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Canine Prostate Disease
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Prostate Enlargement in the Dog
Prostate Cancer Support Herbal Treatment
Casper
Prostate Enlargement in the Dog
By Race Foster, DVM and Marty Smith,
DVM
Drs. Foster
& Smith, Inc.
When men reach the age
of 80 they have about an 80% chance of developing cancer of the prostate.
If is often a malignant form that can be difficult to treat and life threatening.
When a male dog reaches the age of 8-years of age, he has a greater
than 80% chance of developing prostate disease, but it is rarely cancerous
(benign or malignant). The gland serves the same function in the dog
as it does in man and suffers from all the same diseases. Fortunately
for the dog however, the incidence of life-threatening conditions is much
lower. Still, most unneutered canines will at one time or another, suffer
a lot of discomfort if not severe pain due to the prostate gland.
What is the prostate gland?
The prostate gland is a bi-lobed structure that lies within the
pelvis just behind the bladder and directly below the rectum. In a forty
pound dog it is normally about one to two inches in diameter. It surrounds
and is open to the urethra its entire length of the gland. Small tubes
or ducts deposit the fluids produced by the prostate directly into the
urethra as it courses through the prostate. The prostate starts to develop
before the dog reaches puberty and attains its maximum size by the time
the dog is two years old. From that point on, its size is determined by
the male hormone testosterone and/or various disease conditions.
The prostate gland is classified as an accessory sex gland. This
means that in some way it is important for successful breeding but does
not directly produce the sperm. Prostatic fluid is a major portion of
the total ejaculated liquid, and is important both in nourishing the sperm
cells and providing a greater volume to the ejaculate to make their movement
much easier. The sperm cells are actually only a very small percentage
of the total ejaculate and must travel all the way from the testicles
of the male to the ovaries of the female. This may be a distance of greater
than three feet depending on the breed! Although sperm cells are able
to move on their own, most of the actual movement comes from the contracting
musculature of the urethra, cervix, and uterus pushing the fluid along.
A larger fluid volume makes it easier for these structures to propel the
sperm cells the necessary distance. Prostatic fluids also have antibacterial
properties that protect the sperm plus decrease the chances for infection
in the female.
Effect of neutering on the prostate
Dogs that are neutered before puberty have very little prostatic
tissue. Without the male hormone testosterone that is produced within
the testicles, the prostate gland does not develop. If we were to surgically
explore this area in one of these dogs, only a tiny bulge would be noted
in the urethra. The small size causes no harm to the dog since the only
known function of the prostate is support and nourishment of the sperm
cells. If a mature dog is neutered, the gland will shrink to less that
one fourth of its previous size. Within a few months its functional cells
will cease all or nearly all production of the supportive fluids.
Signs of prostate disease
In man, a diseased prostate usually caused painful or difficult
urination. This makes sense because when swollen it can close down and
decrease the size of the urethra. The pain therefore comes from the body
trying to force urine out through a restricted opening. Also, when the
body uses excessive force to expel the urine, it increases pressures within
the painful prostate. This same thing happens in the canine but to a lesser
degree.
Classically, in the dog an enlarged prostate causes painful defecation.
Remember the prostate gland lies right below the rectum within the bony
pelvis. The canal through the pelvis is only so big and it cannot get any
bigger on an individual dog. Therefore when the prostate increases in size,
it pushes up against the rectum, greatly decreasing the space available
for the rectum. When stools pass from the large intestine through the rectum
during defecation, there often is not enough room to accommodate everything.
The dog will strain and strain to force the stool out and the stool puts
pressure on the swollen and painful prostate. This is the most common
cause of constipation and faecal straining in the male dog.
Dogs with painful prostates will often walk abnormally. They are
attempting to keep anything from riding against or putting pressure
on the swollen, painful gland. Their rear legs will be stiff and straight
at the knee and hock and they will usually take very short steps. Some
owners refer to this as "walking on eggs."
Other signs directly associated with prostatic infection are discharges
from the penis including blood and pus, straining to urinate, and in rare
cases, peritonitis which develops when bacteria from the prostate leak
out and enter the abdominal cavity.
Types of prostatic disease
in the dog
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia:
In the dog, by far the most common prostatic disease is Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia (BPH). This is not caused by bacterial or viral infection
and it is not a form of cancer. It is, rather, a normal ageing process
of the gland. As the dog continues to mature, the glandular tissue within
the prostate undergoes hypertrophy. That is to say that there is an increase
in both the size and the number of the cells within the glandular tissue.
