What Is Prostate Enlargement in Dogs?

The prostate of a male dog is a gland that envelops their urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. The gland is situated near the start of the urethra after it exits the bladder. Like its function in human males, the prostate in male dogs develops most of the fluid component in semen.

A prostate may become enlarged due to infection, masses, or other causes. When this occurs, the dog may develop other problems due to the prostate’s proximity to important anatomical structures like the urethra, bladder, and rectum.

The enlarged prostate can compress the urethra, which can make urination difficult. If the prostate is large enough to put pressure on the rectum, the dog may strain to defecate. In unneutered dogs, prostate enlargement has repercussions for fertility.

Not all causes of prostate enlargement are linked to cancer. The most common cause of an enlarged prostate is benign, meaning it’s not cancerous.

Symptoms of Prostate Enlargement in Dogs

Straining to urinate or defecate

Frequent urination

Blood in urine

Increased drinking

Pain in the abdomen, which may cause the dog to vocalize when pressure is placed on the abdomen

Causes of Prostate Enlargement in Dogs

Several conditions cause prostate enlargement in dogs, including: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic infections (prostatitis), and prostate cancer.

Hyperplasia is the enlargement of an organ or tissue caused by increased replication of cells. With benign prostatic hyperplasia, male hormones cause increased production of cells, which results in prostate enlargement.

While BPH is considered a normal age-related change in intact male dogs, it can cause issues for the dog if the prostate becomes too large or if the prostate develops cysts. Prostatic cysts can lead to infection of the prostate.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common cause of prostate enlargement in male dogs who have not been neutered. Breeds with an increased risk of BPH include Scottish Terriers, German Shepherds, and Doberman Pinschers.

Prostate infection usually occurs due to bacteria that make their way to the prostate through the urethra. The risk of developing prostatitis is increased in older unneutered male dogs with BPH. Large-breed dogs are more predisposed to prostate infection than small-breed dogs.

Prostate cancer can develop in both neutered and unneutered dogs. Dogs are typically older at the time of diagnosis, with most diagnoses occurring between 8.5 and 11 years of age. Breeds predisposed to prostate cancer include:

Bouvier des Flandres

Doberman Pinschers

Shetland Sheepdogs

Scottish Terriers

Beagles

Miniature Poodles

German Shorthaired Pointers

Airedale Terriers

Norwegian Elkhounds

How Veterinarians Diagnose Prostrate Enlargement in Dogs

Based on the clinical signs your dog has been exhibiting, your veterinarian will begin with a physical exam. This will include palpating (examining by touch) the abdomen and performing a rectal exam to feel the prostate.

Your veterinarian will run bloodwork to look at your pet’s overall health. Examining the pet’s urine and culturing it for bacteria may also help determine if your pet has a prostate infection.

X-rays and ultrasound of the abdomen allow the veterinarian to further examine the size and shape of the prostate, as well as to see if there are cysts present.

In some cases, particularly if there is concern of prostate infection and the dog isn’t neutered, the veterinarian may want to perform an evaluation of the pet’s semen to look for evidence of infection or to culture for bacteria.

For a definitive diagnosis, the veterinarian may collect a sample of cells from the prostate. Some veterinarians prefer to do this with a needle and ultrasound guidance, while others prefer a biopsy obtained surgically.

If cancer is suspected, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be recommended to monitor spread of the cancer and plan treatment.

Treatment of Prostate Enlargement in Dogs

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of prostate enlargement.

For dogs with BPH, having your dog neutered is the first-choice treatment. The prostate inflammation will reduce by more than 50% within three weeks and more than 70% in nine weeks. For breeding dogs or dogs for whom anesthesia is a significant risk, treatment with oral medicines like finasteride can be given long-term to manage the condition.

For dogs with a prostate infection, the use of antibiotics should be based on urine culture results. In some dogs with an enlarged prostate, especially those who developed an infection secondary to BPH, neutering may be recommended. Antibiotics for a prostate infection are given for at least four to six weeks. Common choices include enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfonamide (TMS), clindamycin, and erythromycin.

