Your dog is aging, and you may have heard about his prostate. What is this organ, and what are its functions? Is it often affected by disease? Here’s some information about it.
What Is the Prostate?
The prostate is an organ that is part of the male reproductive system. Its position varies between the abdomen and the pelvic cavity—or pelvis—depending on the dog’s age. It consists of two lobes that completely surround the urethra (connecting the bladder to the urinary meatus). The prostate produces seminal fluid. In cats, the prostate does not entirely encircle the urethra and is complemented by two other sexual glands, absent in dogs: the bulbourethral glands.
Prostate Conditions
Among male reproductive system disorders, the prostate is most commonly affected. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis are the most frequent conditions, followed by prostatic cysts and tumors.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Under the influence of sex hormones, the prostate enlarges with age. This phenomenon only affects unneutered dogs. In some individuals, this enlargement becomes abnormally significant, leading to clinical signs. These may include urinary leaks, difficulty defecating, blood in the urine, reproductive issues, or mobility problems if the prostate is painful. By the age of 4 or 5, around 1 in 2 dogs shows histological—tissue-level—signs of prostatic hyperplasia. This figure rises to 9 out of 10 in dogs aged 8. One possible progression of this condition is the development of cysts.
Prostatitis
This inflammation can affect normal-sized or hyperplastic prostates. It may be acute or chronic. The former is accompanied by fever, pain during movement, and cloudy urine, which may contain pus and blood. It is often caused by bacteria traveling up the urethra. The latter typically presents no clinical signs, except for occasional blood in the urine.
Prostate Cancer
They are relatively rare in dogs. However, the lack of specific markers and effective screening tests likely leads to a significant underestimation of affected individuals. Most prostate tumors in dogs are carcinomas, which metastasize rapidly. This type of cancer affects both intact and neutered dogs. Symptoms appear late in the disease. The most common signs include an enlarged prostate, abdominal pain on palpation, difficulty urinating and/or defecating, and blood in the urine, …
Prostate issues in cats are extremely rare. When affected, they most often suffer from cancer (prostatic carcinoma).
This emag is MP Labo’s opportunity to support #Movember. This public health event encourages men worldwide to grow a moustache for 30 days. The goal? To raise awareness among men about taking care of their health—through prostate or testicular cancer screenings and by looking after their mental well-being. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men globally.
Target (en):
A Review of Canine and Feline Prostate Pathology: This literature review aims to provide a detailed overview of prostate disorders in dogs and cats.
