Exame ultrassonográfico e sua importância como auxílio no diagnóstico de afecções prostáticas subnotificadas em cães atendidos no hospital veterinário da UFPB

Abstract

Prostate diseases directly influence the quality of life and longevity of animals and are frequently described in dogs, especially in older animals, causing significant clinical changes or remaining underreported without significant symptoms. This study aims to evaluate data related to ultrasound examinations as an aid in the diagnosis of underreported prostate diseases in dogs without previous suspicion of prostate disease, contributing to the understanding and prophylactic approach to prostate diseases in dogs. For this purpose, data such as clinical suspicion, prostate measurements, weight and age of 50 male dogs without clinical symptoms of prostate disease at the time of clinical care were collected. The results indicated that of the 50 dogs evaluated, 16 had an enlarged prostate, while the others had normal prostate dimensions, despite not presenting clinical complaints compatible with prostate alteration. It is therefore concluded that this disparity between the initial clinical complaint and the ultrasound findings compatible with prostatic alterations highlights the importance of imaging diagnosis as an essential tool for monitoring and early diagnosis of subclinical conditions, which otherwise could go unnoticed.