Prostate Cancer in Dogs

Prostate cancer in dogs is rather uncommon, amounting to about 0.2 to 0.6 percent of all canine cancers. However, canine prostate cancer is difficult to treat and has a very poor prognosis. Read this page to find out more about the symptoms, possible causes, diagnosis and treatment options of canine prostate cancer.

For male dogs that are intact (not neutered), various kinds of prostate problems (e.g. prostate enlargement, prostate infections) can occur, especially when they become older. While neutering can largely decrease the risk of developing such prostate problems as enlargement and infections in dogs, it does not stop dogs from developing canine prostate cancer (cancer of the prostate gland).

One study conducted by the Michigan State University Veterinary Clinical Center has found that there is no sparing effect on the risk of developing prostate cancer in dogs even when castration is done in an early age. It appears that canine prostate cancer arises with similar frequency in neutered and intact male dogs.

There are various types of canine prostate cancer; the most common type is carcinoma (e.g. prostatic adenocarcinoma). This type of cancer is extremely aggressive. It is also very invasive in that it can easily and rapidly spread to the lungs, lymph nodes, and bones. In many cases, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, it is usually too advanced for successful treatment and the life expectancy is only about one month upon diagnosis.

The cause of canine prostate cancer is unknown.

Signs of Prostate Cancer in Dogs

Dogs with prostate cancer show similar signs and symptoms as those with other prostate problems, such as prostate enlargement, although for prostate enlargement, the intensity of the signs is much lower.

Watch out for these symptoms if you have a male dog, especially an older dog:

Urination Problems: A dog with prostate cancer has difficulty urinating. He has to strain to urinate and has to urinate frequently. You may find blood in his urine. Sometimes you may also see blood or pus dripping from the dog's penis.
Bowel Problems: A dog with prostate cancer may also suffer from constipation. Quite often, you will see the dog straining during bowel movements.
Gait Abnormality: If a dog has prostate cancer, he will walk unnaturally. His steps are short and his rear legs are stiff.
Other Systemic Problems: Other problems are rather indistinct, and may include fever, weakness, and lethargy.

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Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Dogs

While the classic prostate cancer marker PSA can be tested to diagnose this cancer in people (cancer markers are molecules that are only produced by cancer cells), dogs unfortunately do not produce this marker, making diagnosing prostate cancer in dogs more difficult.

If prostate cancer is suspected in your dog, your veterinarian will suggest conducting initial tests such as urinalysis, x-rays and abdominal ultrasound. If these initial tests highly suggest cancer, a biopsy of the rectal wall is required to get a definitive diagnosis.

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Treatment for Prostate Cancer in Dogs

Unfortunately, options of canine prostate cancer treatment are limited. Castration usually has no effect on dogs that have prostate cancer. Removing the prostate gland by surgery is not recommended in dogs because of its location - very often surgery can cause numerous complications (one of which is urinary incontinence).

The only option available is using chemo drugs (and occasionally radiation) to try to shrink down the tumor. However, chemotherapy (and radiation) is not so effective and usually fails to give the dog patient any relief of discomfort. It also does not significantly extend the patient's life.

Canine prostate cancer is rare, but when it strikes, it is a fatal disease with a very poor prognosis.

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Natural Remedies for Dog Prostate Cancer

Since conventional treatment options are limited, dog parents whose dogs are fighting prostate cancer should consider using natural remedies as an adjunct to help their dogs feel better. For example, consider using homeopathic remedies to relieve some of the clinical signs shown by the dog patient.

In addition, although natural remedies such as herbs, cancer diets, and natural supplements may not be able to destroy tumors, they are nonetheless effective in strengthening the immune system, making the body stronger to fight against diseases such as cancer.

Visit our pages on Herbs for Cancer in Dogs and Dog Cancer Diet for more information on these two complementary treatment options. Please also use the navigation bar on the left of this page to find other useful K9 cancer information on this site.