Prostate Problem In Dogs: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

June 26, 2022

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Prostate Problem In Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments

Dogs and human males are the only beings that suffer from prostate disease commonly.Enlarged prostate in dogs, also known as prostatomegaly or Prostatitis, is a condition that can affect any male, though it is more common in dogs who haven’t been neutered and dogs over the age of eight. The prostate is a gland that normally lives inside the pelvis, behind the bladder and below the rectum. Normally, the prostate reaches its maximum size by the time a dog is two years old. The prostate is a gland that encircles the neck of the urinary bladder . Multiple small ducts penetrate the urethra at the site of the prostate, allowing prostatic fluid to intermix with spermatozoa as they are ejaculated, to create semen. Dogs have no other accessory sex glands and, therefore, no other source of seminal fluid; all fluid present in the ejaculate arises from the prostate. Prostatic fluid is secreted at all times, whether the dog is being used for breeding or not. Most accumulates in the urinary bladder and is voided with the urine. Some runs down the urethra and accumulates at the opening of the prepuce, forming the mass of greenish discharge that often is visible on intact male dogs.

What is Prostatitis in Dogs?

Prostatitis is a disease that impacts a dog’s prostate gland. It includes infections and inflammations affecting this gland. Male dogs are the only ones with a prostate, so they are the only ones at risk for prostatitis. The prostate’s primary purpose is to create fluid that is added to the dog’s semen, and it’s connected to the bladder and the urethra. Prostatitis itself is not a single disease. It indicates that a dog’s prostate is abnormally large or otherwise infected. There are a number of conditions that have prostatitis as a symptom.

Usually it’s benign and only causes minor issues, if any at all. However, an enlarged prostate can result from very serious, even life-threatening, conditions such as cancer, too. The prostate gland is between the bladder and rectum, and when it becomes enlarged, it can cause problems with urination or defecation. When a dog is neutered before puberty, the prostate gland does not develop due to the lack of testosterone (the male hormone produced by the testicles). This is no problem for dogs since the prostate’s main job is to support and carry sperm cells. Also, when a mature dog is neutered, the prostate will actually shrink. This means that a neutered male dog’s risk for prostate disease is greatly decreased, even after puberty.

The 4 main prostate diseases
There are 4 main conditions of the prostate to be aware of:

1. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The most common form of prostate disease is known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH. It is caused by normal aging of the prostate. As a dog ages, the prostate can become larger. This enlargement causes pressure on the surrounding structures. BPH typically causes some degree of prostate enlargement in almost all dogs over 5 years of age. This can cause mild discomfort as well as difficulty defecating and/or urinating.

2. Cysts
Cysts are a typically filled with fluid, similar to a blister. They can develop within the prostate tissue itself or around the surface of the gland. They will slowly increase in size.

3. Infection
The prostate may become infected by bacteria. Such infections can be difficult to treat with medications only. A long-standing infection may create pockets of pus, called abscesses, within the gland.

4. Cancer
Unlike in men, prostate cancer is not common in male dogs. When it does happen, this cancer can metastasize (or spread) to other organs such as the liver or lymph nodes. It can also affect the bones of the pelvis or the spine. While prostate cancer is rare in dogs, it is important to remember that it is potentially life-threatening.

Causes Of Enlarged Prostate In Dogs

There are three main causes of enlarged prostate in dogs.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common form of prostate enlargement, and it happens naturally as part of the aging process in male dogs who haven’t been neutered. It doesn’t happen in neutered dogs. This type may cause benign cysts, and it may put pressure on surrounding tissue and organs, causing discomfort and symptoms.

Bacterial infection of the prostate, also known as prostatitis, is the second most common cause of enlarged prostate in dogs. Infections can be acute, meaning they appear suddenly and severely, or chronic, meaning the infection develops slowly over time. They can lead to abscesses, or pockets of pus, in the prostate.

Bacterial infection can cause several other symptoms, too, such as fever or illness.

Prostate cancer is the other main cause of enlarged prostate in dogs, and it is relatively rare, making up less than ten percent of enlarged prostate cases. There are several types of cancer that affect the prostate that can either originate within the gland, itself, or metastasize and spread to the prostate from elsewhere in the body.

Prostate cancer is likely to metastasize and affect other areas of the body, such as the kidneys, liver, lungs, other organs, and bones.

Signs of Prostate Disease in Dogs

Because the diseases of the prostate cause enlargement of the gland, symptoms can often be similar. Acute prostatitis, abscess, or cancer of the prostate will usually cause more severe symptoms. Common signs include the following:

Difficulty and pain associated with having a bowel movement or constipation
Stool is abnormally long and flat instead of the normal log shape
Blood is seen in the urine, abnormal discharge from the penis
Difficulty or unable to urinate
Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
Infertility and reluctant to breed a female dog in heat
Diarrhea
Urine accidents (an older dog that suddenly has urine accidents in the house)
Pain in the lower back or belly area
Change in normal behavior such as inactive or reluctant to move. Dogs may become aggressive when petted or when picked up.
Fever, not eating, laying in one spot
Neurologic signs such as difficulty walking or noticeable stiffness to rear legs

Diagnosis

If your dog exhibits any of the above symptoms, take him to your veterinarian. Your vet will check your dog’s history and most likely perform a physical examination including the following:

digital rectal exam
urinalysis
check the culture and sensitivity of the urine
cytological (microscopic) evaluation of seminal or prostatic fluid
prostatic massage and wash for cytology, culture and sensitivity
abdominal radiographs (x-rays)
abdominal ultrasound with or without prostatic aspiration
clotting profile
complete blood count
biochemical profile

Treatments For Enlarged Prostate In Dogs

Treatment goals are to decrease the size of the prostate, alleviate pain, and prevent complications such as inflammation or infection. Treatment depends on the diagnosis.

Castration is the first-choice treatment for most dogs with BPH, causing a rapid decrease in the size of the prostate by more than 50% in 3 weeks and 75% in 3 months. Treatment options include both surgical and chemical (injectable) castration. Talk to your vet about which type of castration is recommended for your dog based on their age and any health risks.

Prostatitis (acute or chronic), abscess or infection, and cancer require various treatments including pain management, castration and/or prostatic surgery, antibiotics, chemotherapy, and palliative therapy (focusing on pain management and quality of life).

Preventing Prostate Disease in Dogs

All male dogs should have their prostate checked during their wellness exams. Male dogs that aren’t neutered are at increased risk of developing prostatic disease. However, prostatitis can be seen in dogs that have been recently castrated and older castrated male dogs can sometimes develop prostate cancer.

You can greatly decrease your dog’s chances of developing prostate disease by doing the following: