Page 14 - Chow Life - Spring 2016

Poor Performance

or Prostatic Problem?

by Joann Randall, DVM, DACT

Diseases of the canine prostate prostatic cells (called hyperplasia) and yellow, or slightly bloody, cystic
gland are problems frequently and the size of the cells (called fluid may be seen in the urine.
encountered in a small animal hypertrophy). This enlargement of Also, hypertrophied tissue within
practice, especially in intact male the prostate gland is a normal aging the gland often has an increased
dogs over the age of 6 years old. process that occurs in intact male blood supply, which may lead to
There are many causes of prostate dogs and humans and is termed bright red blood dripping from the
disease, but this article will focus benign prostatic hypertrophy, penis unassociated with urination.
primarily on the most common benign prostatic hyperplasia, or It is this blood noticed on the hairs
disease affecting older, intact BPH. at the end of the penis, or seen as
male dogs as it is these dogs in Benign prostatic hyperplasia is bright red drops dripping on the
their prime that frequently start the most commonly diagnosed floor that is the most common
showing signs of poor performance prostatic disease in the intact finding alerting owners that there is
in working trials, bite work, and male dog. There is not a breed a problem.
decreased breeding libido. predilection for prostatic disease, Other symptoms of BPH are
Anatomically, the prostate is a but German Shepherd dogs and straining to pass a bowel movement
bilobed gland in the male dog that Dobermans seem to have an due to pressure from the enlarged
encircles the urethra, or the tubular increased prevalence. It has been gland on the rectum, straining to
structure that leaves the bladder shown that 50% of intact male dogs urinate due to pressure from the
carrying urine. The enlarged prostate on the
urethra, carrying urine urethra, abdominal pain,
from the bladder, travels “Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the and/or infertility.
through the prostate most commonly diagnosed prostatic There are many other
gland after it leaves the disease in the intact male dog” prostatic diseases that can
bladder and then runs cause the same symptoms,
through the length of such as infection of the
the penis. The importance of the have microscopic evidence of BPH prostate, large cysts, or prostatic
anatomy of the prostate encircling by 5 years of age and >95% are cancer. Therefore, a complete
the urethra will be discussed a bit affected by 9 years of age. diagnostic workup needs to be done
later. Many dogs with BPH never show to diagnose the problem properly.
The function of the prostate gland any symptoms, or none that are Initially, a physical exam is done
is to produce a fluid which helps outwardly visible. As previously including a rectal palpation to
support and transport sperm during discussed, the urethra leaves the assess the prostate gland for size
ejaculation. In the prepubertal male, bladder and runs through the and consistency. Usually, dogs
the prostate gland is quite small prostate gland. As the male ages with BPH have uniformly enlarged
and located farther forward in the and the prostate enlarges, the gland prostate glands that are not painful
abdominal cavity. It really serves no starts to press in on the urethra, when palpated. Sometimes, in
function until the male undergoes making it more difficult for urine to large breed dogs, the gland
puberty. pass through. The owner may notice is too far forward in the
As the male acquires sexual that the dog takes longer to urinate, abdomen and not able
maturity and the testicles start or strains. In extreme cases, the to be easily reached on
producing testosterone, the prostate dog may even be unable to pass any the digital exam.
gland increases in size and reaches urine at all. The best diagnostic
peak secretory function by about 4 Sometimes, due to hormone tool available for assessing
years of age. After this time, due to imbalances, the enlarged prostate prostatic size and architecture
continued testosterone exposure, gland starts to develop cysts. As is the ultrasound machine. An
the cells within the gland start these cysts grow, they may form ultrasonic exam is a noninvasive
to increase in the number of channels emptying into the urethra and painless procedure done
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