Prostatic Disease in Dogs: Welfare Guide

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Prostatic disease is common in entire male dogs. Understanding the different conditions, their welfare impact, and the benefits of castration guides appropriate management.

Types of Prostatic Disease

Entire male dogs are prone to several prostatic conditions: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — most common; bacterial prostatitis (acute or chronic); prostatic cysts; paraprostatic cysts; and prostatic neoplasia (uncommon but serious). BPH affects most entire dogs over 5 years. The prostate lies adjacent to the urethra and rectum; enlargement causes urinary and defecation difficulties.

Welfare Consequences

Prostatic disease causes variable welfare impact. BPH: straining to defecate, ribbon-shaped faeces, haematuria, urethral discharge; severe cases cause rectal or bladder obstruction. Acute prostatitis: fever, pain on prostatic palpation, reluctance to walk, tenesmus, urethral discharge; severely ill dogs are systemically unwell. Chronic prostatitis: often subtle clinical signs but persistent low-grade discomfort. Prostatic abscesses: life-threatening systemic illness with severe welfare compromise. Prostatic neoplasia: weight loss, pain, urinary and defecation difficulties.

Castration as Treatment and Prevention

Castration (orchiectomy) is the most effective treatment and prevention for BPH, prostatic cysts, and chronic prostatitis. Testosterone drives prostatic growth; castration causes prostate involution over 3-4 weeks. For acute bacterial prostatitis, castration after antibiotic treatment (the blood-prostate barrier is disrupted during acute infection, improving antibiotic penetration) significantly reduces recurrence. Chemical castration (deslorelin implant) provides a reversible alternative.

Diagnosis

Prostatic examination (rectal palpation — smooth, symmetrical enlargement in BPH; painful, asymmetrical in prostatitis; nodular in neoplasia); abdominal ultrasound (precise size, echogenicity, cyst or abscess identification); prostatic wash/aspirate for cytology and culture (guides antibiotic selection for prostatitis); and PSA-equivalent markers (under development for dogs). Radiography assesses mineralisation (suggests neoplasia) and sublumbar lymph node involvement.

Treatment of Prostatitis

Bacterial prostatitis requires appropriate antibiotics with good prostate penetration: fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin) and trimethoprim-sulfonamide combinations achieve high prostatic concentrations. Treatment duration: 6-8 weeks minimum for chronic prostatitis (biofilm requires prolonged treatment). Prostatic abscesses require surgical drainage and castration. Prostatic neoplasia is managed with palliative care; piroxicam has demonstrated anti-tumour and analgesic effects in canine prostatic carcinoma.