Prostatic Tumors in Dogs and Cats
📝 Summary
Prostatic tumors affect mostly older dogs and mimic benign prostatic disease, causing weight loss, thirst, back pain, and blocked urination. Adenocarcinoma can spread to lymph nodes, spine, and pelvis; treatment is surgical where possible with follow-up anti-cancer medication.
1 Symptoms
Prostatic tumors are most often adenocarcinoma, with benign stromal tumors (leiomyoma, fibroma), sarcomas, and secondary growths also seen. Affected pets may lose weight, drink and urinate excessively, show back pain, and run a fever.
If the tumor presses on the urethra, strained or blocked urination develops. Prostate cancer can spread to local lymph nodes, the lumbar spine, and the pelvis. A neutered dog with an enlarged prostate should be suspected of having a tumor.
2 Causes and Transmission
Prostatic tumors arise spontaneously in older intact or neutered males and are not contagious. Unlike benign prostatic enlargement, these growths are typically malignant and hormone-independent.
The exact trigger is unknown, but age and male reproductive anatomy are the main risk factors.
3 Diagnosis
Physical and rectal examination may reveal a firm, irregular prostate. Ultrasound and X-rays show the size of the gland and whether the spine or pelvis is involved.
A tissue or cell sample taken with a needle confirms the tumor type and helps distinguish cancer from infection or benign enlargement.
4 Treatment
There is no reliably curative medical treatment. Surgical removal of the prostate may be considered when the patient is strong enough, and castration is performed in intact dogs.
Because these tumors are aggressive, follow-up anti-cancer medication is often used to slow progression and maintain comfort, alongside good nutrition and supportive care.
5 Prevention
Prostatic tumors cannot be fully prevented, but regular senior wellness exams and prompt investigation of urinary changes in older males improve the odds of earlier detection.
Castration reduces the risk of benign prostatic disease, though it does not eliminate the chance of malignant prostate cancer.
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