Prostate disease in dogs: symptoms and screening
What does ‘benign prostatic hyperplasia’ (BPH) mean?
Like humans, male dogs have an accessory genital gland called the prostate, which plays a role in reproductive function. In some situations, this gland can grow and cause different disorders. This condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.
The prostate is a secretory gland that produces most of the fluid emitted by male dogs during ejaculation. The size of the prostate is determined by a male hormone, testosterone.
Under the effect of age or hormonal disorders, this gland, composed of two lobes, can grow abnormally. The increase in the size of the prostate gland is linked to the multiplication and enlargement of prostate cells.
Located below the rectum, a hypertrophied prostate will then mechanically compress the adjacent organs, which may result in various clinical signs: constipation, difficulty in defecating and/or urinating, locomotor signs such as lameness or stiffness of the hind limbs, and bleeding when your dog urinates.
BPH is also accompanied by a decline in fertility.
The importance of screening
BPH is particularly common in dogs, as 80% of male dogs over 6 years are affected, even if the symptoms do not always appear immediately. In contrast to humans, whose prostatic conditions are often tumorous, this is not the case in dogs, although it remains possible. In BPH, ‘benign’ indeed means non-tumorous. However, the symptoms can be very bothersome for your dog and require medical intervention.
In addition to BPH, your male dog may also be subject to other prostatic conditions, more or less severe (prostatitis, tumors, etc.). Any suggestive disorder should therefore prompt a veterinary consultation.
There are screening methods available, such as digital rectal examination and blood tests. Depending on the case, your vet may implement different complementary tests to specify the extent of the condition (imaging, biopsy, etc.).
The management of BPH involves medical treatment or castration (chemical or surgical). Consult your vet for advice.