Question Details
Prostatic Hyperplasia In A Dog
by CorinneC - February 11, 2026    View Case Report
Foster is my second (actually third!) benign prostatic hyperplasia case this month - he is a 9yo male INTACT Viszla. He has always been fearful and reactive, toned pulses, had been on XFZYT and Dan Shen which controlled his reactivity for several years. I added Halscion in Dec 2023.

Last Spring I ran a senior screen and his T4 was extremely low for the first time so we ran a full thyroid panel. Interestingly, other than his reactivity, he was showing no signs of hypothyroidism, but came back with very low T4/free T4/T4/FT4 Ratio/T3. The owner was very adamant that she didn't want to start thyroid meds yet and chose to start thyroid glandulars and I added Dang Gui Shao Yao San to further support him. He appeared to do very well until this past week. Saturday doing a lot of bowing, V+, not eating, thought GIT. His poop had some bright red blood, but was still urinating well. At 4am bowing constantly, O started walking him around yard, concerned then about a bone obstruction (his brother had had one). Went to emerg, determined eventually BPH with U/S yesterday (under sedation). Given Cerenia TGH, did not take Baytril that was offered. Still under affects of sedation today, but back to E/D well, feeding fish and rice. O feels he is missing raw bones and raw food but did restart his Westcoast muffins. Dropped a pile of wt over 3 days period but is regaining quickly as well according to O. Stools still not well formed but improving. Has only been on Probenz, stopped TCM herbs (DGSYS, XFZYT, Dan Shen, Halscion), and continued thyroid glandulars. Foster's pulses are fairly toned but can be compressed; tongue is reddish-pink, moist, normal size. His prostate is palpably enlarged ~6cm-round, and yet U/S only says 2.75cm?? May not be reading right.

I put him on Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang knowing he would restart the herbs above as well. I felt the GXZYT was the best way to Move Blood due to Qi Stagnation, invigorate the circulation, and relieve any pain. These are difficult cases so I want to make sure I am on the right track?

Thank you so much for your time and help Dr Marsden, as always,
Corinne
Replies
by naturevet
February 15, 2026
Hi Corinne,

Either the dog has prostatitis or I think they missed something. BPH should not cause acute abdominal pain, acute weight loss, and GI bleeding. My money is on the dog having an ulcer as well given that he is improving despite the lack of antibiotics. An ulcer would be easy to miss if they weren't specifically looking for it. That is not to say there is palpable BPH. Only that there is something else likely going on.

I would be tempted to try Yi Guan Jian in addition to the GXZYT. If he continues to rally, you could help relieve both ulcer and BPH tendencies by adding in XCHT. The latter 'unbuckles' the Dai Mai to relieve lower burner Stasis while also helping release Yang energy trapped in the Stomach by Shao Yang disharmony tendencies. The latter are common in dogs on pure raw diets if there is not a lot of plant material in the diet, though it appears the dog is getting it now.

Hopefully you get to put a notch on the 'win' side with this one, Corinne. Let us know how it goes!

Steve
by CorinneC
February 17, 2026
That makes a lot of sense Steve. His CBC was WNL, in fact his RBC and Hgb were both on the higher end of normal, so I thought an ulcer less likely, but he could just have an excellent bone marrow. I think I will start with adding YGJ for sure and see how he does!

Thank you, as always,
G'day!
Corinne
by CorinneC
April 6, 2026
Foster has had little if no issues since his original diagnosis. He is consistently BAR, gained his wt back, E/D well, no stranguria or tenesmus! He has now been on XFZYT (for chronic anxiety), DGSYS (for hypothyroidism controlled with this and thyroid glandulars), and now GXZYT and YGJ. My question now is whether I should be stopping the XFZYT at all as it is enhances peripheral circulation and is contraindicated in peripheral tumours that are overtly inflamed. It does not appear that Foster has an actual tumour, but I worry :)

Corinne
by naturevet
April 7, 2026
Well, if he does not a tumor, then neither XFZYT nor GXZYT are necessarily indicated. XFZYT is a good anxiety and reactivity formula, as you suggested. GXZYT is more specific to cancer. So, maybe try lowering that one first?
by CorinneC
April 8, 2026
Awesome Steve! Thank you so much for replying! Yay, it worked this time!!!
Corinne
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