Canine Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a gland in the male dog that is located below the rectum and behind the bladder. It produces the fluids that carry sperm from the male dog to the female dog. Prostate cancer can affect male dogs of any age or breed.

  1. Causes

    • Like many cancers affecting canine companions, the cause of prostate cancer is currently unknown.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of canine prostate cancer may include blood in the urine (hematuria), constipation, fever, lethargy and changes in urination such as more frequent urination or straining to urinate.

    Diagnosis

    • Canine prostate cancer is diagnosed through several tests, including x-rays, ultrasounds, urine samples and a biopsy of the affected tissue.

    Treatment

    • In dogs, treatment options for prostate cancer include a surgery known as prostatectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

    Prognosis

    • The prognosis for each dog should be done on a case by case basis. However, with treatment, the estimated median age of survival is often less than one year.