Chemical castration in dogs using calcium chloride: effects on testicular hemodynamics and semen characteristic and serum levels of testosterone

Abstract Dog overpopulation and stray dogs are global issues that are detrimental to public health and animal welfare. Thus, the goal of the current study was to provide alternatives for surgical castration. Therefore, calcium chloride was employed in this study, which might be an option for castration. Ten dogs were divided into two groups of five: a calcium chloride-treated group and a control group. The treated group received a single bilateral intratesticular injection of 1 ml of sterile saline containing calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2•2 H2O) at a dose of 20 mg/kg per testicle. While the control group was treated with 1 ml of sterile saline solution, Semen and blood collection, as well as Doppler ultrasonography, were routinely carried out every week on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 in order to evaluate the impact of the injection on semen parameters and testicular blood flow. The testicular volume and echogenicity in the CaCl2-treated group were significantly (P