Last week, Meteor needed to be urgently operated. I have known Meteor since he was a seven-week-old puppy, all of 10 years ago now.
Meteor is one of those lucky dogs that do not suffer from medical problems beyond the norm. In fact, I hadn’t seen him since his last routine vaccination. Yet, here he was, being rushed to the clinic with a serious complaint.
Meteor is a boxer. This breed name has many supposed origins. Some have theorised that it was so named due to the breed’s ability to stand tall on its hind legs and play with its forelegs.
However, this theory has been heavily criticised. Since this breed is originally German, a more likely source of its etymology is the Germanic pronunciation of one of its ancestors –a mix of the smaller breed Bullenbeisser, which means bull-biter and which is the original German bulldog.
Sadly, the German bulldog became extinct through lack of breeding, and today’s boxer is the closest surviving relative. Bullenbeisser were also known as Boxl and it is thought that the term ‘boxer’ is a corruption of the shortened form Boxl.
Unneutered male dogs run the risk of suffering from prostate problems and this could mean discomfort or severe pain
In his prime, Meteor was magnificent to behold and even today he can hold his own among a master class of boxers. Like most boxers, he has a heart of gold, and although he is characteristically diffident when I examine him, this time he was displaying unusual signs of agitation.
His owners told me he had recently started to walk with a strange gait and exhibiting signs of discomfort with straining when passing stools. He had also stopped lifting his leg to urinate and had started to pee inside the house.
Due to his owners’ reluctance, Meteor had not been neutered. Unneutered male dogs run the risk of suffering from prostate problems and this could mean discomfort or severe pain. Considering his age and symptoms, I suspected an enlargement of the prostate as one of the top possible causes of his symptoms.
The prostate is the name of a male sex gland which is found deep within the pelvis, just behind the bladder and immediately below the rectum. It is a gland which surrounds the first part of the urethra and its function is to produce that part of the ejaculate fluid which helps the semen to arrive and enhance survival in the uterus, so as to increase the probability of a successful conception.
Being a male sex gland, the prostate is very dependent on the male hormone testosterone, which is produced by the testicles. Just as in older men, older male dogs also have a higher risk of prostate problems. There are three primary causes of prostate problems.
Benign enlargement is the most common cause and is a direct outcome of the normal ageing process in the dog.
The prostate will likely start growing when the dog is around four or five years old and although it will not yet be painful, it could start to cause some discomfort for the dog. As the dog grows older, the levels of discomfort will increase and problems with defecation and urination will start to become evident.
The second most common cause of prostate problems happens due to a bacterial infection that can strike the prostate. If an infection does get as far as the prostate, it becomes that much harder to treat. As a consequence, bacterial infections in the prostate are regarded as an acute or chronic condition. For the dog, this means extreme pain with fever.
Of course, cancer of the prostate does occur though, thankfully, it is the least likely cause of prostate problems in dogs. There are two methods of confirming prostate enlargement: initial examination is carried out by palpation, and visual confirmation is diagnosed by X-ray or ultrasound. With Meteor’s state of agitation, visual analysis had to be done under mild sedation. In his case, his condition was so acute that it was quickly and easily confirmed.
One of the most effective methods for treatment of acute cases is neutering. Once the dog has been neutered, the level of testosterone declines which, in turn, brings about a shrinkage of the prostate gland.
This is so effective that for male dogs older than six to eight years, which have not yet been neutered and will not be mated again, castration should be considered.
Other treatments needed would depend on the individual case and finding. In Meteor’s case, I am glad to report that he has already responded favourably to his treatment.
thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com
Dr Martin Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.