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.
BPH is the most common disorder of the prostate gland seen in dogs. It is estimated that about 50 percent of intact male dogs will develop BPH by the age of five, 60 percent by the age of six, and 95 percent by the age of nine. Diseases of the prostate are rare in cats.