Ultrasonographic Appearance of Acute Prostatitis and Prostatic Abscesses in Dogs

Prostatitis is one of the most common prostatic disorders in dogs, although its ultrasonographic features remain poorly characterized. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the ultrasonographic findings of canine prostatitis and prostatic abscessation and to investigate their association with clinical and laboratory abnormalities. Medical records of 35 client-owned dogs with cytologically or histologically confirmed acute prostatitis were reviewed. Clinical, ultrasonographic, laboratory, bacteriological, treatment, and follow-up data were collected. The most common ultrasonographic findings were inhomogeneous parenchymal echotexture, intraparenchymal cystic lesions, capsular edema, periprostatic steatitis, and asymmetry of the prostatic lobes. Prostatic abscesses were detected in 25 dogs and showed marked variability in size and morphology. Abscess diameter was positively correlated with body weight (p = 0.001; rho = 0.6) and negatively correlated with the percentage of neutrophils with toxic granulation (p = 0.02; rho = -0.4). Most dogs recovered following medical or combined medical-surgical treatment. Follow-up examinations demonstrated resolution of the inflammatory changes surrounding the prostate, whereas parenchymal inhomogeneous echotexture frequently persisted. These findings provide a comprehensive ultrasonographic description of canine prostatitis and support the use of ultrasonography as a valuable tool for diagnosis and follow-up.