Skip to main content

MARINE MAMMALS

PINNIPEDS

Recommendations

  1. GnRH Agonists - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonists are considered the safest reversible contraceptives, but dosages and duration of efficacy are not well established for all species; males may require higher doses. Side effects are generally similar to those associated with gonadectomy, especially the potential for weight gain unless diet is controlled.
    • Suprelorin® (deslorelin) Implants (F or M)
    • Lupron® Depot Injection (F or M)
  2. Depo-Provera® injection (F) - 2 mg/kg or 200 mg per animal, monthly
  3. Regu-mate® (F) - Daily administering is required for continuous suppression, but dosages have not been tested for all species in the taxon

Cautions

  1. Few data exist for this taxon
  2. Progestins may cause endometritis, pyometra and hydrometra
  3. Lupron-Depot injections may result in sterile abscesses at the injection site

Research and Monitoring

  1. Lupron-Depot injection (1-mo.depot: 0.11-0.19 mg/kg monthly; 4-mo.depot: 0.9-1.1 mg/kg every 4 mo was successful for aggression reduction in male California Sea Lions and may be contraceptive) (M)
  2. PZP vaccine (F)
  3. Surveillance for deleterious effects
    • Contraception Annual Survey
    • Tissue Submission Form – Pathology
    • Adverse Reactions Report

CETACEANS

Recommendations

  1. GnRH Agonists - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonists are considered the safest reversible contraceptives, but dosages and duration of efficacy are not well established for all species; males may require higher doses. Side effects are generally similar to those associated with gonadectomy, especially the potential for weight gain unless diet is controlled.
    • Suprelorin® (deslorelin) Implants (F or M)
    • Lupron® Depot Injection (F or M) - The dose 0.075 mg/kg every 30 days is effective in male bottlenose dolphins. Doses for other cetaceans have not been established.
  2. Depo-Provera® injection (F) 2-5 mg/kg body weight every 2-3 months.
  3. Regu-mate® (F) - 0.044 mg/kg daily is effective for bottlenose and pacific white-sided dolphins.

Cautions

  1. Few data exist for this taxon
  2. Progestins may cause endometritis, pyometra and hydrometra

Research and Monitoring

  1. Suprelorin treatment of bottlenose and spinner dolphins (F)
  2. Surveillance for deleterious effects
    • Contraception Annual Survey
    • Tissue Submission Form – Pathology
    • Adverse Reactions Report

THE USE OF ANY CONTRACEPTIVE IN NON-DOMESTIC ANIMALS IS CONSIDERED EXPERIMENTAL

(M=MALE-DIRECTED, F=FEMALE-DIRECTED METHOD)