Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in dogs – signs and care

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlarged prostate gland in a male dog.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is when the prostate gland becomes enlarged because of overstimulation by testosterone from the testicles.^[1] If your dog is straining but isn’t passing any urine, contact your vet immediately.^[1]

Signs

Blood dripping from the penis
Bloody urine
Straining to pee
Straining to poo

Causes and risk factors

Overstimulation by testosterone from the testicles

How a vet finds out

Physical examination
Blood tests
Urine tests
X-rays
Ultrasound
CT scan
MRI

How vets treat it

Surgery
Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatories

What the experts say

“Overview. The ‘prostate’ is a gland that sits just inside the anus of male dogs. ‘Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia’ (or ‘BPH’) is when the prostate gland becomes enlarged because of overstimulation by testosterone from the testicles.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

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Common questions

What signs can Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia cause in dogs?

Signs include blood dripping from the penis, bloody urine, straining to pee and straining to poo.^[1]

How might a vet check for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

A vet may physically check the prostate, take a urine sample, do blood tests, and use X-rays or an ultrasound scan.^[1]

How may a vet treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

The simplest and quickest way to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is to castrate your dog.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages