[livingdustmops]

The use of Neutersol, however, will not completely stop testosterone production in dogs, leaving open the possibility that the drug will not eliminate hormone-related disease such as testicular cancer or prostate disease. Both possibilities are eliminated when a dog is surgically neutered.

Addison said that they are addressing these things with the FDA, and that while he didn't want to get ahead of the agency's review of its research, he feels that testicular cancer is not an issue because Neutersol atrophies the testicles by 77 percent, eliminating most of the cells that could potentially cause cancer.

Another concern is that the continued production of testosterone may not decrease unwanted secondary behavioral characteristics, such as roaming, marking or aggression, which surgical castration is thought to tackle. While Neutersol's 41% to 52% decrease in testosterone levels could also have some of the same positive behavioral effects as surgical castration, no tests have been done comparing dog behavior and the use of the drug. In fact, the drug, on its packaging, claims that as with surgical neutering, Neutersol may not alter unwanted male behaviors.

- While anyone in rescue is a big promonent of less puppies being born as a pet owner I would not rush to try this new drug for some of the above reasons. This drug has been around for a few years but not enough time to see what happens over the life of the animals.