Chemical castration by intra-testicular injection of acalcium chloride in alcohol solution in dogs

An affordable and effective non-surgical technique for achieving male dog sterility is needed to solve the problem of overpopulation. The efficacy of 20% calcium chloride in pure alcohol solution, injected into the testicular parenchyma, as a method for chemical castration, was evaluated. Twenty-one dogs of mixed breed, 4.7 ± 1.23 years old, 20 ± 5.84 kg of body weight, with good clinical conditions and normal reproductive parameters, were lightly sedated and injected into the dorsocranial portion of both testes with a solution of 20% calcium chloride dihyrdate in ethanol (95%). The dose injected corresponds with the testicular width (19–22 mm receive 0.8 ml; 23 and above 1 ml). Semen evaluation was performed by CASA (Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis) system at day 30–60–90. The animals in the control group received a single bilateral intratesticular injection of 1 ml sterile saline solution (testicular width 23 mm and above). Forty-eight hours after the injection, dogs showed very light discomfort at palpation and testicular tumefaction, which regressed within 3 days. At day 30, testicular ultrasonography revealed bilateral more dense nodular lesions; prostatic volume and parenchyma were normal. Semen evaluation showed azoospermia at day 30–60 and 90. The sperm count was decreased significantly (p < 01) in all the CaCl2 treated dogs in comparison to saline solution control animals. At day 90 testicles were shrunk at palpation. An intratesticular injection of 20% calcium chloride in pure alcohol solution, as a method for chemical castration, was effective and economical for the sterilization of male dogs. It is free from pain and chronic stress and will contribute to a simple alternative method to surgical castration. The dogs of this study are under evaluation to study this solution long term effect (1 year).