ANOTHER REASON TO NEUTER

Aging males can develop prostate problems

by Phyllis DeGioia

Aging male dogs are more prone to prostate problems if they were never neutered or neutered late, but they're not necessarily the kind of problems men have.

"All intact male dogs will have some degree of prostatic enlargement as they age, although it will not cause a problem in all," said Linda Ross, DVM, MS, associate professor of internal medicine at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. "However, unlike humans, prostate cancer is quite uncommon in dogs."

You can prevent most prostatic diseases by neutering your dog while he's still a puppy. Hormones control the prostate gland, and chronic stimulation of the prostate gland by testosterone - the male hormone produced by the testicles - can lead to health problems.

Testosterone causes the prostate gland to gradually enlarge over the years, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. Some dogs' prostate gland increases in size so much it interferes with their ability to defecate. Neutering causes the prostate gland to shrink.

Neutering can also help prevent some hernias and tumors, and lessens the amount of penile secretions or discharge.

A dog's temperament will change after neutering - he'll become quieter and less aggressive. Behaviorally, neutering reduces their urge to roam and fight, and hence injuries!" Dr. Ross said, "If roaming and aggressive actions are of behavioral origin rather than medical, though, then neutering at an older age may not help."

Health Benefits

In the past, veterinarians suggested neutering at around the age of 6 months but today advise it take place at any age beyond 8 weeks. Both health and behavioral benefits can be obtained, no matter what the dog's age. Geriatric dogs can still be neutered, although, as with any surgery for an older dog, veterinarians advise pre-anesthetic blood work.

Neutering a healthy male dog is fairly simple, accomplished by surgical removal of the testicles. The veterinarian makes an incision in front of the scrotum and removes the testicles through it. The testicles' stalks are tied off and cut. Veterinarians leave the scrotum intact, as it will eventually shrink. Veterinarians remove the scrotum only when it's diseased. Most dogs are up and around in a few days.

Unlike spaying, castration isn't considered major surgery. Complications are rare. You can avoid most problems by putting an Elizabethan collar on your dog afterward to prevent him from licking at the incision. Of course, if the incision appears excessively swollen, reddened or develops a discharge, call your veterinarian.

Prostatitis, or bacterial infection of the prostate, is a common problem associated with canine prostates. Prostatic infections can be acute or chronic, and in severe cases, an abscess can form.  A dog with chronic prostatitis often displays no symptoms, but those with acute prostatitis are usually quite ill with fever and lethargy. Blood or pus may drip from the penis, and they may strain to have a bowel movement because the enlarged, inflamed prostate causes pain during defecation.  Urine can contain blood, and the prostate gland is painful when palpated.

Septic Shock

Symptoms of dogs with abscessed glands are similar to those of acute prostatitis, although more severe. A prostatitis abscess can lead to septic shock, which is a medical emergency. Septic shock is caused by an infection that has released enough toxins into the dog's system that low blood pressure, failure of other organs and often death result.

A dog's temperament will change after neutering -

he'll become quieter and less aggressive.

Veterinarians treat dogs in shock with fluids and intravenous antibiotics until they're stabilized. If the dog has an abscess, surgery is usually required to drain it. In conjunction with medical treatment, veterinarians may advise castration to immediately reduce testosterone's effect.

"Neutering dogs when they are young eliminates the problems associated with an enlarged prostate as a dog ages; it virtually eliminates infection of prostate in older dogs," Dr. Ross said.

Prostate Cancer

If a castrated dog has significant prostatic disease, prostate cancer is a likely diagnosis. Prostatic adenocarcinoma is a malignancy arising from the prostate gland's secretory cells. The cancer is considered aggressive in dogs and tends to spread quickly. Typically, it spreads to the lymph nodes or pelvic bones.

Prostate cancer appears with similar frequency in neutered and intact males. By the time it's diagnosed, the disease is usually too advanced for successful treatment. "The incidence is still very low, and prostatic cancer is rare in neutered or intact dogs," Dr. Ross said. "At Tufts, most the cancer that is diagnosed in the prostate is actually of bladder or urethral origin that has extended into the prostate."

Prostatic Cysts

While the cause of prostatic cysts isn't known, intact males are at risk for them, and the cysts can become large. Symptoms include painful urination, straining to defecate and discharge from the urethra. Treatment depends on the cysts' size and the problem they may cause the dog.

If the cysts are small, veterinarians advise castration. If the cysts are large, infected or causing problems, veterinarians suggest their surgical removal. With complete removal of the cysts, the dog's prognosis is good.

At Tufts, most of the cancer that is diagnosed in the prostate is actually

of bladder or urethral origin that has extended into the prostate.

Undescended Testicles

Some dogs are born with undescended testicles. Normally, the testicles develop inside the abdomen before birth, then move down into the scrotum around the time of the puppy's birth. Dogs born with undescended testicles are called cryptorchids. Tumors tend to develop in undescended testicles, so it's best to have the dog neutered while young.

"Undescended testes have a significant chance of developing benign or malignant tumors as the dog ages," Dr. Ross said. "According to one study, the chance for tumor development is 14 times greater than in descended testes. Surgery to remove the tumorous testicle within the abdomen is a more serious procedure than the surgery to remove the undescended testicle, not only because of the tumor but because the dog is much older. The average age of occurrence of testicular tumors is about 10 years."

Undescended testicles can also twist and cause protentially fatal inflammation. If both testicles are undescended, the dog will be sterile, although if one testicle is descended, the dog will be fertile. Since retained testicles are an inherited, undesirable characteristic, the dog shouldn't be bred before neutering.

Castration of a cryptorchid isn't as simple as for dogs with normal testicles. Undescended testicles aren't always found in the same place in dogs. They can be under the skin along the path where they should be descended or inside the abdominal cavity. Exploration may be necessary to find two retained testicles, and a surgeon will have to make an incision for each testicle if both of them are not in the abdomen.

Neutering a male dog is the best way to prevent health problems for him. If you don't want to show or breed him, neutering is an act of thoughtful prevention and kindness.

- YOUR DOG, a magazine for caring dog owners

Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine

January 2002, Volume VIII, Number 1