Prostate cancer in dogs, while rare, is unfortunately quite serious. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains the types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of prostate cancer in dogs so that dog parents will know what to expect should their loyal companion be facing this devastating diagnosis.
As you may have discovered if you read my article on enlarged prostate in dogs, prostate cancer only accounts for about 5 to 7% of cases of prostatic disease in dogs and affects 0.3 to 0.6% of dogs overall.
However, if you love a dog who has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, those numbers probably don’t bring you much comfort. All you know is that your dog has cancer—and a pretty bad kind at that.
I want you to know that I see you. And I want to help equip you with information so you can make informed decisions as you digest this difficult news.
What is prostate cancer in dogs?
There are actually several different types of cancer that all fall under the umbrella of “prostate cancer in dogs.” Ninety-eight percent of prostatic tumors are characterized as carcinomas, though. This means they primarily come from epithelial cells—the cells that line the surfaces of many organs, including the prostate and the skin.
Overall, prostatic adenocarcinoma is the most common type of prostate cancer. However, dogs can also have other prostatic carcinomas including squamous cell carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma. Plus, carcinomas that occur elsewhere in a dog’s urinary tract (e.g., bladder cancer in dogs such as transitional cell carcinoma) have been known to extend into the prostate gland in some cases.
The remaining 2% of prostatic tumors are sarcomas (i.e. tumors arising from connective tissue) such as fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma.
Unfortunately, it is extremely rare for any prostate tumors to be benign, and many of them tend to metastasize (i.e. spread) to other parts of the body.
What causes prostate cancer in dogs?
Like most other cancers, there isn’t one single cause of prostate cancer. However, researchers agree there are genetic and environmental factors that may play a role. They have isolated a mutation in the BRAF gene which seems to be present in most cancers that involve the urogenital tract.
Additionally, prostate cancer is more common in dogs who are older than 9 or 10 years of age. And it tends to occur in medium or large-breed dogs more frequently, especially:
- Airedales
- Beagles
- Doberman Pinschers
- German Short-Haired Pointers
- Miniature Poodles
- Norwegian Elkhounds
- Scottish Terriers
- Shetland Sheepdogs
Interestingly, while it is the most common cause of the prostatic enlargement, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) does not put dogs at a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostatic cancer. In fact, intact male dogs (i.e. the group of dogs who develop hormone-related BPH) are actually two times less likely to develop prostate cancer than neutered males. This may be because of the protective effect of sex hormones on the prostate gland.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer in dogs?
Initially, dogs with prostatic cancer may appear to have no outward clinical signs. This can make it easy for cancer to go undetected until it reaches the later stages and the dog becomes symptomatic. Because of this, sadly, cancer has already spread in four out of five dogs at the time of initial diagnosis.
Earlier signs of prostate cancer in dogs
Once becoming symptomatic, the majority of dogs with prostate cancer will initially have signs associated with the urinary tract. This makes sense because the urethra passes through the prostate. And when the prostate gets larger, it squeezes the urethra, restricting the flow of urine.
As a result, the dog may start straining to urinate or have difficulty urinating. Sometimes he may have blood in the urine too. These signs can look quite similar to the signs of a UTI in dogs (i.e. urinary tract infection).
Since the prostate lies directly below the colon, an enlarged prostate due to prostate cancer can compress the colon too. This may make it difficult for the dog to defecate and lead to straining or prolonged posturing. You may also notice your dog’s stool is narrower than normal or ribbon-like.
Signs of advanced prostate cancer
As prostate cancer progresses and spreads to other internal organs, you will start to see additional symptoms. They can vary depending on which area or areas the cancer is affecting. Signs of advanced or end-stage prostate cancer in dogs include:
- Weight loss
- Inappetence
- A lethargic dog
- Coughing
- Urinary obstruction (i.e. an inability to urinate, which requires an emergency vet visit)
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Low back or hind limb pain (due to the proximity of the prostate to the lumbar spine and pelvis and the potential of metastasis to bone)
If you see any of the early or advanced signs we just discussed, or you have other concerns about your dog, please schedule an appointment with your vet.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will start by asking you some questions about your dog and performing a thorough physical examination.
Rectal palpation
As part of the physical, the vet will attempt to palpate the prostate gland via a rectal exam. Normally the prostate should be small and smooth. But dogs with prostate cancer may have a prostate that is large and irregular on its surface. A diseased prostate gland may also be firm, nodular, and painful.
During the rectal examination, the vet will also palpate the dog’s sublumbar lymph nodes, which are located just below the lower spine. These lymph nodes are sometimes enlarged when a dog has prostate cancer.
