Interview With Peter Denooij of CaClCa Inc.

Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, veterinarian Dr. Peter Denooij has spent much of his career devoted to animal welfare - including the Edmonton Humane Society and the Alberta SPCA boards of directors – all leading up to the 2015 launch of his company, CaClCa Inc. where he is hopeful his vision to end much unnecessary global animal suffering due to overpopulation will become a reality.

Denooij has started a company that supplies veterinarians around the world with a Calcium Chloride solution that, when combined with ethanol alcohol, can be used as a non-surgical alternative to neutering stray dogs and cats for less than $1 U.S. per animal. InfoStream caught up with Denooij to get an update on where his work is at and what lies ahead.

InfoStream (IS):  What is the purpose of CaClCa Inc?

Peter Denooij (PD): As a veterinarian I have always been passionate about animal welfare. After I stopped practicing I decided to get more actively involved at the governing level and I was on the Board Of Directors for the Edmonton Humane Society from 2003-2010 and for the Alberta SPCA from 2011-2015. When I was made aware of this new procedure in September 2014, I saw an opportunity to get involved in animal welfare as an entrepreneur.

It’s one of those things that came about at the right time in my career. Really, my goal is that this will become another tool in the veterinarian’s arsenal…I’m aiming to try and solve the worldwide problem of stray dogs and cats, which we have plenty of in North America, but many, many more in third world countries.

That tool comes in the form of a small quantity of the medical-grade Calcium Chloride solution (4 grams in a sterile bottle) that is bottled in China and shipped directly to the door of the ordering veterinarian.

This medical grade solution is then mixed with 20 ml of 95% pharmaceutical grade ethanol solution (inexpensive to purchase but a ‘headache’ to ship; this would be purchased separately by the vets) and injected into the animal.

This method is effective for not only sterilization, but also reducing aggressive behaviour in male dogs.  It would have a cumulative effect of alleviating pressures on the limited medical resources in third world countries, as the result would be less dog attacks on humans - most of the world’s rabies cases are due to dog bites.

CaClCa research shows the dogs feel little or no pain during the procedure; although not commonly known, there are no pain sensors inside the testes, only pressure sensors. Triggering the testicular pressures sensors can be avoided if the injection is given slowly and properly.

IS: Where are you currently at with your vision?

PD: I am currently putting together a database of veterinarians around the world – right now it includes 2,700 vets (and animal welfare personnel) in 110 countries – and I’m asking them to share this information with their colleagues.

Vets are interested in what we are doing, universities are looking into it…right now it’s about creating awareness among veterinary professionals and then creating acceptance.

I recently attended and spoke at the 50th Annual Veterinary Conference of the Kenya Veterinary Association in Meru, Kenya - breaking ground as the first presenter to bring veterinarians to the table to discuss the CaCl castration procedure and the idea to implement this into third world nations’ veterinary practices, in order to assist them in controlling their unwanted animal populations.

Following an aggressive marketing campaign this summer, I’m hopeful there will be many more conferences in the near future.

I am convinced that this method will become one of the preferred methods to castrate dogs and cats and that next year we will be providing veterinarians in many countries of the world with our product.

IS: What are your greatest obstacles at this point?

PD: The procedure is not known around the world. The veterinary and animal welfare communities have not been informed and are not aware on a large scale.

There is not enough field data are available to convince the skeptics that this method meets the principal requirements for application to a population of stray canines: a single, bilateral intratesticular injection for stray dogs is effective in achieving long-term infertility, inhibits sexual behavior, does not cause chronic stress to the animal, causes few inflammatory reactions, lacks other undesirable side effects, is easily performed, and is economical.

Providing calcium chloride to veterinarians in many countries is hampered by government regulations.

Pharmaceutical companies are not interested as there are no patents possible.

Third world countries are lacking the funds (and maybe the desire) to attack the dog/cat overpopulation.

Avivagen Creating New Technology

Canadian life sciences company, Avivagen, claims to be developing two disruptive technologies. The first is a natural product designed to replace antibiotic use in livestock feeds and the second is a medication-based non-surgical sterilization process for female animals.

Avivagen is currently using its antibiotic replacement (OxC-beta) in two pet supplements (Vivamune and Oximunol) and is looking to expand its use in livestock destined for consumption.

