Home › Animalia › Animal health › Animal diseases › Benign prostatic hyperplasia

other disease Dog

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

The prostate is a gland in the male dog's reproductive system, located at the outlet of the bladder, just below the rectum. It participates in the production of seminal fluid. Under the effect of male hormones, it grows slowly throughout li...

Find a veterinarian All dog diseases

Definition Signs Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Complications When to see a vet Prognosis FAQ Sources Affected species

What is it?

The prostate is a gland in the male dog's reproductive system, located at the outlet of the bladder, just below the rectum. It participates in the production of seminal fluid.

Under the effect of male hormones, it grows slowly throughout life. In mature, uncastrated male dogs, this increase in volume is very common: this is benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign does not mean without consequences: a large prostate presses on the rectum and the urethra, and hinders defecation and then urination.

Commonly observed signs

These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.

Related signs — each one links to its page:

Constipation Difficulty urinating Blood in urine Pain Lameness Fatigue Licking the genital area Soft stools

Difficulty passing stools: the dog pushes for a long time, produces droppings flattened into a ribbon, becomes constipated.

Hesitant urination, weak stream, more frequent urination in small quantities.

Blood in the urine, or a few drops of blood coming out of the sheath outside of urination: this last sign is quite suggestive.

Discomfort or pain in the hindquarters, stiff gait, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, sometimes lameness of a hind limb.

Loss of enthusiasm, fatigue.

In the event of an infectious complication, fever, marked depression and clear pain are added: the picture then changes in nature and requires rapid consultation.

When to consult without delay

This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.

Causes and risk factors

The driving force behind the increase in volume is hormonal: it is the male hormones produced by the testicles which maintain the growth of the gland over the years.

The phenomenon is progressive and is part of the normal evolution of the prostate in the aging whole dog, until the moment when the volume becomes bothersome.

A dog castrated early does not develop this hyperplasia, as the gland is no longer stimulated.

Other prostate diseases exist and should not be confused with it: infection, abscesses, cysts, tumor. Prostate tumors are also observed in castrated dogs.

Unneutered male dog: this is the determining factor.

Age: the frequency increases markedly from middle age, and the majority of older dogs have an enlarged prostate.

No race is spared; Large dogs are often diagnosed earlier due to easier palpation.

Diagnosis and care

Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.

The veterinarian performs an examination of the abdomen and palpation of the prostate through the rectum, a quick gesture which provides information on the size, shape and sensitivity of the gland.

An ultrasound specifies the volume and looks for cysts, abscesses or suspicious areas.

A urine analysis, possibly supplemented by a culture, looks for an associated infection.

A blood test assesses the general condition.

Depending on the case, an examination of the prostate fluid or an ultrasound-guided sample is carried out to rule out an infection or a tumor, because these conditions can give the same signs as a simple hyperplasia.

An x-ray can complete the assessment to assess the impact on the rectum and bladder.

Treatment

When the prostate is enlarged but does not bother the dog, simple monitoring may be sufficient, with regular check-ups.

When the signs are present, castration is the standard treatment: deprived of hormonal stimulation, the prostate clearly decreases in volume in a few weeks and the signs disappear in the vast majority of cases.

When surgical castration is not desired or not possible, there are hormonal drug treatments that reduce the effect of male hormones on the gland. Their action is reversible: the signs return when they stop. They are useful in breeding animals or in preparation for surgery, and are prescribed after an established diagnosis.

A subcutaneous implant allowing temporary chemical castration is another option, discussed with the veterinarian.

Associated infections, cysts or abscesses require specific treatment, with appropriate antibiotics and, if necessary, surgical drainage.

No food supplement reduces an enlarged prostate.

Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.

Prevention

Castration, when carried out, suppresses the development of prostatic hyperplasia and avoids most of its complications. The decision is made with the veterinarian, weighing all the effects of the intervention for a given dog, its age and its lifestyle.

In the whole dog, an annual clinical examination with palpation of the prostate from middle age makes it possible to identify the increase in volume before the discomfort.

Reporting any difficulty in passing stools or urinating early avoids complications.

Possible complications

Persistent constipation with accumulation of hard stools in the rectum, sometimes painful to resolve.

Difficulty urinating and retention of urine.

Prostate infection, then abscess: the dog then becomes feverish, very painful and depressed. This is an urgent situation.

Prostatic cysts which can reach a large volume.

Perineal hernia favored by repeated pushing efforts.

Bleeding from the sheath sometimes abundant and impressive.

When to see a veterinarian

Your dog pushes for a long time to pass stools, or his poop becomes flat like ribbons.

He urinates in small quantities, hesitates, or blood appears in his urine.

A few drops of blood come out of its sheath outside of urination.

He seems stiff from behind, complains when touched or refuses to jump.

He can no longer urinate at all, he is feverish, depressed and very painful: consult urgently.

Prognosis

The prognosis is good. After castration, the prostate shrinks in size within a few weeks and the signs disappear in the vast majority of dogs.

Under drug treatment, the improvement is clear but temporary: it lasts for the duration of the treatment.

An infection or abscess of the prostate worsens the prognosis and requires longer treatment.

The main thing is not to confuse this benign condition with a prostate tumor, the prognosis of which is very different: this is the role of the veterinary assessment.

Frequently asked questions

My dog has difficulty passing stools: is this necessarily due to the prostate?

No, but in a mature, uncastrated male, the prostate is among the first causes to check. A palpation and an ultrasound quickly answer the question.

Is castration obligatory?

It is the most effective and longest-lasting treatment, but it is not the only option. Reversible hormonal treatments exist, particularly for breeding dogs. The decision is made with the veterinarian.

Is it cancer?

No, benign hyperplasia is not cancer. A prostate tumor also exists and gives similar signs: only examinations can tell the difference, which justifies a consultation.

Blood is coming out of my dog's sheath, is it serious?

This sign is often linked to the prostate in entire males. It is not necessarily painful, but it always warrants a consultation to establish the cause.