Prostate cancer has at least an 80% chance of spreading (metastasizing) to other parts of the body. Because of this, most pet parents prioritize quality of life over aggressive treatment. Animals who have evidence of metastases or advanced disease at the time of diagnosis are not good candidates for curative treatments.

Treatment options for prostate cancer in dogs include:

Oral medications like piroxicam that reduce inflammation and slow tumor growth

Chemotherapy

Radiation therapy

Surgery to remove part of or the entire prostate

Some treatments simply focus on relieving obstructions. Specialty hospitals may be able to place a stent in the urethra to help the dog urinate. Stool softeners like lactulose or polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX®) are often prescribed to help with constipation.

Recovery and Management of Prostate Enlargement in Dogs

Recovery and management also depend on the underlying cause and severity of the disease.

For dogs with symptoms of prostate enlargement due to BPH, neutering is curative. Your dog should recover within a few weeks.

Dogs with a prostate infection that came on suddenly usually have successful antibiotic treatment without neutering, while dogs with chronic infection of their prostate usually need to be neutered to completely resolve their signs.

Treatment for a prostate infection lasts one to two months. Dogs that have a fever and other symptoms may need to be hospitalized short-term for supportive care. Supportive care would include intravenous (IV) fluids, nutritional management, pain medications, and possibly a urinary catheter to ensure urine can drain. Your pet may receive their antibiotics and other medications through an IV catheter.

Dogs with advanced prostate cancer that do not receive treatment are typically humanely euthanized within a month, due to the severity of the disease. Dogs treated with oral medications, radiation, and/or chemotherapy have a prognosis closer to seven months.

Surgery is not typically pursued for dogs with prostate cancer. Management is focused on comfort, pain relief, and ensuring that they can urinate and defecate.

Prostate Enlargement in Dogs FAQs

Is prostate enlargement considered a medical emergency in dogs?

In most cases, prostate enlargement isn’t a medical emergency. However, if your dog is vomiting, unable to urinate, and/or sluggish, seek emergency attention for your pet. Failure to urinate can result in kidney disease, which can be fatal.

How much does it cost to remove a dog’s prostate?

Removal of a dog’s prostate is not routinely done due to the aggressive nature of prostate cancer and the high risk of complications (especially urinary incontinence) from the procedure. When performed, removal of the prostate is typically done by a specialist and can cost over $2,000. Keep in mind that because most prostate tumors spread, chemotherapy is usually recommended in addition to surgery, potentially adding anywhere from $3,000–$10,000 to the costs, depending on the protocol used and how well your pet responds.

Featured Image: iStock.com/LightFieldStudios

WRITTEN BY

Rhiannon Koehler, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Rhiannon Koehler is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public…

Noncardiogenic Pulmonary Edema in Dogs 

Noncardiogenic edema is caused by an increased permeability (or the ability to pass through, as by osmosis) of the blood vessels of the lungs. This increased permeability results in the leakage of fluid into the lung, causing edema, or swelling. If this becomes severe, the edema may be accompanied by an inflammatory response and an accumulation of inflammatory cells in the lung.

There are several factors which can cause changes in the permeability of the lung’s blood vessels. Dogs that have edema as a result of a brain disorder, from a response to an electric cord bite injury, or from an upper airway obstruction might experience a systemic release of catecholamines (neurotransmitters and hormones). This release would lead to a causative effect, with systemic constriction of blood vessels shunting blood into the lungs and overloading the blood vessels of the lung, damaging them, and leading to inflammation and swelling of the lungs.

Manifestation of a generalized inflammatory response in the lungs develops in patients with a bacterial infection of the blood, or with pancreatitis, and will often worsen over the 24 hours following the initial episode. The most seriously affected patients may progress from apparently normal health to a fatal condition only hours after the incident.

Symptoms and Types

Difficulty breathingIncreased breathing rateStanding in unusual positions to breathe betterPale or bluish gumsSpitting up pink, frothy saliva, or bubbles of salivaIncreased rate of heart beat

Causes

Upper airway obstructionParalysis of the larynxChoke-chain injuryMass in the lungAbscess of the lungAcute neurologic disease (brain disorders)Head traumaProlonged seizuresSystemic inflammatory response syndromeBacterial infection in the bloodInflammation of the pancreasElectric cord bite injurySmoke inhalationAspiration pneumonia (sucking fluid back into the lungs)

Diagnosis

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues as to which organs are causing secondary symptoms.

