Chronic clinical signs are subtle and may include a urethral discharge. Leukocytosis may develop with acute prostatitis and prostatic abscess. The urinalysis discloses pyuria, hematuria, and bacteriuria in dogs with acute disease. Urine culture often reflects the agent causing prostatitis. Samples obtained by prostatic massage contain neutrophils and prostatic cells.
Treatment is with antibiotics, selected on the basis of urine or prostate culture.
Prostatectomy is a last resort as it is technically difficult and often results in urinary incontinence. Prostatic neoplasia occurs less commonly in dogs compared to man. Prostatic neoplasia occurs in both intact and castrated dogs. If prostatic enlargement is identified in a neutered dog or if urine retension is associated with prostatic enlargement the diagnosis is most likely prostatic neoplasia. Neoplastic cells may be seen in prostatic masage fluid, semen or occasionally in urine.