Egalitte (canine castration vaccine)

2024: Use on dogs

In early October 2024, the use of the first vaccine for reversible castration of dogs began - the drug Egalitte. The substance blocks the hormone responsible for reproduction. Thus, the animal loses its ability to reproduce, but it can be restored if necessary.

The developer of Egalitte, according to Reuters, is Leonardo Saenz, a veterinarian and professor at the University of Chile. The procedure does not require sedation (intravenous administration of non-narcotic sleeping pills) or surgery: one injection of the drug is enough.

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After the vaccine is administered, gonadotropin production is blocked, and therefore, sex hormones are not released from the animal - it is in a state of castration, says Saenz.

The vaccine can be used for both males and females. The drug costs about 50,000 Chilean pesos, or about $54 at the rate on October 8, 2024. The injection requires a veterinarian's prescription and an assessment of the animal's readiness for the procedure. As Saenz notes, the new product could help in castration of animals on a larger scale, as the method is less invasive and complex compared to surgery. In addition, the process using Egalitte is reversible - unlike surgical castration.

It is noted that the first dog, after undergoing vaccination with Egalitte, behaved actively and did not need rehabilitation or any special care. Immediately after the injection, the dog ran away, as if nothing had happened. It is expected that in the future the proposed method will find wide application.

Injection is much easier than conventional castration, and you can vaccinate more animals if you need to control reproduction, Saenz added.[1]

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