What should I do about my dog's urine? Potential causes of blood in urine in dogs

Hematuria is the medical term for the presence of blood in the urine. A change in the color of urine may indicate that the animal has serious infectious diseases, and its dark red color indicates their progression. If blood is detected in a dog’s urine, the owner must immediately seek help from a veterinarian who will conduct a comprehensive examination, determine the causes and prescribe further treatment.

Causes and symptoms of hematuria in dogs

With hematuria, urine does not always have a bright red color; an increased number of red blood cells can color the urine cherry, pink, burgundy and even brown. There are three types of hematuria:

1. 1. Initial. Blood is visible only at the very beginning of urine output.
2. 2. Middle. Blood drips from the urethra (urethra) even if the animal does not pee.
3. 3. Ultimate. Blood is observed in the urine only at the very end of urination.

The most common causes of blood in a dog's urine are:

• helminthiasis (infection with worms);
• pyometra (purulent inflammation of the uterine mucosa);
• diabetes mellitus (inadequate production of insulin by the pancreas);
• heart diseases;
• leptospirosis (the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the animal’s body);
• parvovirus enteritis (viral disease);
• cystitis (occurs as a result of hypothermia or bacteria entering the animal’s body);
• prostatitis (enlargement of the prostate gland, most often occurs in uncastrated males);
• injuries to the genitourinary organs (may appear in bitches as a result of unsuccessful mating);
• vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina caused by fungi or bacteria);
• venereal sarcoma (malignant tumor on the dog’s genitals);
• urolithiasis (presence of kidney stones);
• piroplasmosis (a disease caused by a tick bite);
• poisoning with toxins (leads to blood clotting disorders);
• castration of a male dog or sterilization of a female dog (most often bleeding occurs as a result of divergence of internal sutures).

An animal's urine may turn red after eating beets or during a female dog's heat; this is considered normal and does not require treatment.

If a dog has hematuria, the following symptoms appear:

• rapid breathing;
• loss of appetite (the dog does not eat or drink water);
• diarrhea;
• increased body temperature;
• fever;
• blood in urine;
• vomit;
• lethargic state;
• thirst;
• difficulty urinating and reducing its volume;
• excessive salivation;
• anxiety;
• pain in the abdominal area;
• pallor of the mucous membranes.

Diagnostics

If a puppy or an adult dog pees blood, you need to contact a specialized clinic. The veterinarian will conduct a clinical examination, perform a biochemical blood test, a general blood and urine test, an X-ray of the abdominal cavity and an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys. Based on the test results, the causes of blood in the urine will be identified and a diagnosis will be made.

Urine collection for analysis should be carried out in the morning, then the study will be more informative. You can collect it yourself; 200 ml of urine is enough for testing. After collection, it should be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible (no more than two hours).

If we are talking about a male dog, then during a walk, when the dog urinates, it is necessary to place a jar or a bottle with a wide neck under the stream. As for female dogs, when they go to the toilet in a small way, a plastic container is placed under the stream. If it was not possible to collect urine for testing at home, the veterinarian will do this at the appointment using a special catheter.

Treatment

Treatment for your dog will depend on the cause of blood in the urine:

Cause	Treatment	Photos of drugs
Helminthiasis	For hematuria caused by helminthiasis, the dog is prescribed anthelmintic drugs, for example, Prazicide
Infectious diseases	If blood in the urine appears as a result of the development of any infectious disease (leptospirosis or parvovirus enteritis), then the animal is injected with hyperimmune serum, antibiotics and sulfonamide drugs corresponding to the identified disease. To restore intestinal microflora after a course of antibiotics, the probiotic Bifilact is used
Piroplasmosis	For hematuria caused by piroplasmosis, antiprotozoal drugs Pirosan or Azidine are prescribed
Venereal sarcoma	If the cause of blood in urine is venereal sarcoma, then the dog is treated with Vincristine or operated on
Cystitis	For hematuria caused by cystitis, painkillers and antispasmodics are prescribed, for example, Analgin and No-Shpu, as well as a homeopathic remedy such as Cantaren
Vaginitis	If the cause of blood in urine is vaginitis, then the dog is prescribed douching with antiseptic agents, for example, Miramistin or Chlorhexidine
Prostatitis	For hematuria caused by prostatitis, dogs are treated with an antibacterial drug such as Azithromycin
Diabetes	If blood in the urine appears due to diabetes mellitus, then the animal is prescribed a diet in which it is recommended to eat lean meat (veal), low-fat fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir), buckwheat and millet porridge and low-carbohydrate vegetables such as cabbage and zucchini . To help the body process glucose better, dogs are given the drug Lantus.

