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My dog can't urinate, just drips. Why isn't vet treatment working?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | unneutered | 2 years and 6 months old | 63 lbs

My dog can't urinate. It's just dripping. Been to a vet. Xrayed the dog but no results. Ultrasound - prostate unsymmetric. Got a hormone implant plus antibiotics. Worked for 3 weeks. Now it's even worse. What else could it be? He's an 2.5 year old black lab.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Priyanka Thakkar, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 7th, 2017

Unneutered dogs can get prostatitis (infection of the prostate) along with prostate enlargement. Sometimes prostate cancers or cancer of the urethra can also occur. A needle sample or biopsy of the prostate can be performed to help diagnose the underlying problem. A long course of antibiotics after a culture can be performed with castration (neutering) is usually required for non-cancerous causes. Not being able to appropriately urinate can be painful and life threatening as electrolytes can build up in the body and can make a dog very sick. Please consider additional follow up soon with your veterinarian.

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Castration (also chemical castration/hormone implant) is usually curative. I suggest you take him back to the vet for a recheck. There may be a more serious problem. He may definitely have a serious infection, or a tumor or an unresponsive prostate hyperplasia. Please take Scooby back to the vet for a recheck.

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