Butch's Case of Constipation

"Butch" came to us after a long history of having trouble having a poop. His owner had been advised that his prostate was the cause of this problem and that castration was the best option. His owner was reluctant to proceed but after 12 months, booked Butch in for surgery.

In normal circumstances, this is a routine procedure. However in Butch's case, he had been unwell for a few days and had gone off his food. His owner had also noticed that he was losing weight, was constantly hunched and was uncomfortable when he tried to defaecate. He mainly was passing liquid diarrhoea.

Poor Butch was certainly a sorry sight. And he was none too pleased when the vet had to examine his prostate gland ( which sits just below his rectum). Being a big dog and a bit shy anyway, this wasn't an easy task. The most remarkable findings on examination was when the vet palpated his abdomen, Butch was actually very constipated. His whole colon ( large bowel) was full of faeces and had become hard and compacted. No wonder he was looking so forlorn. This was confirmed on radiograph ( xray). It's a common mistake to misinterpret constipation for diarrhoea, dogs can strain in both instances, but careful veterinary examination can distinguish the two.

Because of the severity of his constipation, medical treatment such as laxatives would not have been adequate to shift the blockage. Butch was admitted for an enema. He was placed on intravenous fluids and given a general anaesthetic so that the faecal blockage could be flushed out. After over an hour (!) and much flushing enema solution, the huge blockage was softened and removed. It was easier to assess his prostate when he was anaesthetized, and this felt enlarged and symmetrical and it was narrowing his pelvic outlet. This was the cause of his constipation.

After his ordeal, Butch went home with some laxatives and dietary instructions to ensure that he continued to poop without difficulty. He was soon back to his usual self, eating well and regaining the weight he had lost during his short illness. Bones had to be excluded from his diet temporarily until the effects of his castration caused his prostate to shrink.

Fortunately in Butch's case, he only had what is called "prostatic hyperplasia". This is where the prostate gland benignly enlarges. Unlike people, prostatic problems in dogs usually cause straining when pooping and a tendency for constipation rather than difficulties with their "water works". It occurs due to the effects of his sex hormones on the prostate gland. Testosterone is the primary hormone and it is released from his testicles. These hormones can also influence the development of more serious diseases such as prostatitis (inflammation or infection of the prostate gland) or prostatic cancer. Perianal tumours or cancer of the testes are also possibilities in an undesexed dog.

Castration (see desexing photos) is a simple, effective way of minimizing the possibilities of your pet having prostatic disease later in life. The other benefits can include minimizing aggression and territorial behaviour. It can also help prevent your dog from having the urge to roam the neighbour in search of a bitch in heat or peeing on everything in sight!