2014).…”