We Offer Payment Options For Those Who Need More Time To Pay!
Dog Spaying & Dog Neutering Alternatives
The Other Alternatives For Dog Spaying & Neutering
When it comes to dog spaying or dog neutering, this can become a hot topic between pet parents and their vet, or even social media. Most veterinarians and shelters tend to lean on getting it done early, around 4-6 months of age. Some veterinarians suggest waiting until they are older, between 1-2 years of age depending on the size and breed of the dog. Some people opt to not get it done due to wanting to breed their pet or things they may have heard or read on the internet. Whatever the case may be, many people have their reason whether or not they want to get it done. But did you know that there are other alternatives?
For years, there have been plenty of studies to come out covering this topic, weighing out the pro’s and con’s of each. Due to the findings in these studies more and more pet parents, and some veterinarians, are looking for and wanting other alternatives. As stated earlier, these studies have been going on for years and during this time, there have been several advancements in alternative ways of preventing unwanted pregnancies, without causing other health issues to your pet. We will first address the studies conducted with the pro’s and con’s of getting a pet fixed or not, then we will discuss the different alternative methods you can discuss with your family and veterinarian.
*Because every person and every dog’s situations are different, ALWAYS consult your veterinarian before making any final decision, wanting to try products or therapies, or get a second opinion if you feel your vet is not being helpful in your decision(s). Also remember that there are always pros and cons in trying new products and/or procedures. This article just gives a brief overview of other alternatives available.*
Dog Sterilization Medical Studies
American Veterinary Medical Association Journal
In the American Veterinary Medical Association Journal, a study labeled Vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay in dogs: comparison of health and behavior outcomes with gonadectomized and sexually intact dogs, they discuss various health and behavior issues in regards to intact versus fixed dogs. There were 6,018 dog owners who responded to the web-based survey and the final data included 3,753 living dogs and 2,265 that were deceased. The male dogs consisted of 1,056 sexually intact, 1,672 neutered, and 58 vasectomized. The female dogs consisted of 792 sexually intact, 2,281 spayed, and 159 who had undergone an ovary-sparing spay.
(IF = Sexually intact female. IM = Sexually intact male. NM = Neutered male. OSS = Ovary-sparing spayed female. SF = Spayed female. VS = Vasectomized dog.)
- Odds of an orthopedic problem increased with gonadectomy so that NM 21% and SF dogs 19% had more reported orthopedic problems compared to IM 7%, IF 3%, and OSS dogs 8%.
- IM dogs 9% were less likely to have cancer than gonadectomized dogs 28%; SF, 26%. Increased size was associated with increased odds of being diagnosed with cancer. No VS-OSS dogs were diagnosed with cancer before their surgery. Of 23 (10.6%) VS-OSS dogs were diagnosed with cancer after their reproductive surgery, and 205 (11%) sexually intact dogs were diagnosed with cancer.
- IM < 1% and IF dogs 0% were less likely to be reported as obese compared to NM 5% and SF dogs 4%. IM dogs were also less likely to be reported as obese than OSS dogs < 1%.
- IF dogs < 2% were less likely to have an endocrine condition compared to IM 4%, NM 6%, and SF dogs 7%.
- NMs < 1% were less likely to have a reported reproductive health problem compared to IM 7%, IF 4%, OSS 7%, and SF dogs 3%.
- SFs 26% were more likely to have a reported health problem compared to IM 13%, IF 8%, and NM dogs 17%, and IMs were more likely to have a reported health problem compared to IF dogs.
- NM dogs 53% were more likely to be reported to have a problematic behavior compared to IM 35%, IF 28%, SF 41%, and OSS dogs 43%.
- IF 4% and SF dogs 6% were less likely to exhibit nuisance behaviors compared to IM 13%, NM 11%, VS 21%, and OSS dogs 10%. Dogs that were alive at the time of the survey were more likely to display mounting or marking behaviors.
You can read the full study at:
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/261/3/javma.22.08.0382.xml
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
On the website of Frontiers in Veterinary Science, there is a study labeled Aggression towards familiar people, strangers, and conspecifics in gonadectomized and intact dogs. In this study, they discuss how dogs react to strangers, family members, familiar people, and other dogs while being fixed or intact. At the start of the survey there were 15,370 respondents. In this study, 13,795 were analyzed for aggressive behaviors towards familiar people, 13,498 for aggression towards strangers, and 13,237 for aggression towards other dogs.
Neither gonadectomy nor age at gonadectomy showed an association with aggression toward familiar people or dogs. However, there was a low but significant increase in the odds of moderate or severe aggression toward strangers for all gonadectomized dogs compared with intact dogs, but this effect was driven entirely by data for dogs gonadectomized at 7–12 months of age, which were 26% more likely to demonstrate aggression toward strangers.
You can read the full study at:
Other Sterilization Procedures For Dogs
Sterilization & Hormone Alternatives For Dogs
So now that we have seen some of the studies, and if you would like to see more studies you can go to our web page To Spay / Neuter or Not to Spay / Neuter, we will now be discussing other ways to either prevent a pregnancy or help to restore your pets hormones for better health and growth.
