June 23, 2008

What Took So Long -- Oral Contraceptives for Animals on the Horizon

Good news: a birth control pill for animals is finally on the horizon. Surgery always has its risks and recently some concerns about the future health ramifications of spaying/neutering have cropped up.

The pill works by inhibiting the maturation of the egg, not the entire cycle, Kraemer says.

"We are confident we can develop this pill in the not too distant future, but we still have plenty of tests to complete," he says. "It's an exciting and much-needed project, but more funds will be needed, especially since deer and wild pigs are consumed by humans. One of the more interesting challenges will be to develop methods for feeding it to the target animals without affecting other species."

The compound can be mixed with animal feed and must be eaten daily during the critical time. It may also be encapsulated to decrease the frequency it has to be consumed.

"We believe we are the first to test this compound for this specific purpose," Kraemer says. "We're trying new uses for this previously approved compound."

When perfected, the pill could eventually be used as an oral contraceptive for pets, but that application will take some time to develop, Kraemer says. In dogs, for example, the ovulation process is especially complex, but researchers are confident such a birth control pill can one day be successful.

According to the American Humane Society, about seven million dogs and cats are euthanized each year at animal shelters. One female cat can lead to the production of 420,000 offspring in her lifetime.

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