Prostatitis and prostatic abscessation in dogs: retrospective study of 82 cases

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Canine Urology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Prostatitis and prostatic abscesses are common conditions in canine medicine.
• Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize clinical signs, diagnostic findings, treatments, and outcomes for dogs with prostatitis and prostatic abscesses.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different treatment modalities and identify prognostic factors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series involving 82 dogs with prostatitis and/or prostatic abscesses from three referral hospitals.
• Data collected included clinical signs, diagnostic imaging (ultrasonography), bacterial cultures (urine and prostatic), and treatment outcomes.
• Treatment options for abscesses included antimicrobials alone, ultrasound-guided needle drainage, or surgical drainage.

Main Results:

• Acute prostatitis (63%) and chronic prostatitis (37%) were diagnosed, with 40% of cases presenting with prostatic abscessation.
• Prostatomegaly was the most frequent ultrasonographic finding; mineralization was noted in 20% of cases.
• High rates of antimicrobial resistance were observed, with discordant results between urine and prostatic cultures in 50% of cases.

Conclusions:

• Canine prostatitis generally has a good prognosis with antimicrobial therapy and castration.
• Prostatic abscessation did not appear to worsen the prognosis, with multiple drainage techniques being viable options.
• Antimicrobial resistance is prevalent, and direct prostate sampling is essential for accurate diagnosis and to rule out other conditions like neoplasia.