100 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



possible to avoid the pain. Upon rectal examina- 

 tion the prostate is found to be enlarged, hot, and 

 painful on palpation. 



Treatment. — The patient should receive a laxative, 

 repeated as necessary to keep the feces soft and 

 overcome constipation. Hot rectal injections give 

 relief from the pain and an anodyne suppository 

 introduced into the rectum, after an enema, also 

 gives good results. If pus forms, indicated by 

 fluctuation and a rise of temperature, it must be 

 evacuated through the rectum after the introduction 

 of a speculum. 



Hypertrophy of the Prostate 



This condition is seen most frequently in old 

 dogs,' and is often the result of prostatitis. The 

 whole gland becomes enlarged, though one side is 

 usually larger than the other. To the touch, the 

 gland is neither hot nor sensitive. It may feel hard 

 or soft, according to whether the enlargement is 

 due to hyperplasia of the fibromuscular tissue or to 

 infiltration of the gland with purulent fluid. 



Treatment. — Laxatives should be administered as 

 required to regulate the bowels; tonics should be 

 given and a generous, nutritious diet supplied. For 

 direct action on the gland itself, administer four 

 grains of chromium sulphate twice daily over a 

 considerable period of time. 



Castration has a very beneficial effect in many 

 cases, the gland becoming gradually smaller with 

 the lapse of time. However, the chromium-sulphate 

 treatment should be tried first. Potassium iodid 

 administered internally and the injection of iodin 

 into the gland have been tried, but the results are 

 by no means satisfactory. 