About Avivagen Inc.

Avivagen Inc. is a publicly-listed life sciences company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol “VIV” and on OTC Pink as “CHEXF.” The Company’s goal is to develop and deliver scientifically-proven solutions that benefit companion and production animals by employing natural mechanisms for maintaining good health. Target markets include Livestock Productivity and Pet Wellness.

Avivagen is based in partnership facilities of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) – in Ottawa, Ontario and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE       

Avivagen Provides Update Regarding Proof of Concept Work On Permanent Non-Surgical Sterilization

Avivagen, a wellness company developing and delivering products that support and enhance the health and quality of life for animals and the people who care for them, has provided an update on the proof of concept work with its optioned technology for the permanent sterilization of female mammals - targeted to eliminate the need for surgical spaying. 

READ MORE: Exploring the Non-Surgical Sterilization Conversation 

This technology is intended to be effective for companion animal sterilization, control of feral and wild animal populations and certain livestock applications. It is drug-based and does not used methods described in published literature. 

The proof of concept work did not demonstrate the intended sterilization effects. Avivagen and the inventor have analyzed the results and believe they may be due to issues with the drug actives, such as pharmacokinetic challenges. Avivagen has taken two actions to address this challenge to the project. 

"While we'd hoped to succeed in this recent proof-of-concept work, we continue to believe in this approach and will move forward with determining the path to a successful trial," said Cameron Groome, CEO and President of Avivagen. 

"We intend to update shareholders about our intentions with respect to this technology over the course of 2015." 

For more information, please visit www.avivagen.com 

Avivagen launches new corporate website

Avivagen Inc., a wellness company developing products that support and enhance the health and quality of life for animals and the people who care for them, announced today the launch of its new corporate website. 

Avivagen believes its new site reflects the evolution of the company into a more customer-focused entity. The website design is intended to enable stakeholders to more readily access corporate information, including the growing body of knowledge about the properties, functions and commercial utility of Avivagen's products - OxC-beta for livestock feeds and Vivamune™ Health Chews or Oximunol™ Chewables for pets. 

"As a business, we want to provide easy and full access to product information for all concerned parties," said Cameron Groome, Avivagen President and CEO. "We believe our new website will provide better access to all our data resources and we encourage you to visit."

For more information, visit www.avivagen.com

Exploring the Non-Surgical Sterilization conversation

Canadian wellness company Avivagen announced earlier this month it has entered into a one-year option to purchase an exclusive license for a permanent non-surgical pet sterilization technology from Dr. Duncan Hockley, director of the Veterinary Medical Centre of the University of Saskatchewan.

READ MORE: Avivagen Non-Surgical Sterilization

The invention is a novel and drug-based means of accomplishing this longstanding veterinary goal and could prove effective for urban animal sterilization and control of feral and wild animal populations. 

READ MORE: Avivagen Options Technology for Permanent and Non-Surgical Sterilization of Female Mammals

Animal overpopulation concerns in communities around the world are a regular topic at Urban Animal events as program delegates strive to find a humane, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solution. 

If Avivagen's option is exercised, what timeline will follow with regard to traditional spay/neuter practices? How will non-surgical sterilization affect current spay/neuter programs? How will this method be funded and implemented on feral and stray populations? 

READ MORE: InfoStream - Non-Surgical Sterilization

As the 2014 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies draws near, stakeholders will undoubtedly be considering the opportunities and dilemmas arising from non-surgical sterilization procedures. Participants in the Urban Animal Forums on Friday (October 24, 2014) will be given the opportunity to join this conversation and other relevant and important conversations. 

REGISTER NOW to join the conversations! 

Avivagen Inc. is dedicated to developing science-based, natural health products for animals that are proven in clinical trials and offering veterinarians real alternatives to traditional treatments.

In consideration of the grant of the option on the technology, Avivagen has agreed to pay all application, maintenance and prosecution fees. Avivagen is also bearing the costs of proof-of-concept animal studies. 

Get the facts, have YourSAY, move the industry. 

