Prostate diseases in pets are primarily problems involving adult male dogs and cats that have not been neutered. The prostate is a gland that is responsible for producing the fluid that protects sperm in your male pet. While the most commonly seen prostate disease is benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostates can become adversely affected by cancer or infections (prostatitis) as well.
How Prostate Diseases Affects Your Pet
What a prostate disease will do to your pet depends on the type and severity of its condition. However, in most cases, it can become difficult for your pet to deficate and fecal impactions can occur. Additionally, urination can become quite painful, and there may be blood mixed in with the urine. BPH is typically easily treated; however, chronic prostatitis can lead to infertility. Furthermore, if your pet is diagnosed with prostate cancer, prognosis is not very good. This type of cancer in pets is extremely aggressive and can spread rather quickly. Unfortunately, it is often not found until it is in its later stages.
Common Symptoms of Prostate Diseases
The symptoms of prostate diseases are generally similar no matter what type of disorder your pet has. However, since prostate cancer can be an extremely serious pet health concern, it is essential that you take your dog or cat to a veterinarian right away if it displays any of these warning signs. Common Symptoms of Prostate Diseases in Pets: Straining to Urinate/Defecate Persistent Need to Urinate, Pain and/or Weakness in the Rear Legs, Fever, Loss of Appetite, Sluggishness, Bloody or Milky Discharge from the Penis, Pain in the Abdomen, Stiff Walking, Vomiting and/or Diarrhea and Arched Back or Tucked-Up Abdomen.
Treatments for Prostate Diseases
No treatment is necessary for BPH unless your pet is displaying symptoms. However, neutering is strongly recommended to prevent further growth of the prostate. If you do not wish to neuter your cat or dog, megestrol acetate, or Megace, can help decrease the size of the prostate. If your pet has been diagnosed with prostatitis, oral antibiotics will be prescribed to ward off the infection. Again, neutering is highly recommended to prevent infections from developing in the future. Surgery may be necessary if there is a prostatic abscess. While prostate cancer is a serious condition; fortunately, it rarely occurs in pets. However, if your pet is diagnosed with this form of cancer, treatment may involve radiation therapy and/or surgery. Unlike the other two types of prostate disorders, neutering does not seem to protect against or slow the progress of prostate cancer.
Breeds Affected
Prostate diseases are not breed-specific. They can develop within any dog or cat, no matter what breed. However, they do seem to occur most often in unaltered middle-aged to senior pets. Additionally, the following conditions can make pets more vulnerable to the condition. Pets most vulnerable to prostate diseases: intact males, aging, infection-causing bacteria that spreads to the prostate, faulty immune system, administration of male hormones and overactive cell growth in the prostate.
Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
