The Parsemus Foundation focuses on innovative but neglected health advances for both humans and pets. Much of our work with dogs has been to advance better sterilization options, including nonsurgical and hormone-sparing methods. We also serve as an educational resource for the public and veterinarians about the importance of hormones for pets.
Over the years, we have received increasing inquiries about hormone-sparing sterilization from pet parents, and seen more veterinarians offering vasectomy or hysterectomy. But the shift in practice has been slow — until now.
Veterinary experts discuss hormone-sparing sterilization
With several influential veterinarians spreading the message about the importance of hormones to dogs, this topic has finally reached the mainstream. Dr. Peter Dobias organized discussions with experts including Dr. Karen Becker, Dr. Ruth Roberts, Dr. Michelle Kutzler, Rodney Habib, and Parsemus director Dr. Linda Brent. Through these discussions, the importance of hormones to a dog’s health and wellbeing have taken center stage.
We invite you to learn about the natural hormones needed for a dog’s growth and lifelong health, and how spaying and neutering alter hormonal balance. An alternative to traditional spay/neuter is hormone-sparing sterilization, including vasectomy and hysterectomy. These procedures offer a way to reduce pet overpopulation while maintaining natural hormone levels.
You can find relevant YouTube videos below, and on Dr. Dobias’ website.
- Why traditional spay and neuter is no longer OK — Peter Dobias, Karen Becker, Rodney Habib
- The truth about early spay and neuter — Peter Dobias, Michelle Kutzler
- The powerful role of hormones — Peter Dobias, Michelle Kutzler
- Hormone-sparing sterilization for dogs — Peter Dobias, Linda Brent
- Unmasking the long-term effects of canine sterilization — Peter Dobias, Ruth Roberts, Linda Brent
Hormone restoration for dogs with “spay-neuter syndrome”
As for all the dogs that have already received a spay or neuter, and that might exhibit the effects of the loss of hormones (called spay-neuter syndrome), help is available. Weight gain, mobility problems, joint pain, anxiety, cancer, and endocrine conditions are some of the problems that may be related to loss of gonadal (sex) hormones. Most pet parents who contact us have ruled out other reasons for the symptoms their dog is experiencing, and want to try hormone restoration.
As hormone therapy is new to veterinary medicine, there’s still only a little research and not many practitioners. Our veterinary directory is a good place to start a search. You can find practices there that offer hormone-sparing sterilization or hormone restoration.
The Parsemus Foundation has published a case study on hormone restoration in a neutered male dog. Additionally, we recently completed a safety study on the use of testosterone therapy (to be published shortly). Full information about canine hormone restoration is provided on our website.
There’s nothing more powerful than seeing a complete transformation in health in a dog started on hormone restoration. Dr. Peter Dobias has shared details of the success of hormone restoration for his dog, Pax. He also outlines a protocol for hormone restoration that can be helpful for veterinarians.
Contact us at info@parsemusfoundation.org with any questions about hormone-sparing sterilization or hormone restoration for dogs.
See our previous blog posts on these topics.