He or she will perform a complete physical exam on your dog, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. Arterial blood gas measurement, and pulse oximetry will also be performed, along with coagulation testing (whether the blood is clotting normally). Radiograph images of the thoracic (chest) cavity are essential for making a definitive diagnosis, and an echocardiogram may also be performed to rule out, or confirm, pulmonary (lung) edema caused by heart disease.

Treatment

Your dog will be hospitalized if it is experiencing severe respiratory dysfunction. Dogs with moderate to severe disease are given oxygen therapy and cage rest in a quiet environment to minimize stress, since anything that can bring on anxiety may cause the production of stress hormones. Some dogs may be put on a mechanical respirator if they are having too much of a problem breathing on their own.

Living and Management

Often, dogs with noncardiogenic edema will worsen before improving. Severely ill patients have a poor prognosis. However, mild to moderately ill patients stand a good chance of full recovery, and the long-term prognosis is excellent for recovered patients. One of the ways you can prevent noncardiogenic pulmonary edema in your dog is by taking steps to prevent it ffrom chewing on electrical wires. Another way to prevent noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is to get immediate veterinary treatment for your dog at the first sign of seizures or other indications.

See Also

Amyloidosis in Dogs

Amyloidosis is a condition in which a waxy translucent substance – consisting primarily of protein – deposits in a dog’s organs and tissues, compromising normal functions. This substance is referred to as amyloid. Prolonged excess of this condition may lead to organ failure. The kidney and liver are the most commonly affected, but amyloid deposition can also take place in other organs as well and can have multiple causes. There is some disagreement as to whether amyloid causes the diseased condition or whether it is deposited in the organs as the result of a preexisting diseased condition.

In dogs clinical symptoms are usually related to amyloid deposition in the kidneys. No genetic involvement has been established but familial amyloidosis is known to occur in Chinese shar-peis, beagles, and English foxhound. The breeds predisposed to this disease are: Chinese shar-pei, beagles, collies, English foxhounds, pointers, and walker hounds. Dogs over the age of five and female dogs are at a slightly higher risk compared to males.

Symptoms and Types

As amyloid can deposit in various organs, the symptoms may vary in relation to the organ in which the amyloid has been deposited. Symptoms will also vary by the amount of amyloid deposited, and the reaction of the organ to the amyloid deposition. In dogs, the most common organ in which amyloid deposition is seen is the kidney. However, in Chinese shar-peis, the liver may also be involved. Following are some of the symptoms seen in dogs affected with amyloidosis:

Poor appetiteWeaknessLethargyIncreased thirst and urinationWeight lossVomitingDiarrhea (uncommon)Ascites (fluid accumulation in abdomen)Edema at various body sites, especially in limbsFeverJoint swellingDehydrationJaundice (in case of liver involvement )

Causes

Chronic infectionsChronic inflammationParasitic infectionsImmune-mediated diseasesSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)Neoplasia (tumor)Familial (e.g., in Chinese shar-pei, beagle, and Engligh foxhound)

Diagnosis

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, including a background history and onset of symptoms. Your veterinarian will conduct a detailed physical examination, including a blood profile, chemical blood profile, complete blood count, and a urinalysis. These tests may provide information about organ function and give important information about complications that are occurring due to this disease. Urine tests are important if kidneys are being affected by amyloid deposition. Your veterinarian will also take X-ray images and use ultrasound to determine the structural features of the kidneys and where any abnormalities lay. In most cases a diagnosis is confirmed by examining tissue that has been collected during a kidney biopsy.

Treatment

If your dog has a chronic kidney problem and is experiencing kidney failure, your veterinarian will advise admission to the hospital to resolve the dehydration and stabilize the dog. If an underlying cause is found to be responsible, it will be treated accordingly. Patients in kidney failure required extensive medical treatment and management for a long period of time. Your veterinarian will devise a therapy plan for your dog and will prescribe medications according to the severity of the disease and the presence of other diseases or complications.

