A Primer On Prostate Issues

Prostate problems in dogs are most likely in middle-aged to older intact male dogs.

The prostate is a ball-shaped gland that surrounds the urethra as it passes out of the bladder. The prostate produces fluid that protects the sperm and makes up a large percentage of the seminal fluid.

Prostatic hypertrophy

The most common prostate problem is benign c or BPH.

In this condition, the prostate gland has increased in size over time because of exposure to the male hormone testosterone. The prostate gland can also become larger due to cancer or infection (known as prostatitis).

What does it look like

Signs of prostate disorders in dogs are similar in all three conditions: BPH, prostate cancer, and prostatitis. Early symptoms usually include straining to urinate or having a bowel movement because the enlarged prostate can squeeze the urethra or push up on the rectum. Dogs often urinate frequently, passing only a small amount each time.

An enlarged prostate can also put pressure on nerves in the pelvis, leading to pain or weakness in the rear legs.

Other possible signs of prostate cancer and prostatitis include fever, sluggishness, and poor appetite. In addition, dogs with prostatitis often have urinary tract infections that keep coming back and sometimes a milky or bloody discharge from the penis.

How is it diagnosed

Your veterinarian can gauge the size of the prostate gland and check for signs of pain or inflammation by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum. In many cases, x-rays are helpful to measure the size and shape of the gland more accurately. In addition, a urine sample can be examined for signs of infection, inflammation, or cancerous cells.

How is it treated

Neutering is a key part of treatment.

It can dramatically reduce the size of the prostate in BPH, as well as speed recovery of prostatitis. However, if the prostate is infected or abscessed, a long course (many weeks) of antibiotics may be needed. Prostate cancer can be very aggressive and challenging to treat.

Fortunately, having your male dog neutered can easily prevent most prostate problems.

Further reading:
Prostatic Disease in Dogs

One Comment

Cathy Armato 22/08 – 6:07 pm

Just one more reason to neuter your dog! I hadn’t realized that dogs could have prostate issues. Thanks for sharing.

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I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning author. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care in my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people how to recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

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