Esterilsol™: The New Neuter, Part 1

THE PROBLEM: ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION

Nearly 4 million healthy and adoptable animals are destroyed annually in America, a fact that makes me sick to my soul. While surgical spay/neuter programs have successfully reduced needless deaths over the past decade, these procedures are often quite expensive. Rescue organizations who handle countless unaltered strays and surrenders bear significant financial burden and, while low-cost programs exist, they are spread too few and far between.

So, what else is there?

COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION: NON-SURGICAL STERILANT

I recently learned of a small injection called Esterilsol™ that neuters dogs for a fraction of the cost. It eliminates the need for an operating room, veterinarian (although it must be administered under a vet’s supervision), support staff, anesthesia and sutures. Male dogs, after a little Benadryl®, receive 1 small injection in each testicle and are immediately up and around. The cost of Esterilsol™? Likely between $4 and $10 per neuter, based on testicular width. The value of saving lives, of course, is priceless.

A HEALTHY SOLUTION

We so often hear the health benefits of surgical castration, which nearly eliminates testosterone. While there are benefits, I was shocked to learn that complete elimination of testosterone actually has a negative impact on the health of a dog’s skin, heart, prostate, liver, skeletal, immune and other systems/organs as cited in a 2007 study by Laura J. Sanborn called Long Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay Neuter in Dogs. Of course, the importance of hormonal balance makes sense. We’ve simply been taught to ignore it with no alternate neuter option in place. With Esterilsol™, testosterone levels decrease but not entirely, offering healthful benefits that surgical neuters cannot.

THE MAN BEHIND THE COMPANY

Esterilsol™ was presented at the Helen Woodward Animal Center ACES program on March 31st by Joe Tosini, CEO of Ark Sciences. As Joe spoke, he was clearly excited that his product had just become the world’s first FDA approved sterilant, but I was struck most by his passion and compassion for people and animals.

Joe has long been involved with international humanitarian aid work and learned through immersion that the suffering of human beings and the suffering of animals go hand-in-hand (a hard lesson I too had learned volunteering in Ghana).

Presented with an opportunity to invest in Ark Sciences, Joe felt moved to lead the company, seeking to reduce the horrors of animal overpopulation and human rabies deaths worldwide. He stands firmly behind his product and he is not alone…

WHEN WILL WE SEE ESTERILSOL™ IN THE US?

By November of 2011, Esterilsol™ will be manufactured in the United States.  If your vet doesn’t carry it at that time, you can contact Ark Sciences to find one in your area who does. Esterilsol™ is already included in Veterinary Pet Insurance Plans with routine care coverage and the UK will see production in 2012.

While new in the US, Esterilsol™ is already partnering with the ASPCA, Veterinarians without Borders, Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs,  US AID Africa, US Army Veterinary Services, Veterinary Universities and more. Having proven effective, safe and virtually painless in 20,000 Mexican dogs with no long term side effects, Esterilsol™ is also being used with great success in India, Bangladesh, Zambia, various countries in Africa, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, for Japan’s Tsunami/earthquake crisis, and the US Army Veterinary Services uses Esterilsol™ to manage canine population in various Pacific Rim Islands. Russia is coming soon.

BARK OUT LOUD WEEKLY INTERVIEWS JOE TOSINI

I invited Joe to speak with Bark Out Loud Weekly, a short-term project uniting dog experts and dog lovers for informational podcasts and chats. He gave a fabulous in-depth interview with host Mary Doane entitled “Goodbye, Euthanasia?” (mp3).

Joe talks about how long Ark Sciences has focused on lessening the estimated 500,000 roaming dogs in the world, many of whom are friendly community dogs playing with children, transferring rabies to them through friendly licks and ultimately causing 55,000 rabies deaths annually. He talks more about points I raise here too, including the health benefits of chemical castration for dogs and cost benefits to rescue organizations. Listen in, if you’re so inclined. It’s free information!

ESTERILSOL™ PRESENTATION, PART 1

Part 1 of the Esterilsol™ presentation at the Helen Woodward Animal Center features Joe Tosini and Dr. G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH. To be clear, Dr. Weedon is not an employee of Ark Sciences but he does train on how to use Esterilsol™. His credentials are as follows:

• Shelter Veterinarian with the Champaign County Humane Society
• Veterinary Outreach Coordinator with the Alliance for Rabies Control
• Board Vice-Chair for the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs

QUESTIONS? BUT OF COURSE!

Wednesday, I’ll feature the medical side of the story as told by Dr. Weedon. After his powerpoint, he holds an open and frank Q&A with representatives of various rescue organizations. Some of this can be seen on Wednesday and the rest will be posted Friday. Also, during the chat with Ark Sciences at BOLWeekly.com, a question about the impact of Esterilsol™ on behavior arose, to which Dawn Niebuhr, experienced breeder and owner of Creekside Kennel for more than 20 years, replies.

Don’t miss out! Come back Wednesday for more!

• May 09: Esterilsol™: The New Neuter, Part 1
• May 11: Esterilsol™: The New Neuter, Part 2
• May 13: Esterilsol™: The New Neuter, Part 3