Living and Management

This disease is progressive in nature and may require a long period of treatment. Most animals will return to normal activity but may need to be kept on a specific food diet that has been recommended by your veterinarian, especially if the kidneys are involved. Do not give any medications to your dog without first consulting your veterinarian, as most drugs need normal kidney functions in order to be excreted from the body. Because this condition is suspected of having a familial association, do not breed the affected animals because it can pass the trait on to future generations.

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital defect of the heart that involves four abnormalities: ventricular septal defect (a hole between the two ventricles), pulmonic stenosis (obstruction of blood flow through the pulmonary valve), an overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the heart muscle).

Symptoms and Types

Weakness Fainting Shortness of breath Cyanosis

Causes

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital disease that likely is influenced by genetic factors. Keeshonds and English bulldogs are predisposed.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will start with a physical examination on your dog, which may reveal a heart murmur. Routine blood testing may be recommended. Your veterinarian will likely want to take radiographs (X-rays) of the heart and an ultrasonic study of the heart (known as an echocardiogram) will probably be necessary as well. Other testing that may be pursued include an electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse oximetry (measurement of hemoglobin saturation), and/or angiocardiography.

Treatment

Exercise restriction is important when dealing with dogs with Tetralogy of Fallot in order to reduce the strain on the heart. Periodic phlebotomy may be necessary to maintain an appropriate packed cell volume. Palliative surgical procedures have been advocated to improve blood flow. Medications such as propanolol may be beneficial in controlling symptoms associated with this defect.

Ventricular Tachycardia in Dogs

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a potentially life-threatening disease of the heart that causes arrhythmia, an abnormally fast heartbeat. Ventricular tachycardia can degenerate into ventricular fibrillation, a condition in which the ventricles (the bottom two heart chambers) become disorganized, contracting chaotically. This state can result in asystole – a sudden lack of electrical activity in the heart – and sudden death. VT  may be due to an underlying heart disease, a metabolic disease, or an electrolyte imbalance.

The heart is divided into four chambers: the two top chambers are called the atria (singular: atrium) and the bottom chambers are called the ventricles. The heart has an electrical conduction system that is responsible for controlling the heart rate. This electrical conduction system generates electrical impulses (waves), which propagate throughout the musculature of the heart, stimulating the heart’s muscles to contract and push blood through the interior arteries and out into the body. Ventricular tachycardia is related to abnormal behavior in the ventricles.

Ventricular tachycardia  may occur in structurally normal hearts, as hereditary arrhythmias, or may be a consequence of myocardial abnormalities associated with cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), significant valvular disease, or myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation). To date, there is no medical therapy available that is known to prevent sudden death in dogs afflicted with ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Symptoms and Types

Fainting (syncope) Weakness Exercise intolerance Sudden death May be without symptoms Increased heart rate Signs of congestive heart failure (CHF)

Causes

Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) Congenital defects (especially subaortic stenosis – narrowing of the aortic passage) Chronic valve disease Gastric dilation and volvulus (stomach turns and flips on itself) Traumatic inflammation of the heart Digitalis toxicity (heart medication) Cancer of the heart Myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle Pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas

Diagnosis

If your dog is unstable, your doctor will apply treatment based on the symptoms before diagnosing the cause of the ventricular tachycardia.  (See the treatment section below.)  If your dog is stable, your veterinarian will begin with a complete physical exam of your dog. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have led to this condition. A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. The electrolyte panel will show if there is hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia. The bloodwork may show evidence of pancreatitis and hyperthyroidism.

An electrocardiogram (ECG, or EKG) recording can be used to examine the electrical currents in the heart muscles, and may reveal any abnormalities in cardiac electrical conduction (which underlies the heart’s ability to contract/beat), and an echocardiogram (ultrasound imaging for the heart) will be performed to check for structural heart disease. A long-term ambulatory (portable) electrocardiograph recording of the heart’s electrical activity, using a Holter monitor, can be used for detecting temporary ventricular arrhythmias in patients with unexplained syncope or weakness. The Holter can be especially useful for animals, since it can be worn as a vest, allowing your dog freedom of normal movement, which, when taken into account with a diary kept (by the pet caretaker) while the monitor is being worn, can give your veterinarian a reference frame for when the heartbeat irregularities are most likely to occur.

