Objective- To study a method of chemical sterilization and its efficacy in adult male dogs.
Design- Experimental study.
Animals- Ten healthy adult mixed-breed dogs
Procedures- Eugenia caryophyllata (EC) essential oil was injected into the dorsal cranial portion of each testicle of five dogs (treatment group). The same volume of normal saline was injected in the same site of testicles in the other five dogs (control group).
Results-There were no significant adverse effects and no change in the dog behavior during the study. Histopathological findings showed total necrosis of testicular tissue with fibrosis and hyalinization in seminiferous tubules and interstitial spaces. Infiltration of leucocytes was also observed. The serum concentration of testosterone was decreased significantly in treatment group. There was also no significant change in the serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), total protein (TP) and cortisol level.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance- Single intratesticular injection of an appropriate dose of EC can result in sterilization, which is preferable to surgical castration in dog.