Bloodwork and urine testing
Since urinary tract symptoms are common in dogs with prostate cancer, your vet may also recommend a urinalysis and bloodwork. These tests will help rule out other illnesses like a kidney infection (i.e. pyelonephritis in dogs), kidney failure in dogs, or a urinary tract infection. Plus, they are important parts of staging a dog’s prostate cancer.
X-ray or ultrasound
Imaging such as X-ray and ultrasound is also useful for evaluating the prostate and staging the prostate cancer. For example, if the vet sees prostatic mineralization on the X-ray of a neutered male dog, there is a very high likelihood of prostatic carcinoma. Imaging can also reveal evidence of metastatic disease in organs like the lungs, liver, spine, and colon.
CADET® BRAF test
Your vet may also recommend a special urine test called the CADET® BRAF or BRAF PLUS. These tests look for a mutation of the BRAF gene, which is found in the majority of urogenital cancers. Since this test is non-invasive and easy to perform, it can be a great screening tool to rule out carcinomas of the urinary tract. However, it won’t detect all cancer types.
Cytology or biopsy
For a more definitive diagnosis, the vet may recommend collecting prostate cells for analysis. Sometimes he or she will perform a prostate aspirate (i.e. pull cells out with a needle under ultrasound guidance) or examine the cells in the prostatic fluid. However, a biopsy (i.e. obtaining a bit of prostate tissue) is the best way to determine precisely what type of prostate cancer the dog has.
What are the treatments for prostate cancer?
After your vet has diagnosed prostatic cancer in your dog, he or she, or a veterinary oncologist, can talk to you about the various treatment options.
Surgery for prostate cancer in dogs
There are a variety of potential surgical options, depending on the size of the tumor, the goal of surgery, and the dog’s clinical signs.
Prostate surgery
Veterinary surgeons may elect to remove the entire prostate gland if the tumor is small and detected early. However, a complete prostatectomy (i.e. prostate removal) can increase the risk of complications such as urinary incontinence.
Alternatively, the surgeon may remove part of the prostate gland. This can help preserve the nerve signal to the urinary bladder, making the dog less likely to become incontinent. It can also help relieve some of the clinical signs related to an enlarged prostate. However, it won’t guarantee the complete removal of the cancer.
Palliative surgery to relieve urinary obstruction
There are also some palliative surgical options that are aimed at relieving signs of urinary obstruction, rather than addressing the tumor itself. One of the problems with prostate cancer is the fact that the enlarged prostate gland can partially or completely obstruct the urethra, leading to difficulty urinating. If the dog can’t urinate at all, this can quickly become life-threatening.
To help the dog urinate, a surgeon may perform a tube cystotomy (i.e. inserting a tube in the bladder that drains urine to the outside world and bypasses the urethra) or urethral stenting (i.e. placing a device that helps keep the urethra open).
Neutering an intact male
Neutering will not help with prostate cancer directly because prostate tumors don’t respond to stimulation from testicular hormones. However, if there is benign prostatic enlargement (BPH) present at the same time, neutering may help to shrink the prostate and thus provide some relief from the symptoms.
Chemotherapy and radiation
Sometimes chemotherapy or radiation therapy can help slow the growth of the tumor for a period of time. A veterinary oncologist could advise you about the protocol he or she would recommend for your dog’s particular case.
Photodynamic therapy
There are also newer therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), which kills cancer cells using special drugs activated by laser light. Although not a complete cure, PDT may increase the survival time of a dog with prostate cancer.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
Many prostate tumor cells express the enzyme COX-2, but regular prostate cells do not. Interestingly, this is the same enzyme that many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) target to reduce pain and inflammation. This means that these drugs could be a helpful treatment for prostate cancer too.
In fact, a study in Veterinary and Comparative Oncology indicated that dogs treated with the NSAIDs piroxicam or carprofen lived an average of 6.9 months after diagnosis. This is significantly longer than the 0.7-month mean survival time in the untreated group.
Dewormer
In human research, there are ongoing studies looking at the effects of certain anti-parasitic medications and their usefulness in the treatment of prostate cancer. Drugs such as nitazoxanide and mebendazole have been used with chemotherapy to help kill prostatic tumor cells in mouse models.
However, human clinical trials are currently underway, so the data on these treatments is not yet definitive. This also means that we aren’t sure whether dogs can benefit from similar therapies.
Natural treatments
Unfortunately, there are no natural ways to cure prostate cancer in dogs. However, dogs may benefit from being fed a complete and balanced diet. You could also consider giving them anti-inflammatory supplements like omega-3 fatty acids for dogs, glucosamine, chondroitin, or Vitamin C.