In this article I will tell you the reasons for the appearance of blood in the urine of dogs, both harmless and life-threatening. I will consider options for possible inflammation, why the pet cannot pee and what to do, eats and drinks well. I will also briefly describe the methods of their treatment.

The dog is peeing blood and what to do

Urine of normal color in dogs from the urethra should be straw-yellow without any strong foreign odors. When the color of the discharge changes, it always causes concern to the owner.

Depending on the color of urine, we can talk about various pathologies in the pet’s body.

These could be problems with the liver and kidneys, dehydration, cancer inflammation. The color of urine mixed with red can vary from light pink to dark brown, and even black. Often, owners may not notice the presence of red in the urine of their pets and find out about it only after laboratory testing.

Colored urine is not a good signal for the owner; in 90% of cases it is a sign that the pet is sick

Causes of blood in urine in dogs

Sometimes red discharge at the end of urination can appear as a result of completely harmless reasons. Food (beets) and taking any medications can play a role in this.

In females, due to the structure of the genitourinary system, you can notice discharge during the period of estrus.

Also, discharge with an admixture of red occurs in whelping bitches within 3-6 weeks after birth.

If, in addition to hematuria, the animal does not exhibit other symptoms of any disease, then the case is not yet critical. But, nevertheless, you should not delay a visit to the veterinarian to determine the exact cause of the bleeding.

There is no need to self-medicate until an accurate diagnosis has been made by a specialist.

You should immediately seek qualified help if your animal has the following symptoms:

• vomit;
• lethargy, fatigue;
• elevated temperature;
• the dog refuses to eat;
• The pet is unable to urinate in the toilet, while he whines and howls.

Only a veterinarian can determine the exact causes and determine further treatment.

Treatment of the urethra

To prescribe the correct treatment, your veterinarian needs to determine the exact cause of blood in your dog's urine. For this, an ultrasound examination of the bladder and kidneys, an x-ray of the abdominal organs, a urine test, etc. are performed.

If an animal has an infectious disease, antibiotic treatment is prescribed.

The reasons for the appearance of blood in the urine of pets can be a variety of dangerous diseases, so you should not delay a visit to an experienced specialist to prescribe competent treatment.

A healthy, well-fed and cheerful dog is the real pride of its owner. Unless he's sick, of course. Unfortunately, the disease can creep up unnoticed, since many diseases may not manifest themselves at all for a long time. Only sometimes, wondering why the dog has blood in its urine, the owner begins to sound the alarm.

Oh, there could be many reasons. Before considering them, I would like to emphasize one important circumstance: if your dog’s urine turns red, immediately take him to a veterinary clinic, since this symptom is extremely alarming, indicating serious functional disorders in the functioning of the urinary system. However, let's find out more about them...

So, this may indicate some serious trauma that the dog has suffered. A blow, an unsuccessful jump or a fall - all this may well cause the appearance of blood in the discharge. What to do? Contact your veterinarian immediately, as severe kidney injuries can be fatal! Kidney or bladder stones can have the same consequences. If their edges are sharp, they constantly injure the delicate walls of the organs, causing incredible pain and the appearance of blood in the urine. This often happens if owners practice “treatment” with folk remedies and simply trigger the disease without contacting professional veterinarians in time.

