Prostatic biopsy is used to diagnose diseases of the canine prostate gland. These conditions are most commonly diagnosed in sexually intact dogs, particularly those over five years old. However, some prostatic diseases can occur in dogs that have been neutered. Prior to biopsy, the veterinarian will conduct a physical examination of the prostate gland in addition to other diagnostic tests. There are a few approaches to prostatic biopsy. These include fine needle aspiration, ultrasound-guided needle biopsy, and excisional biopsy. The type of biopsy recommended will vary depending on the suspected underlying condition.

The procedure steps for various biopsy techniques are outlined below.

The main difference between FNA and needle core biopsy is the size of the needle used and the use of ultrasound equipment. Needle biopsy requires sedation or anesthetization. This technique is used when a larger cell sample is required.

This technique is required if cancer is suspected. It is often performed during another therapeutic surgical procedure.

Prostatic biopsy is typically very effective in diagnosing prostatic conditions. Fine needle aspiration biopsy carries a success rate of 70% to 80%. When combined with excisional biopsy, the success rate increases to 89%. Fine needle biopsy is minimally invasive and rarely presents a false positive diagnosis. It also provides a tentative diagnosis quickly. Excisional biopsy allows for better visualization of the prostate gland, and is usually performed during a surgical procedure employed to evaluate and/or treat the condition. All cell or tissue samples collected must be analyzed by a veterinary histologist to confirm the diagnosis. The results typically take one to two days to come back.

Dogs will not need to recover from fine needle biopsy, since it is typically painless. For excisional biopsy, the recovery instructions will depend on the surgical procedure performed. Owners should follow their veterinarian’s recovery instructions carefully.  Sutures are removed within fourteen days of surgery. Exercise is typically restricted, and the dog may need to wear an Elizabethan cone to avoid contaminating the suture site. If bleeding, swelling, or discharge occurs near the incision site(s), owners should contact their veterinarian immediately. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled as needed to administer further treatment.

The cost of prostatic biopsy in dogs will vary based on standards of living, the type of biopsy performed, and additional diagnostic costs incurred. The price of prostatic biopsy, including the price of the vet visit and additional tests, ranges from $100 to $1,000.

Prostatic biopsy should not be performed in dogs with severe swelling, inflammation, or the presence of abscesses. Abscesses must be removed prior to prostatic biopsy. Additionally, for ultrasound-guided biopsy, the ultrasound gel must be removed before biopsy because it can contaminate the cell sample.

Prostatic biopsy typically carries little to no risk of complications. However, complications may include:

Some prostatic conditions, particularly BPH, are difficult to prevent because they affect a large percentage of dogs. Owners should consider neutering their intact dogs to decrease the risk of prostatic disease. Castration may cure certain prostatic conditions.