Birth Control for Dogs

According to the Humane Society, 6 to 8 million animals enter animal shelters every year; half are adopted, and the other half are euthanized. Veterinarians and animal welfare organizations recommend that dog owners choose a birth control method for their dogs.

  1. Spaying and Neutering

    • The neutering of male dogs involves the removal of the testicles, and spaying of female dogs involves an ovariohysterectomy, which is the removal of all reproductive organs. Advantages include a calmer, more focused dog. According to PetEducation.com, neutering and spaying procedures are most commonly performed at five to eight months (though it can be done earlier) and are 100 percent effective.

    Oral Birth Control

    • Oral birth control products for dogs are commercially available, but they can cause serious side effects, such as liver damage, incontinence and abnormal behavior, and should not be used for long periods of time, according to the VetInfo website. Cheque Drops (Mibolerone) is an oral birth control medication that is administered daily for 30 days prior to a female dog coming into heat. Ovaban Rx is another birth control medication, in pill form, that is administered for 32 days at the beginning of the heat cycle. Dosage depends on weight, according to PetEducation.com

    Abstinence

    • Abstinence involves isolating female dogs from male dogs when they are in heat, an event that generally occurs in female dogs every five to eight months. First heats occur sometime between the ages of six to 24 months and will last an average of 18 to 24 days, with fertility sometime between the ninth and 12th day. However, cycles can vary at times, so female dogs should remain in isolation for the entire period of heat.