What You Need To Know About Dog Prostate Cancer
If you own a male dog for a pet, something you should be aware of is that he can develop prostate cancer, just as a human male can. A tumor or growth in the prostate is the reason behind most prostate gland issues in male dogs. There are signs and symptoms that will help alert you to the fact that your dog may have prostate cancer. You need to schedule an immediate visit to your veterinarian, when you notice the following:
• Your dog has a fever and displays a lack of appetite.
• His urine shows a pink color and may also contain blood.
• He’ll typically pass urine with short spurts intermittently.
• You’ll notice stiff back legs in your dog and he may take shorter steps.
• Your dog may have an arched back when he walks.
Other facts that you need to know about dog prostate cancer include:
• If you notice the above symptoms in your dog, he most likely has a tumor in his prostate, as it’s highly improbable that any other condition will cause the same symptoms.
• The prostate gland is located within the urethra. It’s a small, rather spherical gland that produces fluids that carries and feeds the sperm during the mating process of dogs.
• If your dog develops a tumor in his prostate, it will cause inflammation of the gland. As growth continues, it will push against the urethra’s wall, making it difficult and very painful for your dog to urinate.
The most important thing that you can do once you start to notice any of these things with your dog is to get him to the veterinarian immediately. Once there, the vet will perform X-rays, ultrasound scans, and may use a camera to view your dog’s prostate. These are done to confirm whether or not your dog has prostate cancer.
If tests confirm the presence of a tumor, it must be removed surgically. It can be problematic if the cancer has spread to other parts of the dog’s body, or if the tumor has grown too close to vital organs. Most vets will still attempt to remove the growth and follow it with chemotherapy and radiation. Samples will be submitted to a histopathologist to decide treatment.
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