I have just found info on this dog implant and am now thinking of delaying spaying my bitch, and giving my dog suprelorin to gain the breathing space.
Neutering has been a big thing for me as my dogs are rescues and I am obliged to neuter, which I understand but I want to do this once the dogs are
matured not as pups.

So, any advice please, I have not seen any bad reports on Suprelorin, I think I may have found the solution to delaying neutering/spaying

It works well but I think it would have the same debilitating effects on the dog as neutering because it stops the production of the hormones that the glands produce so if possible get over the first couple of seasons before neutering either and neuter you must if you have agreed to do so

I have no experience yet but am just about to have it done on one of my male dogs -reason for it is that he's nervous and I want to find out whether neutering him would make that worse, i.e. the lack of testosterone. The data sheet say the dog will become infertile after 6 weeks, and it will last for 6 months (the way I read it, 6 months after implant, so 6 months minus 6 weeks.) There have been no side effects reported other than a temporary swelling. The testicles will likely shrink. Out of 75 dogs checked, one would still mate and tie with bitches in season but without resulting pregnancy. That's much like when neutering anyway -in fact all but one of my neutered dogs still mate and tie years after being castrated. I'll find the data sheet again and give a link:
http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Virbac_Limited/Suprelorin_4_7_mg_implant_for_dogs/-48969.html

Have pm'd you.

Marianne, I have one of my boys done and it lasts him for about 14 months - I was not told how much the testicles reduce in size right back to puppy size but they recover as soon as the effects or the implant wear off. I have him done because he was always on edge, never rested and I had never seen him walk anywhere it did help and he has relaxed and put on a little weight. He has not had any of the side effects I have experienced with neutering although his once smart jacket now has curls it has not become too thick to groom.

Just out of interest, what is the cost?

Gosh I try not to think about that but I think a years supply (two implants) is about £100 - hard on me as he does not need both but they are supplied in pairs and not many people use them and so my second implant is out of date when I come to need it. However his improvement is such that I think it worth it.

Thanks JenP.

My vet quoted me just over £48 when I asked last week (and that's not including my discount that I get for everything).

I have him done because he was always on edge, never rested and I had never seen him walk anywhere it did help and he has relaxed and put on a little weight. He has not had any of the side effects I have experienced with neutering although his once smart jacket now has curls it has not become too thick to groom.

Thanks.To explain a bit more, Rocco is my problem dog and I mean problem with not just a capital P but a huge bold type one. Long, long story with many ins and outs -too much for here. I had ruled out castration for him due to his nervousness but then recently spoke to the owner of his brother. She's had much the same problems and she went down this route; chemical castration first to see what would happen, dog was fine, and after being neutered now is a much improved dog -she felt it helped him to lack the hormones. Which is why I felt it would be worth a try here as well so discussed it with my vet. Had it not been for knowing about his brother I'd probably not have risked it. He's 2 ½ so fully mature.

While there may be many cases where it worked, my friends experience was somewhat different.  I think the most important point is that in spite of the data sheet saying

The biocompatible implant does not require removal. However, should it be necessary to end treatment, implants may be surgically removed by a veterinarian. Implants may be located using ultrasound.

Virbec themselves have said that it is not possible to remove it after 2 weeks and unfortunately the side effects don't show until 6 weeks after implantation.

Hi Marianne,

Will be interested to hear how this works out for Rocco. Don't know if you remember one of my old threads about my long suffering Dobe constantly getting set upon by other dogs (usually other entire males) - I considered castration as wondered whether other dogs would then accept him more, being of a "lower rank", but decided to leave him be as he's so nervy. He is nearly 7 now so I'm not sure whether to leave be anyway but would still be interested to hear your experience.

I used it on my dog about 2 years ago. It certainly worked well when my bitches were in season. He kept eating and there was no pacing and howling.
Downsides were the initial upsurge in Testosterone made him much more stroppy with other dogs, posturing and looking for fights much like the teenage hooligan he used to be. This did wear off thankfully. The other downside was the amount of weight he put on. I reduced his food by 25% but he still put on several kgs. Once the implant wore off so did his extra pounds although I have never increased his food back to the pre implant amount.

I would say that it lasted longer than the 6 months. his bits were still small after nearly a year. 30kg dog

Anyone still shown a dog with the implant? Would this be ok to do?
I have 3 bitches now and although we have always managed while 1 bitch was in season, it was much more stressful for our boy when the pups and my older bitch all came into season one after another. He doesn't do well in kennels and it would be for such a long time that I would rather see if this implant would work but also would like to still be able to show him.
Paula xxx

Think you would be wise to ask the vet for a letter as the testis do shrink to a stage when you really have to feel for them but it takes several months to happen, otherwise it does not seem to cause the problems associated with neutering.

thanks, do you think the shrinking happens to all dogs? would it have the same effect if they were quite large to begin with? (strange question i know LOL)
Paula xxx

I have only used it on one dog but the vet told me that it is more or less general. I did not notice for about 3 months and they were clearly there for another 6 but then they reduced to the sort of size you would expect in a puppy. Your dog may only be effected for the expected 6 months in which case I would think the period of shrinkage would be different. It really is something that may change from dog to dog and they are only likely to be small for a relatively short period so it may well be worth it anyway and just use the letter when you think the jewels have shrunk to a stage when the judge may wonder where they are as you don't want your dog groped any more than needed, the judge can usually feel them on the back of the hand but when small they need looking for.

I used it last year on Ben my TM, he came to me with severe eating problems and after trying many things, tried the implant to see if castration would get him eating and to get an idea of what temperament changes I could expect. It worked really well, took about 3-4 weeks before I saw any change, but it certainly worked and did exactly what it said on the tin, except it didn't work for the 6 months it was supposed to, more like 5 months. It cost me about £41 to have done, £30 for the implant and £11 consultation.

Apparently (according to my vet) there have been a couple of cases where the shrinkage has been pronounced enough for one of the testes to be able to return to the abdominal cavity from the scrotum, so caution is needed. The dog might not be naturally entire when the effects wore off.

The datasheet confirms A significant decrease in testicle size will be seen during the treatment period. In very rare cases, a testicle may be able to ascend the inguinal ring.

My male 2 year terrier was injected with the implant to lower his testosterone and sex drive.  Recommended by his vet to see what he would be like before we had him done which is of course irreversible. We found our male terrier extremely stroppy with other dogs now whether female or males.  He is constantly looking for fight even when the other dog is timid or ignores him. He tends to lunge and snap at other dogs when I am walking him.  He is more stroppy with me too.  Before he just tended to hump female dogs.  Now he does not distinguish between male or female and his libido is gone but his aggression is much, much higher than before. Just wanted to hear about your dog as you also said you found your dog much stroppier after the implant. Thanks.

My last rough collie had this implant and I found it to be great, there was no sign of shrinkage or any difference in that department, I would say his level of stroppiness was about the same - poss a tad higher, but his mother was like that as she got older, so I was expecting it, but it was great as he stopped humping everything and also didn't cock his leg over everything anymore and the libido was gone. So overall I was pretty pleased. He had it for several years running before he was pts due to a slipped disc.