Ailments of the urinary system

There is an organ in dogs which, when enlarged, can impact on the animal’s ability to urinate.  This organ (gland) is the prostate.  Because of the ailing prostate’s influence on the voiding of urine, we will have to include this organ in the discussion of ailments of the urinary system.  Prostate problems in dogs are relatively common, but we will only deal with those which impact on the functions of the urinary system.

Enlarged prostate

The prostate is an accessory sex gland in males found at the base of the bladder.  It partly surrounds the urethra, the tube leading the urine from the bladder to the penis (vagina).Prostatic enlargement occurs in many dogs over five years of age, but few show any ill effects from it; my experience is that those that do usually are elderly.  An enlarging prostate gland often expands backwards into the rectal area.  When large enough, it can push forward and exert pressure