Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urethral bleeding as a presenting sign of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the dog: a retrospective study (1979-1993).
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 1995
- Authors:
- Read, R A & Bryden, S
- Affiliation:
- School of Veterinary Studies · Australia
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In a study involving nineteen dogs, all presented with bleeding from the urethra but without other signs of prostate problems, researchers found that the bleeding was intermittent and severe enough to need a blood transfusion in one case. Upon examination, all dogs had an enlarged prostate, and they were diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate) after ruling out other prostate issues through imaging and lab tests. The dogs that were castrated stopped bleeding completely, while those treated with antiandrogen therapy (a medication that blocks male hormones) did not respond as well. Overall, castration was the most effective treatment for stopping the bleeding.
Abstract
Nineteen dogs were presented to the Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital (MUVH) because of blood loss from the urethra, unassociated with other clinical signs of prostatic disease. Blood loss was intermittent in all cases, but was severe enough to require blood transfusion in one case. Prostatic enlargement was detected on rectal palpation in all cases, and benign prostatic hyperplasia was diagnosed after elimination of other prostatic diseases (i.e., infection, cysts, neoplasia) using diagnostic imaging and clinical laboratory tests. Castration resulted in cessation of blood loss; whereas antiandrogen therapy, an alternative treatment to castration, was less effective.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7543358/