Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Dogs

Category: Urinary & Reproductive
Breeds documented: 2
Published sources: 4

Overview

In unneutered males, hormones can cause the prostate gland to grow larger without becoming cancerous. This gland sits behind the bladder and adds fluid to semen. The enlargement is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Many affected dogs show no obvious signs, but some develop bloody urine, discharge from the penis or difficulty passing stool. It becomes more common with age.

Signs to watch for

Blood in the urine
Bloody fluid from the skin sheath around the penis
Straining when passing stool
Blood mixed with semen

Changes can begin around two and a half years of age and become more common as males age.

When to get help Book a vet visit for bloody urine, bloody discharge or straining to pass stool.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet assesses the history and feels the prostate during a rectal examination. Ultrasound helps check the gland's size and structure and identify cysts. For confirmation, cells collected with a fine needle or a tissue biopsy can be examined in a laboratory.

Breeds with documented risk

2 breeds

By breed size

1 Medium
1 Large

Rhodesian RidgebackLarge · Hound Group
Norwegian BuhundMedium · Herding Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.