As an added benefit, Vitamin C also helps make it harder for bacterial infections to take hold. This can be useful in dogs with prostatic cancer because they are prone to prostate infections (i.e. prostatitis).
What is the prognosis for prostate cancer in dogs?
Unfortunately, because many prostatic cancers aren’t detected until the end stages, prostate tumors can be very difficult to treat. And even with treatment, a complete cure is unlikely. Plus, prostate cancer is locally aggressive and can spread rapidly.
For these reasons, the prognosis for a dog with prostate cancer is poor. Due to the severity of their disease, over 50% of dogs with prostate tumors and metastatic disease are euthanized at the time of diagnosis. And only half of the dogs who are alive a week after diagnosis will still be alive in 30 days.
Occasionally, with the currently available treatments for prostatic cancer and palliative care options, it is possible for dogs to have a slightly longer life expectancy—perhaps several months or up to a year.
Knowing when it is time to euthanize a dog with prostate cancer
During this time frame, it will be important to monitor your pup closely. You might find it helpful to complete a quality-of-life scale for dogs on a regular basis or keep a journal of observations. This can help you track changes in your dog’s happiness and health.
Prostate cancer can be very painful and interfere with your dog’s overall quality of life. If you are seeing signs your dog is in pain, or if he isn’t eating or drinking, is lethargic, and is not playing like he used to, make sure to talk with your veterinarian about your options going forward.
It may be time to euthanize a dog with prostate cancer if he shows any of the following signs:
- Stops eating completely
- Experiences continuous vomiting and diarrhea
- Has trouble breathing (from metastatic disease)
- Is extremely lethargic and cannot walk
- Loses a lot of blood in his urine
- Starts having seizures in dogs
I know that this is a heart-wrenching decision to have to make, so I wanted to offer a few resources that might help with the process:
- In-Home Dog Euthanasia: Heartfelt Answers to 12 FAQs
- Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
- Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
- Dog Memorial Ideas: 10 Ways to Honor Your Dog’s Legacy
- Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia (& Finding Peace)
- Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
Words of comfort
Unfortunately, when cancer—and especially an aggressive type of cancer like prostate cancer—is on the table, hope and comfort can be hard to come by. I can’t tell you how long your dog will be with you after the diagnosis. And I can’t tell you what, if any, treatment is right for your dog. But I can tell you that your dog knows that he is loved and that you are doing your best to take care of him.
I hope that if you are reading this because your dog has prostate cancer, you will be one of the lucky ones who gets a bit more time with your sweet pup. But if you aren’t, or even if you are, I also hope that you can find a measure of joy and comfort in all of the memories you shared with your beloved dog.
Have you lost a dog to prostate cancer? Or is your dog fighting prostatic cancer now?
Please share their story below.
My precious Kane was diagnosed with prostate cancer on September 10th. He had been having issues controlling his urinating and losing weight, originally in July they said it was a bladder infection and gave him antibiotics for 10 days. Now on the 10th they did x rays and found a mass on his prostate. so for now he is on antiinflammatories, antibiotics, and painkillers but they weren’t able to give me a timeline of progression. He doesn’t seem to be in pain, urinating is a struggle at times and he eats sporadically. This has been a shock to my family as he has been our emotional support for the past 11 years. I’m hoping to at least have a few more months with him and we can keep him comfortable. Thank you
Dear Justin,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with Kane. I am so sorry he has received this diagnosis and can only imagine how hard this must be for your family. Try to make the most of the time you are gifted and fill each day with joy. Wishing your sweet boy comfort and peace. Bless you all. ♥
Hey Justin, I am so sorry you are going through this! We actually have an extremely similar situation. Our boy is 11 and was diagnosed on Oct 24, he is now on an NSAID and antibiotics. He also strains to eliminate and eats sporadically. I’m struggling on how I am going to decide when it is time. I’m wondering how things are with you and Kane.
Hi Seanna,
I am sorry you are facing this same situation with your senior guy. Praying for you with the difficult decisions that lie ahead. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
My 7 year old Fitz was very recently diagnosed with prostate cancer which was prompted by what I thought was a stomach ache. And although he felt better the next day, I brought him to see his veterinarian, who just happens to be my niece, and she did a thorough exam on him. I just wanted to make sure all was okay.
My niece took several X-rays and a urine sample. Thereafter, Fitz and I waited in the room for about 15 minutes.
I could tell by the look on my niece’s face when she came back in the room that it wasn’t good news.
