Physiology. Amylase is a calcium dependent enzyme which hydrolyzes complex carbohydrates at alpha 1,4-linkages to form maltose and glucose. Amylase is filtered by renal tubules and resorbed (inactivated) by tubular epithelium. Active enzyme does not appear in urine.
The prostate is an accessory sex gland that surrounds the urethra and neck of a male dog's bladder. The prostate gland produces a fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition in which the prostate gland is enlarged. The word hyperplasia means increased in size.
Disease of the prostate gland is a relatively common cause of urinary symptoms in male dogs. Neutered dogs are at higher risk for prostatic cancer while intact individuals more commonly develop prostate gland infections or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).