Clinical Assessment, Ultrasonographic Diagnosis and Management of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) in Dogs

Benign Prostatice Hyperplasia (BPH), a spontaneous disorder of intact male dogs is a modification of prostatic tissue due to testosterone. It's a natural outcome of aging as more than 80% of male dogs over 5 years of age are affected. BPH is generally related with clinical signs like difficulties in defecation and urination, abdominal pain and locomotive disorders. Although a normal process in itself, BPH may form the basis for pathological process probable to affect dog's health later in life. Clinical symptoms are transient in the beginning and are difficult to distinguish. Rectal palpation is a mandatory procedure in all aged male dogs and an accurate diagnostic procedure such as ultrasonography for determining the size and parenchymal alterations as well as less invasive cytological evaluation should be considered for early diagnosis of BPH.