Prostatic disease is a problem of older male dogs, and the intact dog and the castrated dog have almost opposite differential lists. In an intact dog, an enlarged prostate is nearly always hyperplasia, often with infection or cysts on top; in a castrated dog, the same finding points to carcinoma. Getting that split right, and knowing which tests are safe in which patient, answers most exam questions on the topic.
Key facts
Prostatic disease (hyperplasia, abscess, prostatitis, neoplasia) at a glance- Species and system: male dogs (rare in cats); reproductive and lower urinary tract.
- Anatomy: the prostate surrounds the proximal urethra just caudal to the bladder, ventral to the rectum. It is the dog's only accessory sex gland (Palmieri 2022).
- Main conditions: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), bacterial prostatitis (acute and chronic), prostatic abscess, intraprostatic and paraprostatic cysts, squamous metaplasia and carcinoma.
- Classic presentations: BPH = intact dog with blood dripping from the prepuce or hemospermia and a symmetric, nonpainful gland; acute prostatitis or abscess = febrile, painful dog; carcinoma = castrated dog with dysuria, tenesmus or hind limb gait changes and an irregular, firm gland.
- Androgen dependence: BPH and its intraprostatic cysts depend on dihydrotestosterone and regress after castration, which also helps chronic prostatitis; paraprostatic cysts and carcinoma do not respond.
- Zoonotic: consider Brucella canis in breeding dogs with prostatitis, epididymitis or orchitis.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention and control
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 15 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.