Vet at FirstVet answers:
The prostate is part of the male dog’s reproductive tract. It is situated just outside or within the pelvic canal and sits around the urethra in close relation to the rectum. A veterinarian can usually feel the prostate during a rectal examination.
It is common for an older, entire male dog to have an enlarged prostate. There are usually no symptoms associated with a mildly enlarged prostate if there are no cysts present. If the prostate, however, is moderately enlarged it can put pressure on the urinary tract and rectum, causing difficulty for the dog to toilet, which in turn results in urinary incontinence (dribbling urine) or signs of constipation. The prostate can also become inflamed, which is very painful and can potentially result in a fever.
The prostate can be seen on ultrasound and X-ray. Ultrasound is the best way to structurally assess the prostate, to see if it contains cysts or looks inflamed. This cannot be done on X-ray. An enlarged prostate responds well to castration. This can either be in the form of a surgical or chemical castration. The type of treatment chosen depends on the particular case and individual.
If the prostate also is inflamed (known as prostatitis) additional treatment is required. A bacterial culture is taken (usually from a sterile urine sample) to see if there is an infection present causing the inflammation. A course of antibiotics will be prescribed if the culture is positive for bacterial growth. Anti-inflammatory pain relief is used in the cases of prostatitis without bacterial infection. Medication that reduces the size of the prostate is also administered. Once the dog has recovered one can then decide whether to castrate it surgically. Dogs that have very large cysts (fluid filled compartments) in the prostate usually require surgery in order to improve. If prostatitis is left untreated the infection can spread within the abdomen, and can in the worst-case scenario, have a deadly outcome.
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