The arrival of a litter of puppies of dogs, when it was not wanted, carries the risk that these animals end up in kennels or abandoned and in no way should we allow it. That is why there are Contraceptives for Dogs, both for females and males. We invite you to continue reading this article to learn more about the subject.
Use of Contraceptives for Dogs
The use of contraceptives in dogs provides us with a multiplicity of benefits, both in the health of the pet and if we want to prevent pregnancy, while recognizing that its use for an extended time can cause complementary effects. The use of contraceptives in bitches is a matter of great importance in the debates of current veterinary medicine.
Today, they are available in pill or injection forms, but their effectiveness still raises controversy among specialists and owners. From this moment on, we will examine the characteristics of some contraceptive methods and certain recommendations to make a conscious use of them.
How do contraceptives for dogs work?
The function of contraceptives in female species of canines is quite similar to the contraceptive preventive method used by women. Its effectiveness does not cover the desired 100%, for which it is considered a provisional or palliative method of eventual pregnancy. Its formula contains a high concentration of the hormone progesterone to eliminate the segregation of estrogens in the female body. In this way, it is possible to prevent, or hinder, ovulation, and also avoid fertilization at the time of copulation.
Such contraceptives are available as pills or injections. For the latter case, it is not a vaccine, but an intravenous application of the content of the drug. It should be noted that the injectable version is usually more recommended, as it ensures that the female gets the proper dose of contraception. The pills, in contrast, can be easily expelled or vomited by the animal, which nullifies their effect.
Considerations on the use of Contraceptives
Before administering pills or injections to your dog, it is crucial to know the pros and cons of this procedure. Next, we send you a summary of the most important positive and negative considerations of its use. In favor we can point out that the main advantage of the use of contraceptives in female dogs is to contribute to the control of canine overpopulation on the street. Simultaneously it helps to reduce the cases of abandonment due to unwanted or reckless reproduction of dogs.
Added to these advantages, contraceptives are non-invasive resources that are usually suggested for females who cannot undergo surgery. Regarding the considerations against it, we must highlight the danger that the use of contraceptives for a long time means for the health of the bitch, since they can cause complementary effects that we will detail in the following section.
Male dogs can also be given chemical hormones by intratesticular injection and, in certain circumstances, in addition to the hormones they are given irritating substances that have the purpose of modifying the function of the sperm-carrying ducts, thus preventing the mobility of the sperm. the same. These contraceptive procedures are known as orchiectomy and chemical vasectomy.
Some Side Effects
Multiple investigations have shown that females who were administered contraceptives for more than two years are more likely to develop the following pathologies:
- Breast cysts
- Uterine cancer
- Uterine disorders (primarily endometritis and pyometras)
- urine infections
- Malformation of the sexual organs
- Reduced cell production in the bone marrow
- Numerous females also experienced ongoing bleeding or severe bleeding as a result of contraceptive overuse
- Another negative consideration is that contraceptives do not guarantee 100% effectiveness. Therefore, there is a risk that the health of the female is exposed without guaranteeing the prevention of pregnancy.
Responsible Reproduction and Benefits of Castration
When it is castrated or sterilized, the sexual organs are being removed through a surgical procedure that is preceded by the provision of general anesthesia. In female dogs, the ovaries and uterus are removed, while in the case of males, the testicles are removed. Sterilization is the only procedure that makes it possible to obtain 100% effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.
However, castration is not indicated as a reproductive control. The castration of the female entails numerous benefits for her health, such as the following:
- Prevention of various pathologies and reduction of the appearance of tumors, dysplasia, epilepsy, haemophilia, venereal diseases, etc.
- The improvement and prevention of behavioral disorders: primarily if the animal shows tendencies to self-defense behavior or to escape during heat.
- Combat unhealthy practices, such as abandonment, and canine overpopulation on the streets.
- Females will no longer experience the extreme hormonal changes of the mating season.
- Neutered males and females are usually more tender and less elusive, so there is evidence of improvement in their abilities to coexist with humans and other animals.
- Sterilized animals accept the process of training and socialization with greater docility, since they usually become more submissive and less anxious.
Measures to Prevent Pregnancy
Many owners want to prevent their dog from getting pregnant, but she cannot be neutered right away and choose not to use contraception. So how can they prevent canine pregnancy? In such cases, we must prevent the female from coming into contact with or staying with a fertile male. You can keep them indoors longer and not take her out for walks without leashes, or reduce her walks during the mating season.
It is also important to prevent the female from escaping or leaving her free in the presence of males. In case of having a male in the same house, we must have them separated throughout the female's heat. It should be clarified that everything referred to here is merely palliative and does not provide a guarantee of its effectiveness. It is simply a matter of preventing the female from copulating, not exposing her to contact with a fertile male.
It is also essential to keep in mind that the medicines must be supplied without the prior approval of a specialized veterinarian. Therefore, before deciding on the use of contraceptives in female dogs, a consultation with your trusted animal expert is essential.
Other Contraceptive Methods for Dogs
The contraceptive systems for dogs that we have presented so far are the most used alternatives, however, in the case of female dogs, the possibility of placing an intrauterine device that mechanically blocks the entrance to the vagina has been considered, thus preventing a probable pregnancy. However, the introduction of this device requires a major surgical procedure and it is very complex to adjust it to the vagina of each bitch, for this reason, its use is not usually recommended.
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