Enlarged Prostate In Dogs

PET HEALTH

Older male dog

Project Summary

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy provides an effective, noninvasive treatment for enlarged prostate in older male dogs. The procedure is safe, applied for only a few minutes each day at home, and avoids complications and anesthesia related to surgery.
  • Enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is common in older dogs.
  • BPH causes bloody urine and can even obstruct the colon, resulting in constipation.
  • Current treatment is surgical removal of the prostate.
  • A non-surgical treatment method for enlarged prostate would improve welfare, reduce surgical complications, and provide a treatment option for dogs that cannot undergo surgery or anesthesia. This is especially important for the older dogs that often suffer from enlarged prostate.
  • Parsemus Foundation supported research on the use of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy for dogs suffering from enlarged prostate.
  • PEMF offers a simple, noninvasive treatment that has been shown to decrease the prostate gland in dogs by more than 50%!
  • This procedure could replace surgery as a treatment option for most older dogs suffering from BPH.
  • We encourage veterinary clinics to invest in PEMF devices, which could be used in the clinic or in the client’s home.

Project Topics

Highly effective noninvasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia

The prostate gland produces seminal fluid and older male dogs commonly have enlarged prostate or BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). There is little difference from humans in anatomy, physiology and symptoms of this disease (see our page on enlarged prostate in men). It is more common in intact dogs, but there is no clear reason why it affects some male dogs and not others. The most common clinical sign of BPH in dogs is bloody fluid dripping from the penis not associated with urination. In severe cases it can obstruct the colon and result in constipation. Treatment in dogs usually involves surgically removing the prostate gland.

Simple and effective treatment for canine prostate disease

The Parsemus Foundation sponsored a study by Dr. Raffaella Leoci (Italy) to investigate a non-invasive treatment in dogs with BPH. The method used in the study to treat dogs was pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF). PEMF is a noninvasive method that generates both an electrical and magnetic field and is used in orthopedics, neurology, and urology. It has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect and increases healing and blood circulation. The idea of using this method for BPH is to improve prostate blood flow and reduce the size of the prostate gland.

Magcell Vetri
The study used a Magcell® Vetri device from Physiomed Elektromedizin AG, Germany

The study included 20 dogs with BPH. They received treatment with PEMF for 5 minutes, twice a day for three weeks. The device was simply held over the skin where the prostate is located. The study used a Magcell® Vetri device from Physiomed Elektromedizin AG, Germany.

An average 57% reduction in the size of the prostate resulted from PEMF treatment in only three weeks, a remarkable improvement. There was no interference with semen quality, testosterone levels or libido. Doppler parameters showed a reduction of peripheral blood resistances and a progressive reduction in resistance of the blood flow in the dorsal branch of the prostatic artery.

Graph of decrease in prostate size
Decrease in prostate volume in 20 dogs treated with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. T0=baseline, T1-T3=weeks 1-3 after treatment. Prostate volume was significantly lower than baseline at each week of treatment

Take Action

The positive effects of PEMF on BPH in dogs, with no side effects, supports its use as a noninvasive, simple and effective treatment, and may be the best option if your dog cannot tolerate sedation and surgery. If your dog has been diagnosed with BPH by your veterinarian, ask if PEMF is a treatment option. Some veterinarians may not be familiar with the procedure – so feel free to share the scientific publication and this website information. The PEMF device used is portable and available for purchase (see Additional Resources). Veterinarians may offer to rent the portable device to clients for in-home use.

  • Leoci R, Aiudi G, Silvestre F, Lissner E, Lacalandra GM (2014). Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on prostate volume and vascularity in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A pilot study in a canine model. The Prostate.  (Free text)  Press release on EurekAlert
  • PEMF device used in study: Magcell Vetri by Physiomed Elektromedizin in Germany.
  • UK distributor: Physio Equipment
  • US distributor: Chudo
    Email: info@ChudoUS.com
    Tel: 470-301-2667

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