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Chile has made a breakthrough in dog spaying and neutering with the release of a vaccine that is said to be effective for one year.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) They report that the vaccine prevents sexual activity and reproduction for one year, providing a permanent and irreversible alternative to surgery.
Leonardo Saenz, associate professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Chile, says: “This is the world’s first vaccine of its type for dogs.”
Saenz said he and his team have been working on the vaccine since 2009, and distribution began in Chile this month.
But how does the vaccine work? Saenz says it stimulates antibodies and stops the production of sex hormones for a year in both male and female dogs.
Saenz said: “Everything is blocked, including sexual activity and fertility.”
The vaccine, known as the Egalitte vaccine, was revealed to be patented in 40 countries, including the United States, Argentina, Brazil and the European Union.
In Chile, the Egarit vaccine costs $50 per dose.
AFP also reported that 27-year-old student Ivan Gutierrez took the dog to a veterinary clinic in Santiago to administer the vaccine.
“I really didn’t want him to have surgery.” He said he echoes other dog owners’ concerns about neutering.
Dr. Mariela Del Saz, a veterinarian at the clinic, said most dog owners are afraid of traditional methods of sterilizing dogs because of the risk of cardiopulmonary arrest.
AFP news agency revealed that the vaccine will soon be sold in dozens of countries.