Additionally, cysts develop inside the gland and these gradually increase
in size. Both of these factors enlarge the overall size of the prostate
putting internal pressure on the remaining tissue. Almost all dogs over
4-5 years of age will show some degree of prostatic enlargement caused by
BPH. In many, the gland may not yet be painful, but as the condition continues
with age, it will at the very least be a source of constant discomfort but,
as stated, it can and often does cause problems with both urination and
defection.
Bacterial Infections: Probably the second most common form
of prostatic disease in the dog is bacterial infection. Bacteria can get
into the prostate via the blood system or from the urinary tract. In
the latter, bacteria can come from the bladder or come up the urethra
through the penis. Bladder infections are common in the dog and easily
treated. Many antibiotics that can be taken orally are excreted from
the body by the kidneys and are therefore deposited unchanged into the
bladder. Here they can quickly eliminate the bacteria present. Once the
organisms have made their way into and colonized the prostate however,
the infections are much more difficult to control or eliminate. Very little
if any of the antibiotics that are deposited into the bladder via the kidneys
make their way into the prostate gland even though the urethra passes through
it. Additionally, there is a physiological barrier between the blood and
the prostate gland. That is to say that just because a substance like an
antibiotic is being carried by the blood, it will not necessarily get into
the prostate gland. Only certain medications have chemical properties that
pass over this barrier. This limits our choice of antibiotics. With bacterial
infections, that is unfortunate as individual bacterial populations can
only be killed by certain antibiotics. Additionally, over time these patterns
of sensitivity to the antibiotics may change. Then the bacteria, whether
it is within an ear, wound, or prostate, can no longer be treated with the
same product and a new one must be chosen.
Bacterial infections of this gland are either acute, chronic, or
are presented as abscesses. The early stages of any infection are termed
acute and are extremely painful. They will affect not only the prostate,
but bacteria may spread to the rest of the body causing fevers and additional
signs depending on what other structures of the body the bacteria colonizes.
The key here is to determine that the source of the infection is within
the prostate and therefore direct a major portion of the treatment at that
area.
Chronic infections follow this acute phase and may go on for years.
They are difficult to treat as bacteria can become trapped within scarred
tissue of the gland. It is almost impossible to get medications into these
areas. The chronic stage is less painful but still is a potential source
of bacterial spread to other areas. Most dogs that have repeated bladder
infections are just being continuously reinfected with bacteria from
the diseased prostate. Abscesses are a chronic form of bacterial infection
in which pockets of pus have developed within the gland.
Cancer: Unlike humans, prostatic cancers are uncommon in
the dog. Some would describe them as rare. When they do occur they are
usually malignant and potentially life threatening. The cancer may metastasize,
spreading throughout the body by the blood system and usually "seeding"
the liver, lungs, or kidneys. They can also spread locally into regional
lymph nodes and the bones of the back and pelvis. At this point in time
we have no cure for prostatic cancer and none is probable in the near future.
Only short-term remission and/or relief are possible through radiation
and medical therapy.
Diagnosis
When the prostate is affected by benign growth, cysts, cancer,
or infection, it gets bigger and it gets painful to the touch. In our
practice, we examine the prostate of all mature dogs during a routine
physical. This is done by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum and
palpating the prostate. By performing this rectal examination, the veterinarian
is able to feel the prostate and note its size, consistency, symmetry, shape
and if any pain is present. Often urine samples taken by a catheter after
the exam will contain more cells from the prostate. These samples are examined
with a microscope for evidence of infection, inflammation or cancer.
In dogs that have not been neutered, semen evaluation can be very
helpful in determining the diagnosis. Radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound
examinations are often used to better assess the prostate and surrounding
tissues. Biopsies of the prostate may be taken to confirm a diagnosis.
Treatment and prevention
Whenever we encounter any of the above problems of the prostate
in the dog (there are others, but these make up over 98% of the total
cases), we are dealing with long-term and often expensive therapy. For
example, the successful treatment of a chronic bacterial prostatitis will
usually require 6 to 8 weeks of continuous oral medication, injections,
urinary catheterisations, enemas, and possible surgery. In almost all cases,
where it is an option, the patient is neutered because after the testosterone
is removed the gland will shrink and the condition is much easier to treat.
This would of course have no effect on a case where cancer was involved.
Over 90% of all prostatic diseases would be prevented during the
life of all dogs if the animal is castrated in the first year of life.
Neutering will have no effect on the incidence of cancer, but remember
this is very rare.
