U.S. OKs Non-Surgical Option for Sterilizing Dogs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Male puppies won't have to go under the knife to be sterilized thanks to U.S. approval on Monday of the first chemical option for neutering male dogs aged three to 10 months.

The new alternative, a drug called Neutersol, is injected into the testicles. The procedure takes a few minutes and does not require the general anesthesia that surgical castration does. Sedation is recommended to prevent the dog from moving during the injection, the Food and Drug Administration said.

Neutersol is 99.6 percent effective at sterilization, according to maker Addison Biological Laboratory Inc., a private company based in Missouri.

The drug does not reduce testosterone production significantly, as surgical castration does, and therefore may not eliminate unwanted behaviors such as marking of territory or aggression, the FDA said. It also may not protect against hormone-related diseases such as testicular tumors.

The agency said the injection may help efforts to control dog over-population. Pet shelters could sterilize male puppies before they leave the shelter, rather than relying on the person who adopts the dog to take the animal to the vet for surgical neutering.

Studies showed the greatest risk from Neutersol was ulcers of the scrotum at the injection site, caused by incorrect injection or movement of the needle during injection, the FDA said. The company will distribute instructional videos demonstrating proper injection technique and explaining the importance of post-injection care, the FDA said.