Clinico-biochemical and ultrasonographic evaluation of diseases of prostate in dogs

Abstract

The study on “Clinico - biochemical and ultrasonographic evaluation of diseases of prostate in dogs” was conducted in fifteen dogs. The parameters studied were signalment, history, clinical signs, clinical observations, perectal digital palpation of prostate, ultrasonography of prostate gland, prostatic fluid cytology, hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, and response to treatment, autopsy and hisopathology. The prostatic disorders studied were classified into benign prostatic hyperplasia with prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and associated hernia, acute prostatitis, suppurative prostatitis, prostatitis associated with herpes viral infection, prostatic abscess, fibroadenoma with paraprostatic pseudocyst and papillary adenoma. The major clinical signs noted in the study were constipation, inappetance, purulent urethral discharge, dysuria, vomiting, pyuria, hematuria, pyrexia and caudal abdominal pain. Perectal palpation revealed enlarged, smooth and isothermic prostate in BPH and prostatic neoplasia where as, warmness could be felt in prostatitis. Ultrasonographically, prostatomegaly was the most common feature. Intraparenchymal cyst formation in BPH, diffused increase in echogenisity in prostatitis, focal hyperechoic areas in prostatic neoplasia, multiple hypoechoic cavitary lesions with irregular borders in prostatic abscess were also noted. Prostatic fluid cytology revealed large number of neutrophils including bacteria- laden neutrophils in prostatitis, degenerated neutrophils and bacteria in prostatic abscess, hyperplastic round to oval prostatic epithelial cells with reticulated chromatin and unaltered nucleus cytoplasmic ratio in BPH. Hematological changes such as neutrophilia was observed in prostatitis and left shift in acute prostatitis. The serum creatinine and BUN was elevated in dogs with secondary renal failure. The level of acid phosphatase was elevated but there was no significant difference between different prostatic diseases. Serum testosterone was within normal range except in BPH where it was slightly elevated. The common abnormalities observed on urinalysis were pyuria, low specific gravity, proteinuria and presence of blood pigments. It was concluded from this study that prostatic disease was a major problem in old aged male dogs and was one of the major etiology for renal failure in them. Specific therapy with accurate dosage will cure prostatitis and BPH provided there is no advanced renal failure. This study also revealed the fact that ultrasonography is an excellent diagnostic tool for diagnosing prostatic disorders