And although she gave me a book of knowledge with her explanation, I’ll be darned if I could remember half of it through the tears. And all Fitz wanted to do was keep kissing her face as he loved her so much!!!
Fitz had surgery only 2 months ago to repair a fully torn ligament in his knee. He’s now walking so much better now. This is all so sad.
His tumor is the size of a softball, so it’s probable he’s had it awhile.
Strangely, no major symptoms other than more tiredness than normal and I’m starting to see some discomfort or awkwardness when he is sitting.
We are treating him with Vetprofin and Gabapentin. Considering the stage we are at, I wouldn’t put him through Chemotherapy or radiation.
I’ve read extensively about prostatectomies in dogs and that would be a huge risk with probable complications and not much of a prolonged life thereafter, if any.
I’m really shocked at how uncommon prostate cancer is in dogs. 0.03% in all dogs, that’s really very low.
So, we’re doing our best just to keep him happy and comfortable.
He is my soul mate and friend after losing my previous fur baby to lymphoma.
I will miss him so very, very much, but treasuring our time together ❤️🕊️❤️
Dear Karen,
My heart aches for you as you face these last days with your beloved boy. Fitz sounds like such an amazing little pup and I am certain he knows how much he is loved. Praying for comfort and peace as you navigate the difficult path ahead. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
My dog–my love, a therapy dog, and crisis-response dog was just recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. We see the oncologist in a few days..
For religious reasons, I don’t want to euthanize (when the disease progresses), my other 2 dogs passed naturally–and while each time it was a tremendous SHOCK, I knew the other side of the sword–I was not faced with that other dreadful decision.
Do you know of hospice care places/universities (preferably in the midwest USA) that treats this way?
Thank you for your help.
Hi Laura,
I am sorry your pup has received this difficult diagnosis. I am not aware of any hospitals or universities that specifically treat with hospice care. There may be a vet at once of these facilities that would offer these services. You may also have better luck with finding a house call vet that runs their own hospice practice. Hoping you can find what you need to offer your dog the care they need. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this emotional path.
This article, and the comments from others going through the same struggles as I am with my dog, have been a balm to my heart tonight. My sweet boy was diagnosed almost 3 months ago, and, like others here, we decided against surgery, chemo, and radiation, but went with NSAIDs. He’s been doing very well, bit I’m the last four days we’ve noticed a marked change in his poops, as he is taking longer and longer (sometimes minutes, now) to find just the right location, and he’s starting to strain at the end of his poop as though there’s more in there but he can’t get it out. Just now, he tried for about 90 seconds, but nothing came out. I’m not sure what to do, as it’s the weekend and there are no vet clinics open in my town. I know that not being able to pee is a true emergency, bit what if he can’t poop tomorrow either? Should I consider that an emergency?
Thank you for any help you can give. And thank you for your article, which was both frank and compassionate.
Dear M.A.,
I am so sorry your boy has received this devastating diagnosis and is struggling with defecating. It may be ok to give him something to help soften the feces and allow it to pass more easily. Even if your vet is closed, you should be able to call a local emergency clinic and get advice. I am not sure this is a true emergency but definitely wouldn’t want it to continue for a long period of time. I am hoping you were able to make it through the weekend and get in touch with your vet. Praying your boy is still fighting and wishing you both the best as you try to make the most of the time you have together.
Hi everyone 6 months ago my dog had a wee sample done and it’s shown blood in ever since . Bailey was fine and still is no signs anything is wrong. My vets have prescribed a long course of antibiotics which haven’t worked and done 3 scans showing nothing. Blood tests show his liver and kidneys are fine and a needle taking a urine sample I think straight from the bladder . They said his bladder wall was thicker than it should be . Bailey is a cavalier 9 years and a stage 4 heart murmur. The vets now say they think it’s possibly prostrate cancer . They don’t want to do an X-ray because of his heart and if they find anything they don’t think it’s right to have an operation because of his heart . Prostrate cancer I’ve read is quick but so far Bailey has had this problem for 6 months and he’s absolutely fine in himself. . Can the blood linger on like this for so long . He’s eating drinking fine no problem pooping or weeing he’s not slowed down . I really can’t afford the vets costs now and my vets have also said if he does have any problems his hearts not good so solving one problem may cause another. . I’m desperate for answers but I don’t want to stress him because of his heart . But still curious if it’s prostrate cancer why in 6 months have we not got any other symptoms. Thankyou everyone xx
Hi Mandy,
I am sorry Bailey is having these urinary issues and despite lots of testing you are still left with more questions than answers. Unfortunately, without playing a personal role in his medical care it is hard to make specific conclusions and recommendations. Cancer doesn’t always go by the book and can be quite unpredictable. With that being said, anything is possible since a definitive diagnosis has not been made at this point. I understand money is tight and may be limiting your options, but if your boy has not had an abdominal ultrasound, I would discuss the possibility with your vet. Also, you can always ask for a consultation with a specialist if needed. Hoping you can get the answers you need to restore your sweet boy’s health. Wishing you all the best and praying for a positive outcome for Bailey.
