Birth Control Pills for Dogs

Yes, there really are birth control pills for dogs, but before you run to your vet's office, take a moment to learn a little more about these medications and other alternatives.

Canine Oral Contraceptives

Admittedly, giving birth control pills for dogs does seem like a safer alternative to putting a bitch through a spaying procedure, but this isn't always the case.

Canine oral contraceptives are somewhat effective if given correctly, but there can be side-effects, some more serious than others. Let's take a look at the two main forms of medicated birth control for dogs.

Cheque Drops Rx

Cheque Drops, also sold under the name Mibolerone, are a liquid oral contraceptive that must be given to bitches on a daily basis for thirty days prior to coming into heat in order to be effective.

The problem is bitches seldom come in season like clockwork, so predicting when to start the thirty day dosage is next to impossible. This can lead to prolonged use of the medication, and a greater possibility of experiencing some of the numerous side-effects.

Cheque Drops have been known to cause:

• Infertility
• Liver damage
• Increased chance of vaginal infections
• Increased house wetting
• Body odor
• Skin problems
• Vaginal distortion
• Increased urge to ride other dogs
• Personality changes

It should also be noted that veterinarians do not recommend using Cheque Drops until after a bitch has had her first full season.

Ovaban Rx

Ovaban Rx is basically birth control pills for dogs.

Chemically known as megestrol acetate, Ovaban is designed to be given to a bitch at the beginning of her heat cycle with an aim toward delaying it, although these birth control pills for dogs can be started earlier if your bitch has a reasonably predictable cycle.

Ovaban is considered slightly safer to use than Cheque Drops, but can also produce side-effects, including:

• Uterine infections
• Breast enlargement
• Mammarian cancer
• Weight gain
• Coat changes

Surgical Alternatives

Heard enough about the side-effects of oral contraceptives? Perhaps you'd like to consider some permanent methods of birth control.

Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation, commonly referred to as "having the tubes tied" is a minor invasive surgical procedure that renders a bitch sterile without removing the rest of her reproductive organs. Since the ovaries and uterus are not removed, the bitch will continue to come into season, with all the usual behaviors associated with a heat cycle.

Tubal ligation involves one of several methods of obstructing the Fallopian tubes to prevent sperm from reaching and fertilizing eggs.

Your vet may choose to:

• Clamp the tubes
• Cauterize the tubes
• Stitch the tubes closed

All three methods are usually quite effective, but in rare instances the ligation fails and then it is possible for a bitch to become pregnant.

Since one of the usual goals of sterilizing a bitch is to eliminate the inconvenience of seasons, this method of birth control is usually passed over in favor of spaying.

Spaying

Spaying, technically known as an ovariohysterectomy, involves removing the uterus and ovaries via a small incision in the bitch's abdomen. Your vet may choose to close the site with either absorbable or non-absorbable stitches, so your bitch might need a follow up visit in ten days if stitch removal is necessary.

Recovery time for tubal ligation or spaying is usually around twenty-four hours.

Risks for Surgical Procedures

Spayings and ligations do carry some risks of their own. Some bitches do not react well to anaesthesia, and in rare cases a bitch will die on the table or slip quietly away after the operation has been completed.

There is also a chance for post-operative infections. Signs of a problem include:

• Redness or swelling around the stitches
• Fever greater than a temperature of 102 degrees F
• Foul odor and/or discharge
• Lethargy

Any of these symptoms should be reported to your vet immediately, and are usually treatable with a course of oral antibiotics.

Birth Control Pills for Dogs Conclusion

As you can see, any form of canine contraceptive carries some sort of risk. Whether you decide you and your pet have a need for birth control pills for dogs, liquid contraceptives, or surgical sterilization, take time to consult your veterinarian about all of the options, and let him/her help guide your choice.

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