A Guide to Finasteride, Proscar Generic For Dogs

Helping Reduce the Size of Enlarged Prostates in Dogs

By Sam Bourne.

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  • 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.

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Finasteride at a glance

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  • 1For dogs
  • 2A prostate growth inhibitor
  • 3Taken orally
  • 4Treats benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostates

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