Urinary Incontinence after Prostatectomy in Dogs

Abstract

Eleven dogs with prostatic disease were treated by total prostatectomy. Urinary incontinence persisted in three of nine dogs, two of which were also incontinent before surgery. The incidence of postoperative incontinence may be reduced by undermining the prostatic capsule to preserve as much prostatic urethra as possible. The risk of postoperative incontinence appeared greater if there was prostatic neoplasia or preoperative urinary incontinence.

Subtotal intracapsular prostatectomy as a useful treatment for advanced‐stage prostatic malignancies

“…As the frequency and seriousness of surgical complications are always an important factor in deciding whether or not to perform surgery, both the efficacy and the safety of SIP and TP in dogs with prostatic carcinoma was compared. Urinary incontinence is a well‐described complication associated with TP (Basinger and Barsanti 1989, Goldsmid and Bellenger 1991). Moreover, incontinence after prostatectomy in dogs responds poorly to medical therapy, so minimising or avoiding such a complication is a desirable goal.…”

Total prostatectomy as a treatment for prostatic carcinoma in 25 dogs

“…Few reports describe the outcomes of total prostatectomy, most concluding that complication rates are too high and survival times too short to recommend this technique as routine treatment of dogs with prostatic neoplasia . The most common complication consists of urinary incontinence, diagnosed in 33%‐100% of cases …”

Partial Prostatectomy Using Nd:YAG Laser for Management of Canine Prostate Carcinoma

“…Unlike humans, total prostatectomy is not an option for treatment of PCA in dogs because of a high incidence of postoperative incontinence. 5 The cause of incontinence in dogs after total prostatectomy is uncertain. Total prostatectomy in dogs with prostatic disease is more likely to cause incontinence than prostatectomy in dogs with a normal prostate, 6,7 suggesting that primary prostatic disease rather than surgical technique may be responsible for this complication.…”