Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence and nature
of pathological conditions of the canine prostate. A detailed systematic examination
of 100 carcasses brought for autopsy during the period of investigation was
conducted and the gross and histopathological lesions were studied in detail. The
study confirmed prostatic disorders as an age related problem and also warned that
involvement of the prostate in concurrent pathological affections of the urogenital
system should not be overlooked. Heavy breeds like the German shepherds were
found to be the most susceptible to prostatic diseases. An age related increase was
also seen in the prostatic weight, circumference and length. Prostatic lesions could be
encountered in 49 per cent of the cases. The most common prostatic disease
encountered in this study was benign prostatic hyperplasia followed by prostatitis,
prostatic atrophy, prostatic adenocarcinoma and squamous metaplasia. Glandular,
cystic and complex types of hyperplasia could be observed. The identification of
prostatic adenocarcinoma in a castrated dog pointed to the necessity to study the role
of extra gonadal sex hormones in prostate carcinogenesis. Escherichia coli and
Klebsiella sp. were isolated from cases of prostatitis. Acid phosphatase activity was
more for hyperplastic and neoplastic prostates when compared to the normal prostate.
This indicated that prostatic acid phosphatase could be used as a marker for the
diagnosis of canine prostate cancer both by impression smears and cryostat sections.