My dog Max was a rescue, I got him as a barely weened pup that was going to the pound soon. He was an Airedale/German shepherd mix and still is the love of my life. He was just getting ready to turn 10 when he started limping on his back leg. We got x-rays, laser treatments for arthritis, everything we could think of. Finally, we went to a vet that said your dog has prostate cancer and he was gone within the month. It was very hard, and he suffered until the end. We had to put him down at the end of July 2023 and I still feel so guilty for not seeing the signs, I feel guilty because we got a female puppy as a playmate for him, and I feel like that jump started the situation. I feel guilty we had him on apoquel for his allergies which can make existing cancers worse, and I feel guilty that I let him suffer for as long as he did, Prostate cancer may not be common, but it is horrific and sneaky. I wish I could go back and do a lot of things differently, but I can’t. What I am thankful for is finding this site with all the comments of people who have been through the same thing. I feel all your pain our pets were loved beyond measure and one day I hope we all get to see them again happy, healthy & waiting for us.
Dear Tara,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Max. He sounds like an amazing pup, and it is clear he was dearly loved. Thank you for sharing your story with us. As you mentioned, it helps others to know they are not alone. Praying for your comfort and peace as you continue life’s journey. Bless you. ♥
I have a 15 yo rescue dog who has been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer since November, however I believe he had it earlier in the summer as it was originally diagnosed as a UTI.
Since then he’s been doing pretty good, however the last few days he is now not pooping really really straining to urinate, small small streams , many accidents while he’s in bed. His walks he looks strained he used to walk with a helicopter tail now he keeps it down.
I made a call to the vet and have an appointment to say goodbye in our home in 2 days. Now I feel like the worst dog mom when I look into his eyes. He finally had a family that loves him and I’m making this decision.
I guess just needing some reassurance
Dear Shara,
I am so sorry you are facing this emotional decision for your senior boy. I understand the burden of guilt that comes with having to say goodbye to a beloved pup. But from what you describe, you are definitely making the right choice. Sometimes letting go is the most loving option and only way to offer peace and freedom from suffering. I wanted to let you know that I saw your other comment asking why this original post was removed. Nothing was removed, I just hadn’t had a chance to approve and respond yet. We get hundreds of comments each month and it can take some time to work through all of them to give each the personal attention it deserves. Please know your thoughts and feelings are important to us and I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I am praying for your strength and comfort as you face tomorow’s appointment. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
Thank you for your kind words 💔❤️🩹
Marley was approximately an 11 year old healthy happy chow/husky mix. He suffered frequent UTIs for about a year. I would see reddish pink spots on the kitchen floor. They would vanish after being on antibiotics. After 9 months from his original UTI it came back, the vet finally said it seems odd. I set up the appoint for the ultra sound and they had to sedate him. They discovered he had no UTI this time but a bladder stone the size of lima bean and unfortunately Prostate cancer from an ultra sound. I bawled my eyes out at my desk at work. I thought, this cannot be! I said no the needle biopsy to clarify if it was indeed cancer because I didn’t want to cell spread it to other organs if it was cancer. Instead I asked if the ultrasound technologist her opinion and she thought it was safe to say it was cancer. He is so healthy and active and I hated hearing this. I started to blame my old apartment complex where we lived for about 5 years because they dumped nasty fertilizers around the dog friendly area. The smell was so strong I used to put him in my car and drive him to the next neighborhood to go potty because I was so scared of those chemicals they sprayed were not safe for him.
I took him to the oncologist, they explained what they can do but it wasn’t feasible. The thousands of dollars and the extended time by a few months with chemo that would make him ill was something I could not do. Instead he was put on Piroxicam. I wanted to save his life and I would spend hours every day googling this horrible disease. I found a holistic vet and they wanted to do vitamin C infusions, still thousands of dollars. I said no to it and instead they gave him chinese medicine. Not sure if that was a scam or if it did anything. One medicine was a “prostate invigorator” and the other was a “stasis breaker”. It was a powder that I mixed into his food, smelled like tea and I have no idea if he liked or hated it or did anything.
