Intratesticular Injection of a Balanced Zinc Solution for Permanent Sterilization of Dogs
Veera Tepsumethanon, DVM*, (cid:31) Henry Wilde, MD, FACP*, (cid:31), Thiravat Hemachudha, MD**, (cid:31)
Affiliation : *Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross Society, (WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Rabies Pathogenesis and Prevention) **Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
(cid:31) Recipients of a grant from National Science and Technology Development (Thailand) Five male mature dogs with normal sex organs and normal pre-study semen evaluation received intratesticular injections of a sterile solution of balanced zinc gluconate. Semen without sperm could be collected on days 26, 30, 35 and 51 from 4 dogs. The dogs achieved penile erection but no ejaculation before these days. There were no significant adverse effects and no change in the dog behavior during the time that they were observed. Histopathological findings documented virtually complete fibrosis of seminiferous tu- bules and Leydig cells on days 60 and 75. This preliminary study concludes that balanced zinc gluconate may be used to sterilize dogs.
Keywords : Rabies control, Canine population reduction
