Urethral bleeding as a presenting sign of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the dog: a retrospective study (1979-1993).

Nineteen dogs were presented to the Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital (MUVH) because of blood loss from the urethra, unassociated with other clinical signs of prostatic disease. Blood loss was intermittent in all cases, but was severe enough to require blood transfusion in one case. Prostatic enlargement was detected on rectal palpation in all cases, and benign prostatic hyperplasia was diagnosed after elimination of other prostatic diseases (i.e., infection, cysts, neoplasia) using diagnostic imaging and clinical laboratory tests. Castration resulted in cessation of blood loss; whereas antiandrogen therapy, an alternative treatment to castration, was less effective.