After doing this routine medicine, Marley seemed alright. Still saw the spots on the floor but I did notice him start to decline like they said he would. He had an unusual stance when urinating. I could tell he was in pain. I got so depressed because I wanted to keep a good watch on his pee/bowel movement habits. He would lick his lips every time he went to the bathroom and I would cry watching. He had troubles going both pee/poop and his pee would start with blood.. He was straining and trying so hard to go. There were some days I came home to diarrhea and bloody pee on the kitchen floor. I never once yelled at him, instead I hugged him and told him I loved him.
I did start feeding him home cooked food for toppers, he still had a huge appetite. I made him fresh plain chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, hard fried eggs, sweet potatoes and peas. I think the peas helped with his bowl movements. I knew my final days with him were coming. He didn’t want to walk as long and I knew my best friend was very ill.
To make my depression worse, I lost my job. But I took that as a blessing to be with him and to take extra care for him. About a month and half after I lost my job, I lost my best friend too. Hurts like hell. One day he couldn’t urinate at all. Just drips. I took him to the animal hospital and the X-ray revealed his bladder stone was gone but his prostate was mineralizing so badly it was almost the same density of his bones! They tried to catheterize him but they couldn’t’ even get it passed his prostate. He came home with me that night after somehow they drained his bladder and I slept on the floor with him holding and crying into the back of his scruff. He was on medicine to help his bladder relax and made him loopy. After he tried for hours to pee the next morning I knew what had to be done. I had to stop being selfish!! I had to set him free of his pain and suffering even though his only problem to me was that he couldn’t pee and it was so hard to make that decision but i am sure if Marley could talk I am sure there was more pain than I could see. I did not want his bladder to burst and I had to make that call.
Marley is an angel, he was the BEST dog.
I hope someone else reads this and knows the story of Marley and Me.
Its not easy. Its been 2 weeks since he’s been gone and I still cry. I can’t even vacuum his fur up in the one spot he always laid.
There are good days and bad days. The moment he was free I felt closure in knowing what happened was the right thing to do and I would never want to watch and him suffer with his bladder possible rupturing and how sick he would get. I was actually surprised I felt a bit of relief and comfort knowing I did the right thing.
Marley become an angel on 9/12/23 after his first initial signs started September of 2022 and was officially diagnosed 6/01/23 with Prostate Cancer. He would have been approximately 12 years old next month. He was given lots of care and endless amounts of love. You will never be prepared and ready to say goodbye.
Dear Andrea,
My heart aches for you as you mourn the loss of Marley. It is clear he was dearly loved, and I am certain he knew. He sounds like an amazing pup. I am glad you were able to be with him during his final weeks. I can only imagine that your presence was a comfort. Thank you for sharing Marley’s story with us. He will never be forgotten. May his memory live on and bring you happiness and joy. Wishing you healing and peace for your heart. Bless you.
I am going thru this with by buddy, Junior. I’ve had his bladder drained twice. He just trys and trys to pee but nothing comes out. I know I need to stop his pain, but I just can’t stop crying and hoping!
Dear Russ,
I can only imagine how emotional this must be for you. I wish you did not have to face this difficult situation. Praying for your strength and peace. Bless you and sweet Junior. ♥
Our dog Welker was a rescue and they believed he was at least 1 y/o. Recently we noticed an increase in drinking water and frequent urination. He would urinate a decent amount but would keep trying and only a little amount would come out. Other than that he seemed normal. He loved to run and was still running with me. We did limit him in the summer to only 15-20 minutes due to the heat.
However we took him to the vet and his bloodwork came back with elevated calcium. They sent bloodwork to Michigan State and they recommended a Cat scan. We took him to Auburn University of Veterinary Medicine. They did an ultrasound instead due to an enlarged prostrate. Results showed that he has prostatic cancer that has metastasized to his lymph nodes. His prognosis is less than 3 months. ( we didn’t want to do radiation and chemotherapy due to his age).
Your articular was very helpful especially knowing when to euthanize him.
We are planning on a long trip to Colorado to spend a month and have decided to take him as he loves to travel.
We don’t know if he’ll make it home but at least we will be with him.
