Treatment of problem behaviour in dogs and cats by castration and progestagen administration: a review

Treatment of problem behaviour in companion animals by castration and progestagen administration is reviewed. In male dogs castration is effective in eliminating roaming and, to a lesser extent, mounting, urine marking and intermale aggression. Spraying, roaming and fighting behaviour in cats disappear almost completely after castration. In the latter species prepubertal castration does not seem to be more effective in preventing this problem behaviour than postpubertal castration is in eliminating it. In dogs, intermale aggression, urine marking, mounting and roaming have been treated successfully with progestagens; in cats the same treatment has been successful in decreasing fighting and roaming. There are no reports on the ethical aspects or on adverse side effects of castration. For progestagens a wide range of undesirable side effects have been described. The results of both castration and progestagen therapy differ in the various studies. The underlying mechanism(s) of progestagen influence on behaviour are not understood. Therefore, future research on this topic is necessary.