Do not forget about injuries, as well as diseases of the vagina or penis in male dogs. , and are quite often accompanied by the release of a considerable amount of blood. However, it is sometimes quite easy to find out about the presence of these diseases, since you can detect not only blood clots in a dog’s urine, but also pus, fibrin films or other exudate, depending on the course of the pathological process. Bitches may bleed after an unsuccessful mating. This happens especially often if the dog has not reached physiological maturity at the time of mating.

Read also: Cancer in dogs: symptoms and treatment

But what if this same blood appears after estrus? Most likely, this indicates that the dog has latent endometritis, vaginitis, or another disease of the reproductive system. Simply put, it is advisable to take your pet to the veterinarian, since such pathologies still do not go away on their own. The longer you wait, the higher the risk of the most tragic outcome, and treatment in advanced cases can be very, very expensive.

When the owner of an animal notices problems in his health, which manifest itself in the excretion of urine with blood, he begins to become very worried. An animal is a full-fledged member of the family; when it starts to get sick, the owner is obliged to provide first aid and support.

To begin with, it is worth understanding the causes of the development of the disease, and then starting treatment therapy. Urine turning a different color is not a good signal for any owner; in 90 percent of such cases, it means that the dog is seriously ill. In very rare cases, this effect can occur after eating certain foods that contain special dyes that cause a change in the color of the blood in the urethra.

Causes of blood in dog urine

The reasons may be as follows:

The main goal of any caring owner is to deliver a sick animal to a veterinary clinic in order to diagnose the dog and find the cause of the disease. If the disease is dangerous, then every hour of delay can further do a disservice, as well as lead to death.

It is worth comparing the dog’s behavior in the last period of time and its usual actions. This will help the attending physician quickly establish an accurate diagnosis of the disease. T In addition, there may be symptoms such as:

• Loss of appetite.
• General incontinence.
• Restless behavior.
• Increased body temperature.
• Strong discharge of blood during breaks between urination processes.

Before you go to see your doctor, you should clearly think through all the answers to questions such as:

Answers to such questions will greatly help the attending physician make a diagnosis; it is also worth going through a special series of examinations and taking some tests. If the dog begins to pee in blood, then treatment should be selected according to the results of all checks.

Blood with cystitis

This disease is widespread among animals. In order to confirm the diagnosis and determine the causes of blood in the dog’s urine, it is worth conducting a urine test and an ultrasound of the reproductive system. In the analysis, special attention should be paid to such graphs as:

• Salt.
• Red blood cells.
• Leukocytes.
• Protein indicators.

If the examination confirms the presence of a genitourinary infection, then it is worth doing a bacterial culture. He will be able to qualitatively determine the type of bacteria and antibacterial drugs that can accurately eliminate the problems.

Urine collection should be done by the owner himself before going to the veterinarian. It is worth buying in advance a special jar for collecting tests, which is also suitable for people. It is best to rinse your pet's genitals before he urinates. To do this, you can use a special antiseptic, Chlorhexidine.

The jar should be placed a few seconds after the dog starts peeing. Males do not always successfully perform this procedure, so many owners simply cannot carry out urine collection on their own. This type of procedure should be performed by a veterinarian using a special catheter.

If cystitis has been confirmed, then in 90% of situations the doctor prescribes the drug Ciprofloxacin or its replacement - Cifran. The same drugs are used by the person himself. The total dosage should be calculated using a special formula: 10 mg per 1 kg of pet weight. Use the product twice a day. The course of treatment for the disease occurs over two weeks, and in some cases longer. After 14 days from using the drug, it is worth re-testing the dog’s urine.

Cystitis can occur as a consequence of the development of urolithiasis. In this case, the animal also begins to actively drip blood. Sand and stones are eliminated on their own, but this will happen with great pain. The dog should be prescribed antispasmodics. In most cases, No-Shpu and Erva Woolly are used for this. But all this should be done at the discretion of the attending physician. Stones inside the kidneys can be too large to pass through the animal's urinary system on their own. In this case, there is no way to do without medical intervention.