Hi Donna,
I’m so sorry to hear about Welker’s prostate cancer diagnosis. It is always heartbreaking to get a cancer diagnosis, especially one with such a poor prognosis. I hope that you were able to have a marvelous trip to Colorado with Welker and make lots of beautiful memories together. What an amazing way to make the most of your remaining time together. ❤️
Wanted to give you an update on our dog Welker. As you know on June 23/2023 he was given about a 3 month life expectancy of 3 months. He was put on Piroxicam. Well we took him to Colorado in July and we made it home. He continued to do well. He enjoyed Christmas. He slowed down a little in January, but didn’t seem much in pain and was very Happy. He wasn’t having as much trouble with peeing and pooping. His appetite was great. He still love to go for walks and play. Then about the 3rd week in February he really slowed down. He had a lot of trouble getting on the furniture. He started having a lot of trouble peeing and pooping. He wanted to sleep outside in the cold. He still wanted to go for walks and get in the car to pick up the grandson. The last week in February his eating decreased and he was obviously in a lot of pain. We had in home euthanasia on our bed his favorite place to be on March 1st 2024. I highly recommend home euthanasia. We were pleased to have for him a little over 8 months after his diagnosis. Thanks for all your support
Dear Donna,
I am so glad you offered this update on Welker. I can only imagine how much you miss him, but what a blessing you gained 8 extra months together! May his memory live on and continue to be a source of joy in your lives. Praying for peace and wishing you brighter days ahead.
My 13 1/2 year old miniature poodle started having trouble urinating 4 months ago. He had and was treated for a UTI and seemed to get a little better but was still straining to urinate. He was treated again for a UTI 2 months later but started to have trouble defecating at that time. He did not improve and has progressively gotten worse. He feels like he needs to go out constantly but only produces small stream of urine and his bowel movements if he can are thin and loose. He sometimes cries out when he is trying to go. I took him for ultrasound and they found tumor on his prostate that has spread to the bladder. I made arrangements to have him euthanized on Tuesday because I don’t want to see him suffer. However, he still has an appetite and today he was able to have a bowel movement and is acting more like his old self. Tail wagging and even jumped up on the chair with me. Now, I am unsure that I am making the right decision to have him put down. I know he won’t get better, and wonder if it is better to let him go now before the pain is worse or if I should wait. This is so hard!
Dear Jill,
My heart goes out to you with the loss of your senior pup. I know it was hard to make such an emotional decision, but it came from a place of love. Sometimes saying goodbye is the only way to give a beloved dog peace and freedom from suffering. I hope your little guy’s passing was smooth and peaceful. May his memory be a blessing in your life and stay with you always.
Our amazing dog was diagnosed at a specialty clinic by an ultrasound after his regular vet did a digital examination and bloodwork. He was put on NSAIDs.
He is doing very well. He has his appetite, he can go up and down stairs, he is not coughing or vomiting and he can still run and jump – and bark (loudly). He wears a diaper, goes out sometimes every 20 minutes. He urinates mostly small amounts. He defecates three or four times a day. There is no apparent blood in his urine or feces. In spite of his robust activity and appetite we do think that he is uncomfortable. Mostly this is alleviated when he manages to defecate. We have improved most of the skin irritation from the diaper by frequently changing panty liners in the diapers.
He has quality of life but ours is deteriorating.
We are active retirees and are available to attend him 7/24. We don’t leave him alone for more than 3 hours and he goes for walks 3 or 4 times a day (as far as he wants) Sometimes he walks for 2 miles, sometimes he doesn’t want to go at all. My already vey thin husband is losing weight but our dog is getting two regular meals and several small healthy treats throughout the day and keeping his weight normal. Lately he has needed to go out in the
middle of the night. He has always been happily compliant and knows traditional commands and some unique to us like “wait” “come around” “this way” “inside” and “not for you”. He is very intelligent (part herding dog) and he is becoming more and more in charge of us. He has tremendous joy in this and we are exhausted.
Our decision to not do cancer treatment (except for NSAIDs) seems to be a good one. I did buy he some expensive doggie vitamins from Costco. He gets them twice a day. It feels like he might outlast us!
Seriously, his “posture” has changed; he has a permanent humped back. This has not affected his coordination or mobility however.
Palliative care is not looking like we imagined.
We need some advice.
Hi Steph,
I am sorry your pup has received this diagnosis, but it sounds like he is doing very well. I understand how difficult being a full-time caregiver to a senior dog can be. You mentioned you need some advice and that the palliative care is not going as you expected. How can I help? What is it that you are struggling with? Do you just need some time to yourselves? Maybe there is a pet sitter in your area or a doggy daycare that would be willing to watch him for a few hours each week to give you a break. Hoping you can find the answers you need to restore your quality of life and keep your sweet boy happy and healthy as long as possible.
hi , reading all the stories here and your caught my attention on what can be done in the mean time, You wrote you put him on nsaids treatment, but no chemotherapy right? also the costco vitamins you recommend? I looked at their site and they actually have a few choices , someone said salmon oil was good and they have capsules , but wondered if you have one picked out. Mine just got diagnosed and since he is older I don’t want to put him through too much, like chemo or surgeries. thank you in advance. and thank you for posting
Long post, but I will share my current experience with my newly-diagnosed Duke.
