How to control dog’s population

Unabated ever increasing population of this companion started creating problems like dog bite (caused trauma, spread diseases and parasites, etc.). So to keep the population under control various methods have been employed like: 

I) Killing of stray dogs: Inhuman so not recommended. 

II) Contraception: By interfering bitch’s reproductive cycle. This is a most easy method and widely accepted. 

a) Bitch is simply shut away from dogs for full 3 - weeks during estrus but under continuous supervision. 

b) Surgical Methods: Spaying (ovariohy-sterectomy) is the most common. It reduces the risk of mammary neoplasia.Optimal time for spaying is 5-8 month of age. Side effects are obesity, urinary incontinence. Others surgical method are tubectomy (oviductal ligation).It is most useful for permanent contraception. It has also no side effect of obesity, urinary incontinence. 

c) Immunological Methods: It is not widely used .It has some drawback like allergy , continuous injection of hormones antibodies (constant booster dose) for antibodies generation against reproductive hormones (LH,GnRH,FSH).It delays puberty (anti LH antibodies) e.g.GnRH agonist (Nafarclin), Porcine Zona-pellucida (stops sperm binding to ova). 

d) Hormonal Methods: It is not a 100% safe and free from side effects. Progesterone, hydroxyl progesterone acetate, medoxy progesterone acetate (MPA) megesterol acetate, etc are used for contraception. Dose: MPA @2mg/kg body wt.I/M for 3-6 month and repeat at 3 month intervals. Side effects are mammary tumors, adrenal suppression, acromegaly, diabetes, cystic glandular hyperplasia. These are due to improper dose and schedule. 

e) Mismating: If you want to prevent conception after unwanted mating.

         i) Ovariohys-terectomy: Within 3-4 weeks after mismating.

         ii) Estrogen: Estradiol cypionate @0.022-0.044 mg/kg body wt. i/m once within 3 days of

               mating.Estradiol benzoate or Valrate @0.1 mg/kg body wt. i/m single dose within 3-5 days

              of mating. Diethyl stilbesterole @75 µg/kg body wt. 24 hourly P.O. for 7-days following

              mating.

              Side effects of estrogen therapy are bone-marrow suppression, pyometra, endometrial

              hyperplasia.

          iii) Prostaglandin: During early gestation but not prior to 5-days@250µg/kg s/c bid of natural

               PGF2α for 4-days.

          iv) Prolactin inhibitors: Bromocriptine @0.1 mg/kg/day P.O. for 6-days. 

          v) Steroids hormones: Mifepristone@2.5mg/kg body wt. bid for 4-5 days.

          vi) Enzymes Inhibitors: Epostance @2.5mg-5.0mg/kg body wt. for 7-days during  estrus.

Thus we see pregnancy can be successfully terminated using one of the above compounds/therapy. Though some side effects are there but curable. Before using these techniques, always take help of qualified vets.

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