“Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.”
—Roger Caras, former President ASPCA

“A meow massages the heart.”
—Stuart McMillan

Prostate Diseases

Definition

The prostate surrounds the urethra (tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and sits below the animal’s rectum. It produces a fluid that mixes with sperm and increases the total volume of spermatic fluid. Non-neutered, middle aged male dogs and cats are susceptible to prostate disease. There are several conditions that can occur and they can all show a range of symptoms. The prostate is a gland that is located internally in the pelvic region.

Non-cancerous prostate diseases include: prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of normal prostatic tissue), cysts, fluid pockets, abscesses and prostatitis (generalized prostate infection).

Symptoms

Below are some common symptoms of prostate disease, however, some animals do not show symptoms:

• Straining to urinate
• Voiding small amounts of urine frequently
• Blood tinged urine
• Dripping blood from the penis
• Constipation and straining to defecate
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Holding tail slightly away from back end
• Weight loss
• Passing small thin tape shaped feces

How using ThePetCheckup regularly can help

Early detection is extremely important, as untreated prostate disease may develop into a serious health problem. Surgery is sometimes warranted.

If prostate problems are not addressed they can become a serious source of illness and discomfort. It is important to determine early whether the animal has an easily treatable condition or something more serious like prostate cancer.