First off, I truly thank you for sharing this information in such a caring, but honest and factual way. It was a shining light of compassion in a sea of rather bluntly grim google results.
I have been processing the recent prostate CA diagnosis for my sweet 9 year old GSP, Duke.
My otherwise healthy, energetic boy woke up one day with a fever and urinated blood. He was completely asymptomatic prior this that morning. I took him our vet, and they ran labs, urine and did an ultrasound.
They found the prostate was enlarged and he had a UTI and an abscess around the prostate. They ended up performing a needle-drainage of the abscess, and treated him with antibiotics and started him on piroxicam. Once the infection quickly cleared, he is back to his old self, running and playing.
I followed up with the veterinary oncologist who ran the BRAF testing (to confirm it was CA and not just prostate-enlargement related to infection). The results took over 2 weeks to come back because apparently he was negative for BRAF but there were other gene mutations present- so it is indeed CA.
I just received this final test result 2 days ago. I have been told that his cancer was found almost incidentally, and has been caught sooner than for most.
It’s so hard for me to rationalize the true implications of this diagnosis because he currently has absolutely ZERO symptoms, and I can’t fathom him deteriorating as quickly as it sounds like he will based on most things I’ve read.
They offered chemo/radiation, but told me life expectancy was 9mo-1year….which was still pretty grim.
I briefly considered the chemo, but nowhere could I find that it “cures” them or significantly extended their lives. Coming to this realization is what landed me sitting in my parked car after a long shift, crying and trying to come to terms with this information.
I will have to support him and keep him as comfortable and healthy for as long as possible; and there is no doubt he will know he is loved…for each and every one his days.
Dear Dani,
My heart aches for you as you come to terms with this tragic diagnosis Duke has received. I am glad the problem was caught early, and your sweet guy is still feeling good. Thank you for being willing to share your experience with us. I am certain your words will bring comfort to others, and it will help to know they are not alone. I am hopeful you and Duke will still have many happy days ahead and can continue to make some wonderful memories together. Praying for your strength as you navigate this difficult path. Bless you both. ♥
Hi Dani,
I am sorry to hear about Duke. A couple of questions:
1) Was he neutered at a younger age and he had enlarged prostate later on when he was diagnosed?
2) Did you confirm diagnosis with FNA or biopsy? I am asking this because there is a recent study from the University of Purdue that mentioned the BRAF test is not as valuable as they thought it was. It has many false positives (presence of mutation but not cancer)
Thank you for this article. I lost my sweet Kona, an 8-year old neutered male chocolate lab, to prostate cancer 20 years ago. He brought light and love to everyone he met. I am still heartbroken.
His initial symptoms were bloody diarrhea, followed by straining to urinate and defecate. I struggled for a few weeks with a local vet, to even get a diagnosis at the time. This was before most community practices had ultrasound machines. He was put through a multiple blood tests, and even a contrast dye study, where he swallowed barium and then had hours of x-rays to assess and even after all that there was no definitive diagnosis.
A few days after that, I took him to a distant academic veterinary clinic, when he couldn’t stop vomiting. After stabilizing him and doing an ultrasound, they were able to tell me he likely had prostate cancer. This diagnosis was was a total shock and devastating news.
I was at a loss as to what I could have done to prevent this.- he was a healthy, active guy. He had the best food, was at a healthy weight, never missed his heart worm meds or a routine immunization. I was wracked with guilt over some unknown exposure I could have controlled- could it have been those highly processed treats, flea treatments, pesticides, herbicides, exposure at the dog park or the lawn he loved to roll on?
He received anti inflammatory medication, which did seem to help for a few weeks, while I learned more. The veterinary oncologists suggested chemotherapy treatments, which made no difference in the progression of this cruel disease. He was euthanized a couple months after the initial diagnosis, when he continuously struggled to urinate and required frequent emergency visits to be catheterized.
Your article provided helpful information and had I known more about the inevitable outcome, I might have said goodbye a bit sooner. My heart goes out to all vets and pet parents who are faced with this sad situation.
Dear Kathy,
I understand how it feels to deeply miss a beloved pup. Kona sounds like a once in a lifetime kind of boy. Even though so many years have passed, I am glad the article helped bring some closure and comfort to your heart. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. May Kona’s memory live on and continue to be a blessing in your life.