What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in dogs?

A benign enlargement of the prostate driven by testosterone (DHT). It affects 80 % of intact male dogs over 5 years old. The enlarged prostate compresses the rectum and urethra, causing defecation and urination problems.

What are the symptoms of prostate problems in dogs?

Difficulty defecating (straining, ribbon-shaped stools), blood in urine or semen, dysuria, and clear or blood-tinged discharge from the prepuce. In complicated cases (prostatitis): fever and abdominal pain.

How is prostatic hyperplasia diagnosed?

Prostatic ultrasound (the most useful technique), abdominal X-ray, urinalysis and culture, rectal palpation.

What is the most effective treatment for canine BPH?

Castration — reduces prostate size by 50 % in 3 weeks and 70 % in 3 months. Medical alternatives: deslorelin implant (GnRH agonist) or finasteride when surgery is not an option.

Dog Prostate Enlargement (BPH): Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Canine BPH?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a gradual, testosterone-dependent (specifically DHT, dihydrotestosterone) enlargement of the prostate. It is the most common prostatic condition in dogs — affecting 80 % of intact males by age 5 and virtually 100 % by age 10. Unlike prostate cancer, it is benign and treatable.

Symptoms

Faecal tenesmus: straining to defecate, ribbon-shaped stools (the enlarged prostate compresses the rectum).
Haematuria or haemospermia: blood in urine or semen, sometimes blood-tinged prepucial discharge.
Dysuria: straining to urinate, weak or dribbling urinary stream.
Prepucial discharge: clear or slightly blood-tinged prostatic fluid.
In complications (prostatitis, cysts, abscesses): fever, abdominal pain, stiff hind-limb gait.

Diagnosis

Ultrasound: technique of choice — assesses size, echogenicity, cysts and focal lesions.
Abdominal X-ray: shows prostatic enlargement displacing bladder or colon.
Urinalysis + culture: rules out secondary urinary infection.
Rectal examination: direct palpation of the prostate (size, consistency, pain).

Treatment

Surgical castration: the definitive and most effective treatment:

50 % reduction in prostate size within 3 weeks.
70 % reduction within 3 months.
Resolution of symptoms in the vast majority of cases.

Medical alternatives (when surgery is not possible):

Deslorelin implant (GnRH agonist): reversible hormonal suppression. Effect similar to castration, lasts 6-12 months.
Finasteride: inhibits testosterone-to-DHT conversion. Reduces prostatic volume in 4-6 weeks.