Prostatitis is common in the dog but rare in the cat. There is no age or breed predisposition. Prostatitis may develop by hematogenous spread of bacteria or more commonly, by extension from the urinary tract. Prostatitis may be acute or chronic. The infection may be diffuse or may coalesce as a prostatic abscess.

Prostatitis may serve as nidus for recurrent urinary tract infection and visa versa. Normal basal secretory rate of prostatic fluid in the absence of ejaculation or urination results in reflux of prostatic fluid into the bladder. Intact male dogs that develop urinary tract infections will almost always have concurrent infection of the prostate gland. Prostatitis is uncommon in castrated dogs. Acute clinical signs include fever, arched back due to pain, depression, dripping pus or blood from the penis, constipation, or pollakiuria related to urinary tract infection. Chronic clinical signs are subtle and may include a urethral discharge.

Leukocytosis may develop with acute prostatitis and prostatic abscess.  The urinalysis discloses pyuria, hematuria, and bacteriuria in dogs with acute disease. Urine culture often reflects the agent causing prostatitis. Samples obtained by prostatic massage contain neutrophils and prostatic cells. The radiographic appearance is similar to that of prostatic hyperplasia; enlargement of the gland with displacement of the colon.  Treatment is with antibiotics, selected on the basis of urine or prostate culture. Abscesses may need to be marsupialized (drained to the outside) or drained using an ultrasonic aspirator.  Prostatectomy is a last resort as it is technically difficult and often results in urinary incontinence.

Prostatic neoplasia occurs less commonly in dogs compared to man. Prostatic neoplasia occurs in both intact and castrated dogs. Prostatic neoplasia often grows into the lumen of the urethra causing dysuria and/or obstruction. If prostatic enlargement is identified in a neutered dog or if urine retension is associated with prostatic enlargement the diagnosis is most likely prostatic neoplasia. Neoplastic cells may be seen in prostatic massage fluid, semen or occasionally in urine. Prostatic tumors will metastasize to the sublumbar lymph nodes and sublumbar spine. Treatment is usually unsuccessful and includes prostatectomy and/or chemotherapy. Urinary diversion procedures such as placement of a prepubic urinary catheter can be used pallatively.

top of page

Castration can be performed for medical reasons, sterilization, or behavioral modification to reduce wandering, spraying, mounting, and aggression. Warn owners that castration may not affect the undesirable behavior. Castration as soon as possible after development of the undesirable behavior has a better chance of altering the behavior.

Brucellosis affects predominately the reproductive organs of both sexes of dogs but can also cause uveitis, diskospondylitis, osteomyelitis and dermatitis. Transmission is through genital discharges, aborted material, semen and occasionally urine. Transmission may occur across oral, conjunctival, or vaginal membranes as well as transplacentally. The most common signs of infection are abortion in otherwise healthy females and male infertility.

Diagnosis is by isolation of the organism from aborted materials, vaginal discharge, blood, urine or semen; or by serologic testing.   Serologic tests include the rapid slide agglutination test, tube agglutination and agar gel immunodiffusion. The rapid slide test is sensitive and easy but may yield false positive reactions which should be confirmed with another serologic test. Transmission to humans is possible but uncommon. Response to treatment is incomplete, with animals often continuing to harbor and shed the organism. Antibiotics used include minocycline, tetracycline plus streptomycin or quinolones may be used. Dogs should be neutered to minimize shed of the organism. In a kennel environment, positive animals should be removed from the colony.