A Guide to Finasteride, Proscar Generic For Dogs

Helping Reduce the Size of Enlarged Prostates in Dogs

By Sam Bourne.

Urinary Incontinence

indications for Finasteride

Prostate problems are never fun. When your dog is suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, finasteride (a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor) can help regulate that swelling by blocking the production of 5-alpha reductase, which is responsible for metabolizing testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, the cause of prostate growth. A less invasive option than surgery, finasteride might be your best bet when it comes to calming your dogs inflamed prostate.

Precautions

Dogs that have a preexisting liver condition, or a known sensitivity to drugs of this type, should not be put on finasteride. Do NOT give finasteride to a female or sexually developing dog. Taking finasteride with anticholinergics, adrenergics, xanthine bronchodilators, or xanthine may make urine retention worse.

Dosage

0.1 - 0.5 mg/kg by mouth, once a day

Brand/Generic equivalents

Proscar, Propecia

Side Effects

The only noteworthy side effects are a decrease in libido, ejaculate, and in rare cases, impotence, but these side effects, by their very nature, only affect dogs that have not been neutered.