Canine prostate cancer is an extremely aggressive disease that usually targets older dogs. The cancer cells can spread to other areas of the body such as lymph nodes, bones, and lungs. The disease can occur with no known cause and can affect castrated and non-castrated canines. To make matters worse, the condition usually goes undetected until it has advanced to the later stages.
Symptoms
Two of the most common symptoms of canine prostate cancer include general pain and weight loss. The prostate gland will become enlarged and push against the wall of your dog’s urethra. This will make it very difficult for him to urinate and blood may be present in the urine. Also, canine prostate cancer usually weakens a dog’s hind legs. You may notice that your dog has an arched back and takes shorter steps while walking.
Diagnosis
As mentioned earlier, canine prostate cancer usually goes undetected until the later stages of the disease. The disease can be detected via urine tests, ultrasound scans, and contrast x-rays. The veterinarian may even insert a camera into your dog. Although these methods prove useful, the most definitive method of diagnosing canine prostate cancer is to perform a biopsy of the rectal wall.
Treatment
Treatment for canine prostate cancer includes radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, most dogs with the disease won’t respond to anti-androgen drugs to fight the cancer. Also, a dog’s prostate is more complex than a human’s prostate, so surgery can prove to be very dangerous. Most cases of canine prostate cancer are treated with chemotherapy and radiation.
Prognosis
The prognosis for a dog with canine prostate cancer is very bleak. After diagnosis, the average dog will survive for approximately six weeks. Most dogs with canine prostate cancer won’t survive for more than a year.