New Injection Neuters Dogs Without Surgery
BOSTON (CBS) - It's one of our first jobs as pet owners, getting the dog neutered.
The surgery means a long day in the hospital and a week recovering. Now, staff at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is training on a non-surgical way to sterilize male dogs.
"It's nice that they don't have to go through the standard surgery approach. And they have an easier recovery, faster recovery," explains Dr. April Paul.
"I think it's important for people that don't want to change the physique of the dog by neutering him."
Instead of surgery, the dog receives a light sedative and two quick injections with a drug called Zeuterin.
"This is a very safe, effective method. It's actually achieving the same thing, but with less effect on the dog," says Dr. Byron Maas, medical director at Ark Sciences, the company behind the FDA-approved Zeuterin.
The drug was offered about ten years ago under a different name. But, Zeuterin was removed from the market after problems.
"Part of that was because of adverse reactions and vets not having the understanding of how to do the injection properly," says Dr. Maas.
This time, all vets must be certified to use Zeuterin, meaning they must be trained.
Currently, eight veterinarians in Massachusetts are trained to use the drug.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON