Surgical management of common canine prostatic conditions

Prostatic diseases commonly warrant surgical intervention. Early castration may prevent the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and cavitary lesions (prostatic abscesses or cysts). In intact dogs that present with these disorders, castration should always be part of the specific surgical treatment because it enhances treatment success and may prevent recurrence. The current treatment of choice for cavitary lesions is prostatic omentalization, which results in lower postoperative mortality, faster recovery, and fewer incidences of recurrence than other prostatic drainage techniques. Prostatic neoplasia without evidence of metastasis may be managed with total prostatectomy, subtotal prostatectomy in conjunction with intraoperative radiotherapy, or postoperative chemotherapy. Understanding the neurovascular supply of the prostate and surrounding tissues is essential to decrease the risk for urinary incontinence, severe hemorrhage, and avascular necrosis. Postoperative management includes analgesia, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and in cases of subtotal or total prostatectomy, temporary urinary catheterization.