It is imperative to use a gentle diet, which will eliminate the possibility of developing new stones. There are specialized foods for animals that have genitourinary problems.

Tick ​​bite

In the warm season, insects can attack both people and animals themselves. Ticks can carry a large number of inhalations, which are very dangerous for the body. After a bite, a dog can develop babesiosis, which usually leads to the death of the pet if it is not promptly helped and treated.

In addition to bleeding, your pet may experience loss of appetite, general lethargy, nausea, and yellowing of the sclera. To begin with, the owner must comprehensively examine the dog’s skin. If a tick is somehow identified, it must be unscrewed. While on the skin, it will continue to cause injury to the entire body. It is for this reason that its rapid elimination- this is the primary task during treatment.

Afterwards, you should urgently transport the animal to a veterinary clinic. Before making a trip, it is worth giving the animal Enterosgel or any other absorbent agent. It won’t be able to cure you comprehensively, but it will at least slightly reduce the process of intoxication. Babesiosis is a strong blow to the entire liver, as it is considered a real filter for the entire body.

The most experienced specialist even at first glance he will be able to understand the presence of a tick infection, but to confirm the diagnosis, additional tests are taken from the dog. This therapy occurs within 15 minutes. Based on the results, the diagnosis will be confirmed or, conversely, refuted.

If we are still talking about the development of a tick-borne infection, then the dog should first be prescribed a course of treatment with strong antibiotics, immunostimulants, sorbents, as well as a diet. An antibiotic must fight infection, immunostimulants have a qualitative effect on resisting bacteria, sorbents eliminate intoxication, and the diet facilitates work in the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Prevention of bites is considered to be the treatment of the pet’s withers with the help of specialized drops, the use of collars and sprays. The process of treating the withers should be carried out once a month; a collar is an additional measure to protect the dog if it goes on vacation to wooded areas. The main mistake owners make is using only an anti-tick collar.

Development of poisoning

Rat poison is considered dangerous to both dogs and cats. A dog can accidentally ingest poison or eat a poisoned rat while hunting for it. Such a poison will significantly stop the process of blood clotting, as it is considered a hemolytic poison. It is for this reason that the dog will begin to pee in blood. What to do in this case? You should urgently give your pet a special sorbent, and also send him to a veterinary clinic.

If the dog has recently eaten poisoned food, then it needs to undergo a general gastric lavage. After 8 hours have passed since Once poisons enter the body, such a procedure will be completely useless. It is worthwhile to undergo medical treatment, which may include a blood transfusion and the installation of an IV.

You should not joke about poisoning your pet, as the poison can act in a short period of time. It is worth noticing the development of the first signs of the disease and symptoms in a timely manner, and then seek help from a veterinarian. Considering the large number of flayers, poisoning using poisons is not at all uncommon; it can happen at any time. It is worth keeping a very close eye on your dog. If she is seen picking up food from the floor, then you should play it safe and put on a special muzzle.

Development of neoplasms

Over the last 10 years they have been developing more and more among animals. Dangerous neoplasms develop at once. They continue to grow, in some cases for years. Blood in urine- this is a serious disease, and it develops at the moment the tumor reaches too large a size. Before such a process, most often the dog begins to get sick for a long time, which helps to diagnose the tumor long before blood formations appear in the urine.

Diseases in the genital organs

Infections in the genitourinary tract- This is a fairly rare disease for all animals. At this time, bitches often develop pyrometra, and males often develop prostate diseases. Most often, it becomes very difficult for pets to go to the toilet, and there is severe anxiety during the process of urination. The disease must be treated, otherwise it will become chronic, and in the worst case, the animal simply will not survive.

Leptospirosis

A common infectious disease, it requires immediate first aid. It can easily be contracted from a tick bite, as well as from drinking water and food. Symptoms will be similar to babesiosis. You should not wait until the disease goes away on its own, as this will definitely not happen.