Males:
Partial vasectomy: In a partial vasectomy, the vas deferens are not completely removed, but rather, they are cut and sealed off. This allows the testicles to continue producing hormones, but it prevents the production of sperm.
Full vasectomy: In a full vasectomy, the entire vas deferens is removed. This means that the testicles will not produce sperm or hormones.
Laparoscopic Castration (Cryptorchidism): In a laparoscopic castration, the testicles are removed through small incisions in the abdomen, rather than the scrotum. This technique is less invasive than a traditional neuter and may be preferred by some veterinarians.
Calcium Chloride Dihydrate Solution: Is an effective chemosterilant that is normally injected into the testes to cause sterility and a significant drop in testosterone. But when injected into the epididymis, calcium chloride provides a nonsurgical hormone-preserving option for male dogs. A recent study by Leoci and colleagues confirms that sterility can be achieved with an intra-epididymal injection of calcium chloride in dogs, with no drop in serum testosterone. However, the procedure required ultrasound guidance and took as long as castration. Intra-epididymal use of calcium chloride may be best for dogs who cannot tolerate surgery or whose owners do not wish to have any change in behavior or anatomy.
Zeuterin: Is the trade name of an injectable product containing zinc gluconate and the amino acid arginine, which is used for sterilizing young male dogs without the removal of the testicles. The product is injected directly into the testicle, where the zinc gluconate destroys the sperm and causes inflammation, which leads to fibrosis and causes sterility. Sperm production continues for up to 60 days after product administration, and in some dogs does not stop completely, although the product is 99.6% effective when given to dogs aged 3-10 months of age. Following administration, the testicles atrophy; the degree of atrophy may vary noticeably between testicles. The male hormone, testosterone, is produced in limited quantities following treatment with Zeuterin, but after two years, testosterone production is similar to that in untreated dogs. The continuing presence of testosterone means that, unlike surgical castration, chemical castration does not remove the risk of testosterone-associated disease, such as prostatic disease.
Females:
Tubal Ligation: All organs stay intact, but there is zero risk of pregnancy. Tubal ligation is a sterilization method that does not remove the ovaries or uterus and may be a better choice for certain dogs, especially young ones. The dog still possesses the ability to maintain heat cycles and produce a steady level of hormones.
Ovary-Sparing Spay (Hysterectomy): An ovary sparing spay is where one or both ovaries are left in the abdomen, near the kidneys, but the uterus and cervix are removed. Because the uterus is removed, the female will not be able to become pregnant, even if a mating occurs. The female will still have heat cycles and be attractive to male dogs.
Modified Laparoscopic Spay (Ovariectomy): The ovaries are removed from a female dog using a harmonic scalpel. This procedure is similar to a traditional procedure but does not crush tissue, since the harmonic scalpel cuts and coagulates. This results in a less painful procedure when compared to traditional spay. It allows for a quicker recovery (7-10 days). (This procedure is reserved for cats and small dogs less than 15 pounds and less than 8 months of age). Most patients go home the same day.
Full Laparoscopic Spay (Ovariectomy): Is a minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdomen. The procedure is performed through one to three small incisions in the abdomen, 0.32 to 1.27cm in length depending on the size of your pet. A laparoscope (camera) magnifies the internal structures of the abdomen on a TV monitor, allowing for greater surgical precision and fewer complications. The magnified view of the ovarian ligament allows the doctor to carefully cut and cauterize it rather than blindly tearing it, as in a traditional spay; this eliminates the pain your pet would experience from bruising caused by tearing the ligament.
Hormones:
If your pet has already been spayed or neutered, and you’re looking for ways to add hormones back into your dog, there are a few options.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): Is a hormone that can be made into estrogen or testosterone. DHEA is inexpensive and can be purchased over the counter at local pharmacies or online. Micronized formulation is the preferred use. A safe dosage is between 5-25 mg/day and orally each morning.
Immunonutrition Therapy: This therapy is used to enhance the immune system activity by including specific nutrients into the diet.
Canine Hormone Support (Dr. Mercola): A supplement that helps promote normal hormone balance. The Veterinarian community recommend using raw materials to support hormonal balance. Particularly, two ingredients that studies have shown to balance cortisol and other hormones in canines while lowering strong estradiol (estrogen) levels. These two ingredients are:
- HMR (7-hydroxymatairesinol) lignans (from Norway Spruce) – Unlike flax lignans, the HMR plant lignan is converted to enterolactone (which acts as a “good” phytoestrogen) by a dog’s gastrointestinal bacteria immediately upon ingestion and is then completely and quickly absorbed from the GI tract.
- Melatonin – This valuable hormone modulates other hormones and promotes healthy cortisol and estradiol (estrogen) levels. It works synergistically with lignans to support beneficial estrogen metabolism.
Another ingredient that has proven to elevate estrogen levels in more severe cases is Diindolylmethane (DIM). A beneficial phytonutrient, DIM is a major active metabolite of Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a compound found in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower and plays many useful roles in your dog’s body, and it’s been shown to promote beneficial estrogen metabolism in both males and females.
