The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association has been promoting the World Day of Animal Sterilization during the fourth Tuesday in February to help raise awareness of the need to spay, due to the positive effects it can have for animals. And it is that they remember that this practice saves lives.
“It has been statistically shown that sterilization increases longevity, so that sterilized animals live longer compared to all those that have not been sterilized ”, defend Manel Oms, president of the Advisory Committee for the Companion Animal Clinic of the Official College of Veterinarians of Barcelona (COVB).
In general, there are a number of reasons an owner might consider neutering a dog or cat, from avoiding unwanted litters to decrease the incidence of some diseases (in females breast cancer and in males benign prostate hyperplasia, for example) or eradicate various behavioral problems.
However, the COVB calls not to generalize, and to analyze case by case the sterilization in animals. “It is convenient analyze case by case, given that, for some animals, sterilization is beneficial, and essential in many cases, but, for others, it can be counterproductive, especially if it has to be surgical and therefore, irreversible”, Points out Oms.
TESTOSTERONE AND THE BEHAVIOR OF DOGS
An example of possible effects counterproductive it is the behavior, especially in males. And it is that in males, sterilization is more common to avoid unwanted behaviors, such as urine marking, escapes, hypersexuality or competitiveness with other males, since science estimates that around 60% of the unwanted behaviors of the Male dog are related to the production of testosterone.
However, the latest studies indicate that in 40% of cases, when the source of testosterone is eliminated (either permanently or temporarily), there is no change in the dog’s behavior, which indicates that testosterone is not always the cause of these disorders behavior.
In fact, castration may even make some behaviors worse, especially certain forms of aggressiveness. Here comes a new option for owners who are considering whether to opt for sterilization to improve their dog’s behavior, but fear that the result will not be positive: medical sterilization. Own COVB advises owners to keep in mind that there are several options for sterilizing pets.
Although there is no alternative method on the market for the male cat, in the case of the male dog there is. And is that the animal health company Virbac has Suprelorin, which consists of a subcutaneous implant of deslorelin acetate that disintegrates over time (6-12 months).
The main value of the sterilization medical versus surgical is that it is reversible, and therefore allows evaluate the effect of testosterone suppression and anticipate what would be its result in the unwanted behavior that you want to correct, before opting for a permanent measure.
Suprelorin is a small white cylinder similar in size to a microchip. Induce transient sterility in healthy, uncastrated, sexually mature male dogs. Once the implant has been placed under the skin, the active substance, deslorelin, begins to be released slowly.
When the implant is applied, deslorelin acts on the pituitary gland, blocking the cascade of hormones that testosterone produces, progressively reducing its concentration. This means that the dog becomes sterile (absence of sperm in the ejaculate) and decreases your libido. The effect lasts for a minimum of 6 months. At 6 months, the implant has reabsorbed on its own: its action is completely reversible.
Therefore, Suprelorin is postulated as an alternative for owners who are not supporters of the castration thus being able to opt for a reversible medical sterilization which also avoids the risks of surgery.
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