C 2006 Drs. Foster and Smith, Inc.
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from Josie Pitterle Article
Reprint Coordinator Drs. Foster and Smith
PetEducation.com (
http://www.PetEducation.com)
On-line store at
http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com
Free pet supply catalog: 1-800-323-4208
********************
from Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments
Prostate Cancer Support Herbal Treatment
100 ml Bottle. Dose 10 drops twice daily: $60
(At the recommended dose, this bottle will provide 14 weeks treatment
for one dog)
Prostate cancer is very uncommon
in dogs, found in only 0.67% of dogs over 8 years old. The most common
signs of prostate cancer are weight loss, difficulties in defecating and
urinating, and weakness in the hind leg.
Most canine prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas derived from glandular
tissue. Prostate cancers may rarely be associated with hormones produced
by the testicles, adrenal glands, or pituitary glands.
Unlike human prostate cancer, which is often indolent and slowly growing,
canine prostate cancer is an aggressive and invasive disease that metastasizes
rapidly to the lymph nodes, lungs, and bone. Dogs are usually diagnosed
in the late stages of the disease, often when the tumor has spread to the
lumbar spine and brain.
Prostatic cysts, abscesses, and cancer are most often associated with
intact male dogs. Although cysts are relatively benign, abscesses and cancer
can be deadly, Prostatic disease is the most common cause of bloody urine
and straining to urinate in the unaltered male dog. Prostatic disease may
also cause straining to defecate and constipation.
Prostatic infections and cancer can be very painful and may cause the
dog to walk stiffly and be tender in the belly. Neutering male dogs will
greatly decrease their chances of developing prostatic disease.
Prostate Cancer is becoming much more common in companion dogs nowadays
although not yet so common than it is in their masters.
Underlying the development of all cancers is a generalised breakdown
of metabolic and immune systems and the bodily processes involved in cell
health maintenance, prostate cancer in humans is also often related to a
subversion in normal sexual expression.
I can only assume that the modern companion dog is suffering from a similar
sort of problem without the emotional sexual problems which I find as a
significant part of my human patients with prostate cancer.
Adenocarcinomas are the most common form of prostate tumour, they can
also spread to bones and enlarge the lymph nodes which in turn cause defecation
problems. Urinary diffiulties occur when pressure is placed on the ureter.
The tumours may present as inflammed and infected.
I prepare a specific Prostate Cancer Support mixture of concentrated
extracts of: Comfrey, Wormwood, Couch Grass, Celery, Juniper, Saw Palmetto
and Rosehips along with appropriate Bach Flower Remedies.
This mix is given in conjunction with Maritime Pine super antioxidant
which is derived from the Maritime Pine and together they have the potential
to slow down and reverse the development of Prostate Cancer and bringing
it into remission.
This Cancer Support mix can be used in conjunction with other alternative
medicines also, or with orthodox medical treatments including radio and
chemo therapy.
Read more about tumours from Helen's experience with George Helen's story
The important distinction between my herbal treatment and orthodox medicine
is that here I am aiming to reverse the underlying processes which allowed
the cancer to develop in the first place. This is distinct from the aim
of removing, or otherwise destroying cancerous cells directly once the process
of cancer has begun.
I expect positive results seen in improved wetting and vitality improvement
to show up within the first four weeks of having your dog on this program
and ask that you keep in touch with regular reports once you start on it.
© 2003 Herbal-DogKeeping.Com. All Rights Reserved.
***************************
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Dear Geoff
Casper, our 4 yr old GSD was castrated today in the hope of solving
a long-standing problem (some 8 months!) of straining when trying to empty
his bowels. We even took to the Cambridge Veterinary School Hospital
where he stayed for 4 days of scans, X-rays, examinations and general prodding
about. They came up with inflammatory bowel disease even though he
never vomited or had diarrhoea. We were instructed to put him on a
special diet and not have any treats whatsoever, not even chicken. 
The medication he was put on did not help his condition at all so
finally agreed to have him castrated even though neither the vet nor we
wanted to have to resort to that since he is of such a wonderful disposition.
Reading through the articles I was relieved to find most of his symptoms,
even blood in the urine, in your article "Prostate Enlargement in the
Dog". This is what the vet had explained to us but it really helped
to see it in black and white.
I will let you know if the operation was a success, though it will
probably take a while.
Kind regards
Fernie Pitts
reprinted with kind permission from Fernie Pitts and
Casper
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The above information is simply informational.
It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist
you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian
for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
