The Prostate and Its Disorders in Pet Practice

The prostate is the only accessory sex gland in male dogs and is affected by a range of disorders that vary in etiology, clinical presentation, and prognosis. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, prostatic cysts, abscesses, and prostatic neoplasia are among the most commonly encountered conditions in small animal practice. Clinical manifestations may include haematuria, dysuria, tenesmus, infertility, recurrent urinary tract infections, and systemic illness. Diagnosis relies on signalment, clinical examination, rectal palpation, diagnostic imaging, cytology, microbiological evaluation, and histopathology where indicated. Understanding the pathophysiology and distinguishing features of prostatic diseases is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate clinical management.