The pet needs to be given the right dosage of potent drugs, otherwise a sad outcome simply cannot be avoided. Exactly because of this reason Do not delay visiting the veterinarian at the first symptom of the disease.

The main symptoms of the development of the disease:

• The dog's appetite goes away.
• The animal becomes too lethargic and ineffective.
• The regularity of urination changes dramatically.

Of course, if you notice such symptoms in a dog, you should immediately call a veterinarian.

During diseases of the prostate gland in males and diseases of the vagina or uterus in females, blood can be clearly seen: it occurs not only during urination, but also when the animal is in a state of complete rest.

Ways to collect urine for analysis

Often, when a disease of the genitourinary system is suspected, urine must be collected. Taking a urine test from a dog is quite difficult. But if you follow certain instructions, then this can be done quickly and easily:

It is possible that this information and a comprehensive examination of the dog alone will not be enough to make a clear diagnosis, so the veterinarian may send you for an ultrasound of the internal organs. Do not forget about ultrasound examination, which can only be done with a filled bladder. Of course, it is difficult to control the process of urination in a dog, especially if it suffers from incontinence. It is worth giving your pet a good drink of water before the ultrasound.- this way the bladder can empty, which means an ultrasound examination can be done easily.

Attention, TODAY only!

Does your dog pee blood? Be prepared immediately for the fact that this problem is serious and will require lengthy investigation and treatment. And why such an unpleasant condition occurs and what to do if blood is detected in the urine, we will tell you in our article right now!

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Causes of blood

It is not always possible to immediately notice blood in the urine of your four-legged friend. After all, if a cat does all his business in a potty and all the products of his vital activity, as they say, “in plain sight,” then the dog often relieves himself on the street. Well, there it is more difficult to notice such a formidable symptom as blood. What does the presence of blood in the urine indicate and what treatment does the pet require in this case - read on!

It is worth remembering that any deviation in the color of a pet’s urine in most cases indicates a particular disease. Sometimes, of course, the color of urine may change due to specific treatment or the dog eating certain foods, but this is most likely a special case.

Reason 1 - injuries

Sometimes blood in the urinary canal appears due to injury. A dog is a fairly active creature. Males are often not only active, but also aggressive.

If your pet is involved in a fight or traffic accident, falls from a height, or suffers penetrating wounds, there is a high probability of kidney or bladder injuries. If, as a result, you see blood in the urine, pain in the abdomen or perineum, a hunched back, or the dog’s inability to stand, immediately take the animal to the hospital. Treatment for such conditions is carried out immediately!

Reason 2 – urolithiasis

Urolithiasis (UCD), which massacres our mustachioed and striped pets, is less common in four-legged friends. This is explained by the fact that the urethra in cats is much narrower than in dogs. In this case, stones in dogs usually form not in the kidneys, but in the bladder.

The reason for their formation rarely lies in improper feeding. Often crystals grow due to bacterial inflammation, which disrupts the acid-base environment and provokes the growth of struvite crystals. Although an incorrect diet can also provoke the growth of foreign objects in the urinary and urine-forming organs. If there is a high protein diet and not enough fluid in the diet, oxalates can begin to develop in the bladder. Stones injure the mucous membrane and eventually blood appears.

View of a group of stones on an x-ray

Veterinarians note that some predisposition to KSD is present in the following breeds: Schnauzers, Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terriers, Dalmatians, English Bulldogs. In addition to blood in the urine, UCD can lead to complete blockage of the urethra. Therefore, carefully monitor your pet; if the animal does not urinate for more than 12 hours, this is a reason for prompt emergency catheterization. And then in the video you can listen to what the veterinarian says about urolithiasis.

Reason 3 – cystitis

Cystitis is an inflammatory process of the mucous membranes of the bladder. Cystitis is a very unpleasant and painful disease. It is characterized by acute and chronic course. Bacterial cystitis is most common in dogs. At the same time, pathogenic bacteria that cause irritation of the walls of the bladder can enter it in various ways.

