
Overview
Chemical castration is a non-surgical way to stop a dog from having puppies, either temporarily or, less commonly, for good. It’s most often done using a slow-release hormone implant, which suppresses testosterone in male dogs. It can also involve hormone treatments to delay seasons in female dogs.
Chemical castration offers a reversible alternative to surgical neutering, making it a suitable option for owners who want to manage fertility without permanent surgery. It typically lasts between six and 12 months, depending on the implant used, and is widely available across UK veterinary clinics.
Why do chemical castration in dogs?
How long does chemical castration last in dogs?
What are the side effects of chemical castration?
How much is chemical castration for dogs UK?
Does chemical castration affect behaviour?
What do other vets say about chemical castration?
What do scientists say about chemical castration in dogs
Find out more about chemical castration in dogs
Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs (ACC&D). (2024). Products and research. Available at: https://www.acc-d.org
BMC Veterinary Research. (2023). Calcium chloride as a female sterilising agent in rats. Available at: https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com
DVM360. (2022). Nonsurgical sterilization technique shows promise as safe, effective alternative to castration. Available at: https://www.dvm360.com
Gfrerer, N., Taborsky, M. and Würbel, H. (2018). No evidence for detrimental effect of chemical castration on working ability in Swiss military dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2018.10.019
Mohamed, A., Fathi, M., El-Shahat, K.H., Shamaa, A.A., Bahr, M.M. and El-Saied, M.A. (2024). Chemical castration in dogs using calcium chloride: effects on testicular hemodynamics and semen characteristics. BMC Veterinary Research. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04192-2
NOAH Compendium. (2024). Suprelorin 4.7 mg implant for dogs and cats. Available at: https://www.noahcompendium.co.uk
Parsemus Foundation. (2024). Hormone-sparing sterilisation procedures. Available at: https://www.parsemus.org
ResearchGate. (2022). Adverse reactions associated with a non-surgical chemical sterilant in four dogs. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net
Steur, E.R. (2011). Chemical and surgical castration of male dogs: behavioural effects. MSc thesis. Utrecht University. Supervised by Drs. J. de Gier.
Vet Times. (2016). Attitudes to and opinions of dog castration: vet survey results. Available at: https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/attitudes-to-and-opinions-of-dog-castration-vet-survey-results.pdf
WSAVA. (2024). Guidelines on non-surgical sterilisation. Available at: https://wsava.org
Medically reviewed by Lizzie Youens, BSc(Hons) BVSc MRCVS
Published on 03/06/2025 • Reviewed on 03/06/2025