Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Patient Education

Prostatic Disease Surgery

Surgical treatment of prostatic disease addresses enlargement, abscesses, and tumors of the prostate gland in male dogs — conditions that cause pain, urinary difficulty, and can become life-threatening without intervention.

The prostate gland sits at the neck of the bladder in male dogs and surrounds the urethra. Prostatic disease is common in intact (unneutered) male dogs and can take several forms: benign prostatic hyperplasia (simple glandular enlargement), bacterial prostatitis (infection), prostatic abscesses (pus-filled cavities), paraprostatic cysts (fluid-filled structures adjacent to the gland), and prostatic cancer. Each condition may require a different surgical approach. Dr. Alan Schulman, our board-certified surgeon (ACVS), evaluates and treats prostatic disease at Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas, supported by on-site ultrasound and CT imaging for precise diagnosis and surgical planning.

Why It's Recommended

Medical management — primarily castration — resolves benign prostatic hyperplasia in most intact dogs simply by removing the hormonal stimulus. Surgery becomes necessary when:

  • A prostatic abscess is present: large, infected pockets of pus do not resolve with antibiotics alone and risk rupturing into the abdomen, causing life-threatening peritonitis
  • A paraprostatic cyst is large enough to compress the urethra or rectum, causing straining to urinate or defecate
  • Prostatic cancer: tumors of the prostate are aggressive; surgery may relieve obstruction or assist in staging, though complete cure is rarely achievable
  • Chronic infection (chronic bacterial prostatitis) unresponsive to prolonged antibiotic therapy may require surgical drainage or partial prostatectomy to eliminate the nidus of infection

How the Procedure Works

The approach is tailored to the underlying disease. Common surgical procedures include:

  • Castration: almost always performed concurrently — removing testosterone causes benign hyperplastic tissue to shrink significantly over weeks to months and reduces the risk of abscess recurrence
  • Prostatic omentalization: a technique used for abscesses in which the abscess cavities are drained and the omentum (a fat-rich abdominal tissue with excellent blood supply) is tunneled into the cavities — this promotes drainage, healing, and obliteration of the dead space without removing the gland
  • Paraprostatic cyst marsupialization or excision: large cysts are either opened and secured to the abdominal wall for controlled drainage, or excised if small and accessible
  • Partial or subtotal prostatectomy: removal of prostate tissue, typically used for cancer or severe chronic infection; technically demanding and associated with a higher risk of urinary incontinence

All procedures are performed under general anesthesia with continuous monitoring. Ultrasound guidance during surgery may assist in drainage or tissue characterization.

Is your male dog straining to urinate or showing signs of prostatic disease?

Book an Appointment

Preparation

Preparation for prostatic disease surgery depends on the severity and urgency of the condition. Dogs with a ruptured abscess require emergency stabilization before surgery. Elective cases include:

  • Complete bloodwork — chemistry panel, complete blood count, and coagulation testing, as infection and cancer can alter clotting
  • Urinalysis and urine culture — urinary tract infection is common with prostatic disease
  • Prostatic wash or aspirate cytology to characterize the type of disease
  • Abdominal ultrasound and/or CT to map the size, internal structure, and involvement of surrounding tissues
  • Chest radiographs if cancer is suspected, to evaluate for lung spread
  • IV antibiotic therapy started before surgery if infection is present
  • Food withheld the night before; IV fluids continued through the perioperative period

Recovery & Aftercare

Hospitalization after prostatic surgery ranges from one night for uncomplicated abscess omentalization to several days for more complex cases. Home care typically includes:

  • Days 1–7: strict rest, pain control, and incision monitoring; IV antibiotics transitioned to oral therapy based on culture results
  • Weeks 1–2: limited activity, leash walks only, monitoring of urination and defecation for straining or incontinence
  • 2–3 weeks: recheck visit for incision assessment, urinalysis recheck, and physical exam
  • 4–8 weeks: ultrasound recheck to confirm the prostate is shrinking (in benign disease after castration) and that any treated cysts or abscesses are resolving

For prostatic cancer cases, oncology consultation for palliative radiation or chemotherapy is often recommended alongside surgical management.

Risks & What to Expect

Risk varies considerably with the underlying disease. Prostatic abscess carries real risk — sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (a clotting disorder), and death are possible if an abscess ruptures before or during surgery. With appropriate pre-operative stabilization and omentalization, survival rates are good. Specific risks of surgical treatment include:

  • Urinary incontinence — particularly after partial prostatectomy, as the urethral sphincter mechanism can be disrupted; less common after omentalization or cyst procedures
  • Recurrent infection if not all infected or necrotic tissue is addressed and if concurrent castration is not performed
  • Peritonitis if an abscess leaks intraoperatively — managed with aggressive lavage and drainage

For benign disease managed with castration and omentalization, most dogs recover well and enjoy a significantly improved quality of life. Prostatic cancer carries a more guarded prognosis regardless of treatment approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can prostatic disease in a dog be treated without surgery?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia almost always responds well to castration alone, which is minimally invasive. Prostatic abscesses and large cysts require surgical drainage — antibiotics alone are insufficient and the risk of rupture makes prompt surgery important.
2Will my dog need to be neutered as part of the surgery?
Yes — castration is a critical component of treatment for nearly all forms of prostatic disease in dogs. Testosterone drives glandular growth and promotes the environment in which infection and cysts thrive; neutering removes that stimulus and significantly improves outcomes.
3Is a prostatic abscess in a dog an emergency?
Yes — a prostatic abscess is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. Infected pus-filled cavities can rupture into the abdomen, causing peritonitis (abdominal infection) and sepsis. Dogs with fever, abdominal pain, and difficulty urinating should be seen urgently.
4What are the signs of prostatic disease in a dog?
Common signs include straining or difficulty urinating, a ribbon-like or flattened stool due to rectal compression, bloody discharge from the penis unrelated to urination, a stiff or painful gait in the back legs, fever, and lethargy. An enlarged prostate is often found on rectal examination.
5How is a prostatic abscess different from benign prostate enlargement?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a simple overgrowth of glandular tissue driven by testosterone — it causes enlargement and may compress nearby structures, but it is not infected. A prostatic abscess contains pus — it is actively infected and can become life-threatening if it ruptures.
6Will my dog be incontinent after prostate surgery?
Incontinence is an uncommon complication of most prostatic procedures — particularly omentalization for abscesses and cyst management. It is more of a risk with partial prostatectomy (tissue removal), which is used mainly for cancer. Your surgeon will discuss the specific likelihood based on the procedure planned.
7Is prostatic cancer in dogs curable with surgery?
Complete surgical cure of prostatic carcinoma is rarely achievable because the tumor tends to be locally invasive and often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Palliative measures — including surgery to relieve obstruction, radiation, and medical therapy — can meaningfully extend comfortable quality of life.
8How long does recovery take after surgery for a prostatic abscess?
Most dogs require two to five days of hospitalization after prostatic abscess surgery, followed by two to four weeks of restricted activity at home. Antibiotic therapy based on culture results continues for several weeks. A recheck ultrasound at four to eight weeks confirms healing.

Is your male dog straining to urinate or showing signs of prostatic disease?

Our surgical team can evaluate the prostate with on-site ultrasound and CT and recommend the most effective treatment — from castration alone to surgical drainage.

Book an Appointment