Non-Surgical Sterilization

Animal overpopulation concerns in communities around the world are a regular topic at Urban Animal events as industry stakeholders strive to find a humane, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solution. To help us better understand some of the emerging trends, Dr. Drew Van Niekerk examines alternatives to costly spay/neuter procedures. 

Overpopulation of cats and dogs has been a problem around the world for decades.  Differences of opinion about controlling roaming and sterilization, as well as urban population explosions have all contributed to the growing numbers of reproducing stray dogs and cats. Surgical sterilization of females using ovariohysterectomy (spay) or of males using castration (neuter) have been promoted and utilized in attempts to control unwanted litters as well as community overpopulation. True cost of these procedures has been subsidized by private veterinarians for years, or completed at spay/neuter clinics in an assembly line fashion, all in an attempt to reduce reproducing adult numbers in our communities. In some regions, this has had a profound impact, but many regions are hopelessly outnumbered and unable to make a sustainable dent in the populations. The cost of these programs is considerable, making pragmatic efforts difficult.

There is no shortage of proposed solutions to this problem.

Veterinarians from TuftsUniversity’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine have offered a different perspective on the issue, proposing vasectomies and hysterectomies may be superior because of the downward effect on reproduction rates seen in the preservation of hormonally driven behavior in a population.

“Sex drive and social status would remain intact, allowing males to protect turf from other feral males, ward off new strays, and compete for females, which go into a prolonged state of “nonreceptive” pseudo-pregnancy after sexual activity. Females likewise continue to compete with sexually functional females. The result: fewer successful matings, the researchers conclude.” 

While more information and data is certainly needed, some have argued that simply vasectomizing may not offer the solution. The Alliance forContraception in Dogs and Cats   has been searching for a permanent non-surgical sterilization solution for 14 years. 

The ACC+D, founded in 2000 out of Auburn University, proposes non-surgical solutions would be potentially less expensive, and easier to administer, issues key to the success of the future of population control. They propose the following priorities:

Priorities for Non-Surgical Products for Pet Population Control 


1. Approved by regulatory agencies as safe (for animals and for the humans administering) and effective.

2. Permanent, though there may be some opportunity for long-term (3+ years) products. 

3. Deliverable in a single injection or treatment. 

4. Products available for effective use in both male and female, dogs and cats. Documented effects on behavior and health.
5. Can be provided at affordable rates for use in indigent or low-income client populations.

An Ontario Veterinary College researcher has received a $260,000 grant in support of research aimed at developing an inexpensive, non-surgical alternative for sterilizing shelter animals.

Based out of Bragg Creek, Alberta veterinarian, Dr. Judith Samson-French has been trialing the use of injectable ‘deslorelin’, a GnRH agonist on First Nations female dog populations, with some success. “We have been importing the drug, routinely used in Australia, using the Emergency Drug Release program,” she said. Dr. Samson-French has been observing sterility for approximately 3 years. “We need to go after the females” expanding that to impact a population through sterilization of the males, likely requires over 90% of the population to be sterilized."

Zeuterin™ (U.S.) is a product developed to permanently chemically sterilize male dogs through a process called "zinc neutering." It is marketed outside the U.S. under the label EsterilSol™. This intratesticular injection is effective, but has adverse reactions such as swelling, redness and irritation and requires anti-inflammatory pain killers, creating a logistical problem to administer in free roaming dog populations.

Dr. Samson-French feels we are ten years away from a permanent non-surgical injectable sterilization product for females, citing not only the lack of a current available product, but an expensive, lengthy and arduous regulatory approvals process.

Veterinary specialist Dr. Julie Levy, Maddie’s^® Professor of Shelter Medicine
Director, Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida has been studying a vaccine for GnRH, called Gonacon.

The study showed 93% effectiveness against fertility for 1 year, and a drop to 50% efficacy in 3 years, and 27% in 5 years.

The work continues to discover the solution to overpopulation, and research into novel innovations such as nonsurgical contraception provides hope for the Animal Industry and communities around the world.

Dr. Drew Van Niekerk celebrates more than 20 years in the Urban Animal Industry as a practicing veterinarian in Calgary, Alberta and a long-standing board member of the Calgary Humane Society. Drew is also a staunch supporter of Urban Animal Program events and the initiatives and conversations that arise from them.