(ii) Centrifuge 2ml of urine at slow speed (c. 1500 rpm) for 5 minutes. Decant the supernatant and resuspend the pellet in the small amount of fluid that drains back. Agitate to resuspend the pellet. Pipette a drop of the sediment onto one end of a clean glass slide. Holding a second slide at right angles place it flat on the first slide and draw apart horizontally maintaining contact (Morris and Dobson, 1992). Alternatively place a large glass coverslip onto the sediment drop to spread it and then gently lift the coverslip. Rapidly air dry two smears.

(iii) If no centrifuge is available either submit 2ml of urine in a plain tube or mix with cytological preservative before submission ("Cytofix" is available free of charge on request).

(ii) Have an assistant apply gentle suction with a 10ml syringe and gently massage the prostate. Release the suction and withdraw the catheter.

(iii) Expel the sample onto a clean glass slide. Holding a second slide at right angles, place it flat onto the first and draw apart horizontally maintaining contact (Morris and Dobson, 1992). Rapidly air dry two smears.

(iv) If bacterial culture is required then either expel sample into a sterile glass bijou or express onto a swab before placing it in transport medium. Submit any remaining material in cytological preservative (available free of charge on request).

(v) If insufficient material is obtained by this method then a prostatic wash should be performed. After introducing the catheter, repeatedly inject and aspirate 2 to 5ml of sterile saline whilst gently massaging the prostate. Depending upon the gross appearance of the resulting wash either prepare two air dried direct smears of the wash or prepare two air dried smears of a centrifuge deposit as described under "Urine Sediment Cytology" above. Again any remaining material may be submitted in cytological preservative.

(ii) Once in the prostate attach a 10ml syringe and apply negative pressure whilst moving the needle within the prostate to sample different parts of the gland. Prostatic massage will improve the yield of cells. Release the pressure before withdrawing the needle. 

(iii) Remove the needle, draw air into the syringe and carefully expel sample onto two clean glass slides. Prepare smears by laying a second slide at right angles, flat onto the first slide and then draw the two slides apart horizontally maintaining contact. (Morris and Dobson, 1992). Rapidly air dry the smears.

(iv) An alternative technique is to place the dog in dorsal recumbancy and, with a finger in the rectum, elevate the prostate to a position lateral to the penis. Swab the skin over the bulge with alcohol and apply local anaesthesia before introducing the needle through the skin into the prostate. Sample and prepare slides as above.

(ii) Once cranial to the urethral orifice, gently rub the swab against the vaginal wall.

(iii) Remove and prepare two smears by gently rolling the swab over two clean glass slides and rapidly air dry.