Treatment

If your dog is stable, electrolyte abnormalities will be corrected using fluid administration. Echocardiogram and use a 24-Holter to establish a true baseline of the arrhythmia quantity and quality.

If your dog is unstable (inactive and lying down, weak, or frequent fainting), immediate intravenous treatment in a hospital setting with continuous ECG monitoring may be required. Once the arrhythmia is controlled and your dog’s blood pressure has stabilized, oral medication should be started. The medication will be based on your dog’s overall health, and how well your dog is able to tolerate the episodes of VT and how frequently they occur. Medications may be given to suppress future episodes, and your dog’s activity level will probably need to be minimized. A follow-up 24-hour Holter will be required to test the efficacy of the anti-arrhythmic medication.

Living and Management

Unfortunately, dogs with ventricular tachycardia will sometimes die suddenly. Exciting situations (i.e., those that cause the heart to speed up) will need to be avoided in order to avoid provoking a ventricular tachycardia episode. This appears to be especially true in regards to the Boxer breed. Your veterinarian will schedule subsequent follow-up appointments with you for your dog as necessary.

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic in Dogs

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a rare form of heart muscle disease in dogs. It is characterized by a thickening of the walls of the heart, which leads to an inadequate amount of blood being pumped out into the body when the heart contracts during the systolic phase (pushing blood out into the arteries). When the heart relaxes between contractions during the diastolic phase (taking blood in from the vessels), an insufficient amount of blood will fill the chambers of the heart. Ultimately, HCM often will lead to congestive heart failure.

This disease, although extremely rare to dogs, usually affects young male dogs that are younger than three years old. There is also a higher incidence of the disease in mature Boston Terriers.

Symptoms and Types

Most dogs with HCM will not exhibit any symptoms of the disease. If your dog is symptomatic, it will exhibit signs of congestive heart failure. These include exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, coughing, and a bluish discoloration of the skin. Very rarely, a dog with HCM may experience a transient loss of consciousness, or fainting, during a high level of activity or exercise. During a physical veterinary examination, a dog with HCM may exhibit systolic heart murmur, and a heart gallop. Unfortunately, in most cases, the most commonly reported clinical sign of HCM is sudden, fatal heart failure.

Causes

The cause of HCM in dogs is largely unknown. Although some genetic abnormalities in gene codings for certain proteins have been detected in humans and cats with the disease, no such evidence exists for dogs.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of HCM through medical tests is relatively difficult and involves a number of procedures. Radiographic findings may either return normal results, or may show an enlargement of the left ventricular and atrium. If a dog with HCM has left-sided congestive heart failure, there will be a buildup of fluid in the lungs. An electrocardiogram (EKG) will typically reveal normal results as well, but sometimes, it may show abnormal ST segments and T waves. Blood pressure measurements also will usually return normal results. An examination of the heart using echocardiograph (ultrasound of the heart) imaging is required for a confirmed diagnosis of HCM. In dogs with severe HCM, the echocardiograph will reveal thickened left ventricular walls, papillary muscle enlargement, and an enlarged left atrium.

Treatment

Treatment for HCM is normally only advised if the dog is experiencing congestive heart failure, severe arrhythmias (abnormal hearth rhythm), or frequent loss of consciousness. If the dog has left-sided congestive heart failure, diuretics and ACE inhibitors will usually be administered. In dogs with arrhythmias, beta adrenergic blockers or calcium channel blockers are used to improve oxygenation of the heart and to bring down the heart rate. Dogs that are not experiencing congestive heart failure due to HCM can usually be treated on an outpatient basis, where exercise restriction and a low sodium diet will be part of the treatment.

Living and Management

Follow-up treatment for HCM will depend largely on how severe the symptoms are. Repeated radiograph and echocardiograph imaging will be needed to follow the progress of the therapy, to watch for advancement of the disease, and to check on whether adjustments to medication are necessary. Because HCM is so rare in dogs, little data is available on the prognosis. If your dog does have congestive heart failure caused by HCM, the prognosis will usually be poor. Survival will depend largely on the extent of the disease. Your veterinarian will be able counsel you on your dog’s chances for survival, and on quality of life practices you can put into place for your dog.