Canine Prostatic Disorders and Interventions

Canine prostatic disease encompasses a range of conditions affecting the prostate gland of male dogs, notably benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, paraprostatic cysts and prostatic neoplasia. BPH is the most common disorder, driven by age-related hormonal changes in intact males, and may progress silently or present with tenesmus, dysuria and haematuria. Prostatitis arises from bacterial invasion or secondary inflammation of hyperplastic tissue, while paraprostatic cysts often develop adjacent to the gland and can cause urinary obstruction or discomfort. Prostatic carcinoma, though rare, carries a high metastatic potential and poor prognosis. Diagnostic evaluation integrates physical examination and digital rectal palpation with laboratory assays, such as prostatic-specific biomarkers, alongside imaging modalities including ultrasonography, computed tomography and, in specialised centres, magnetic resonance imaging. Therapeutic strategies vary according to disease type, patient health and breeding status: surgical castration remains the definitive treatment for most disorders, pharmacological options targeting androgen metabolism or receptor activity offer fertility-sparing alternatives, and open or minimally invasive surgery addresses cystic and neoplastic lesions. A tailored, multidisciplinary approach optimises clinical outcomes and maintains quality of life.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have examined the reproductive and endocrinological effects of finasteride in dogs with BPH. Short-term finasteride therapy significantly lowered intraprostatic dihydrotestosterone levels without impairing semen quality or inducing adverse testicular haemodynamic changes. Doppler assessment revealed that finasteride reversed BPH-associated alterations in testicular blood flow. These findings endorse finasteride as a viable medical intervention for breeding dogs, offering hormonal modulation and symptomatic relief when orchiectomy is not an option.

Canine Prostatic Disorders and Interventions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in canine prostatic disorders and interventions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): Non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland due to androgenic stimulation, primarily dihydrotestosterone.

Canine prostatic specific esterase (CPSE): A serum enzyme biomarker analogous to human PSA, elevated in dogs with prostatic hyperplasia and other disorders.

Finasteride: A 5α-reductase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, reducing prostatic growth.

Colour Doppler ultrasonography: An imaging modality combining Doppler flow analysis with two-dimensional ultrasound to assess vascularisation and haemodynamics.

Omentalization: A surgical technique in which omental tissue is placed within a cyst cavity to facilitate drainage, vascularisation and healing.

References

1. A Review on Canine and Feline Prostate Pathology. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2022).
2. Reproductive and endocrinological effects of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and finasteride therapy in dogs. Scientific Reports (2020).
3. Evaluation of biomarker canine-prostate specific arginine esterase (CPSE) for the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. BMC Veterinary Research (2017).
4. B-Mode and Doppler Ultrasonographic Findings of Prostate Gland and Testes in Dogs Receiving Deslorelin Acetate or Osaterone Acetate. Animals (2020).
5. Surgical treatment and outcome of sterile prostatic cysts in dogs. Veterinary Surgery (2021).
6. Computed tomography: a beneficial diagnostic tool for the evaluation of the canine prostate?. BMC Veterinary Research (2017).