Prostatitis

[Stitch]

I have been asked by a friend of mine to post a question about her dog that has been diagnosed as having acute prostatitis.

I don't know anything about this subject as I very rarely have males but I am sure some of you will be able to answer her query.

She is deciding on whether she should get it desexed but is unsure if it is always something that will reoccur.

The dog came back from 4 weeks in the boarding kennel and then developed an enlarged prostate.

Is it a common problem?? How dire is it???

She was hoping to use him on her bitch soon but now is unsure if he is going to remain fertile and for how long.

Is it inheritable???

Edited December 12, 2010 by STITCH

[Crisovar]

I have been asked by a friend of mine to post a question about her dog that has been diagnosed as having acute prostatis.

I don't know anything about this subject as I very rarely have males but I am sure some of you will be able to answer her query.

She is deciding on whether she should get it desexed but is unsure if it is always something that will reoccur.

The dog came back from 4 weeks in the boarding kennel and then developed an enlarged prostate.

Is it a common problem?? How dire is it???

She was hoping to use him on her bitch soon but now is unsure if he is going to remain fertile and for how long.

Is it inheritable???

Several things can cause prostatitis, usually bacterial infection, but the reason for the bacterial infection can be quite few things. Possibly being boarded could have led to the dog not urinating as often as needed and in older dog lack of muscle tone in the bladder area could cause the urine to back flow into the uretha and the prostate. Bladder blockage, stones etc.

Have never heard of any inherited cause.

[Stitch]

It is only a fairly young dog, about 3 or 4 years old I think.

She read that it can make them infertile??

[Staranais]

I have not heard of it being inherited either.

From what I know acute prostatitis can make them infertile, but doesn't always, & when it does it's sometimes reversible. If she's concerned, she could possibly get the semen assessed & cultured to check for presence of bacteria before using him at stud.

[Stitch]

I guess what is worrying her is that she doesn't know if it is a problem that keeps coming back as, from what she has said, it is usually found in older dogs.

Also she needs a fertile stud dog, not a desexed dog.

[OSoSwift]

Dogs can have episodes of enlarged prostate as others have mentioned.

Re-occurance would depend on the reason why it has happened, but if he is a young otherwise healthy dog I would not jump into desexing too quickly.

Dogs can get an enlarged prostate by being near a bitch in season, or if left together, to many matings.

I do not ever recall hearing it is hereditary.

I would treat him, get a sperm count after treatment and stop panicing so much.

Edited December 13, 2010 by OSoSwift

[Stitch]

Thanks for your replies - I will pass your advice on and maybe it will help her have a better understanding.

I think some vets do not always explain things as well as they could, especially in the case of a stud dog.

[Staranais]

Oh also have just found in one of my textbooks, the authors reckon there is a 10% chance of it recurring if it's progressed so far as abscessation (i.e., severe prostatitis). That's all I can find. Maybe no one has really studied it.

[OSoSwift]

Many vets - mine included - advocate desexing for anything related to a prostate issue. It is rare - unless they are a vet who see's lots of breeding dogs- that a dog needs to be kept entire if possible.

My bitch got vaginitis, recommended desexing to stop it occuring again! Short course of antibiotics, it went and was not seen on her next season.

My young dog had a suspected enlarged prostate due to a bitch being very close to being in season. He is entire for a reason as is she. Their first recommendation was desex him or her oh and maybe you could try the Suprelorin implant if you don't want to desex, but really that was an after thought and one I only got because I said desexing would only happen if absolutely necessary.

The average pet person will most likely desex. If your friend is still concerned, is it possible she could go to a vet that has much more experience with breeding dogs?

[Stitch]

Unfortunately she is in a country area that doesn't have a specialist repro. vet like we have access to in Brisbane.

That's why she is a bit needy in handling this issue but I have also been doing some research on the net for her.

It looks like it is one of those things that have to be 'managed' that is if it reoccurs.

I am happy to hear that it doesn't seem to be hereditary which means that as long as the dog isn't sterile she will still be able to use it in the immediate future.

[Rappie]

What clinical signs have lead to the diagnosis of acute prostatitis?

Prostatitis is not hereditary, but it occurs only in entire male dogs. The prostate starts to enlarge generally after about 3-4 years of age through the process of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Some of the changes associated with this can predispose the dog to inflammation and infection of the prostate gland. Prostatitis can be treated, however while ever the prostate is under the influence hormones like testosterone the dog remains at risk of a repeat episode. Castration is recommended as part of the treatment in order to help decrease the size of the prostate and prevent recurrences, but these effects are not immediate and take a few week to occur. It is also possible to acute on chronic prostatitis and other variations like prostatic and paraprostatic cysts which do not respond well to medical treatment only. With 'just' prostatitis, it's important that the dog is treated for a sufficient period of time (usually 4-6 weeks) to fully treat the infection with an appropriate antibiotic - which might require getting a sample of prostatic fluid to send away for culture.