Prostatic Disease

Prostate disease in dogs may be noninfectious and nonneoplastic or may be infectious or neoplastic. Accurate diagnosis requires understanding of clinical signs and interpretation of diagnostic tests. Causes of noninfectious, nonneoplastic prostate disease include benign prostatic hyperplasia, intraparenchymal prostatic cysts, paraprostatic cysts, prostatic calculi, squamous metaplasia, and persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. Causes of infectious prostate disease include prostatitis and abscesses. Bacterial prostatitis can be either acute or chronic, with the latter being the most common clinical presentation. Prostate tumors occur almost exclusively in dogs, with few sporadic cases reported in cats. In addition to history and clinical signs, diagnosis of prostatic diseases is based on examination by means of palpation, imaging, fluid analysis, and histology. Most types of prostate disease, with the exception of neoplasia and paraprostatic cysts, can be prevented or cured by neutering male dogs. The prognosis and outcome of prostatic disease depends on the condition.