For example, from the anus located next to the urinary canal or even from such “distant organs” as the oral cavity. In this case, the infection will be carried through the body by the lymph flow and can reach the bladder. It is also worth remembering that hypothermia or stress can trigger cystitis. In this case, bacteria that normally “live” in the urethra begin to actively multiply and rise higher up the urethra, causing inflammation there.

Veterinarians note that females are more prone to cystitis, since their urethra is wider and located closer to the anus than that of males.

Treatment of cystitis is almost always labor-intensive; in no case should you practice self-medication for this disease. It should also be understood that the chronic form of cystitis is practically untreatable.

Reason 4 – babesiosis

Babesiosis or piroplasmosis is a serious disease caused by the bite of an ixodid tick. Pathogenic microorganisms - Babesia, which are carried by ticks, once in the blood of your dog, begin to actively destroy red blood cells. As a result, we observe the release of a large amount of hemoglobin and the formation of direct bilirubin. To diagnose babesiosis, a rapid blood test is used; it helps to quickly “calculate” babesia in the blood.

Note that red blood cells during babesiosis are destroyed so actively that already 2-3 days after infection, a significant deterioration in the animal’s condition can be observed. The most obvious symptom of babesiosis is urine that is an unnatural dark brown or red color. In addition, lethargy, apathy and fever are observed. If your pet regularly takes walks in a forested area, be sure to treat it with tick repellent medications in a timely manner, because babesiosis can be fatal.

Reason 5 – leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an acute infectious disease that is very often recorded in our pets. The causative agents of the disease - Leptospira - are distributed everywhere and infection can occur both through water or food, and through insect bites. Leptospirosis affects the liver, kidneys, and blood vessels. As a result, the dog urinates reddish, brown urine, and the amount of urine decreases.

In addition, there is an increase in body temperature, apathy, refusal to feed, skin ulcers and more. After all, the symptoms of leptospirosis may vary depending on the individual protective properties of the body.

Reason 6 – diseases of the genital organs

Sometimes blood in the urine can occur due to specific sexually transmitted infections. In particular, in bitches, blood can be released both in the urine and outside of urination due to pyometra, an infectious disease of the uterus. Male dogs, especially those who have not been neutered, may have blood in their urine due to prostate disease. In this case, it is important to monitor the time of urination, it can be very long or, on the contrary, insignificant, as well as the general condition of the pet.

Click to open image

Reason 7 – neoplasms

Various neoplasms and tumor processes in the kidneys or bladder can also be one of the possible reasons for the appearance of blood in the urine. In addition, it should be remembered that all tumor processes, as a rule, are accompanied by a general severe condition of the animal. They are more common in older dogs and the animal can die from it.

Reason 8 – poisoning

How can I help my dog?

As you can see, there are more than enough reasons for the appearance of blood in the urine, so you shouldn’t even think about self-medication for such a disorder.

In order for the treatment to bring results and be correct, a number of studies need to be done, in particular:

• blood and urine tests, preferably general and biochemical;
• in some cases x-ray.

In addition, for a veterinarian, the information about the pet and the course of its illness that only you can provide is very important, because, alas, our friends are silent creatures.

Therefore, try to answer the following questions for high-quality diagnosis and establishment of the causes of blood in the urine:

1. What color urine does your dog pee?
2. What is the nature of urination: posture, volume of urine, frequency of urge to go to the toilet, pain?
3. Is urination uncontrollable and when was your last trip to the toilet?
4. Is blood released outside of going to the toilet or only at the end of urination?
5. What is the general condition of the dog?
6. Is this the first time such symptoms have appeared or has the dog already had something similar?

To treat most of the diseases listed today, antibiotic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy is used to maintain immune function. In some cases, you may even need to undergo surgery, so you should not delay going to the veterinary clinic.

Video “Canine Babesiosis”

A video about the disease babesiosis, as a possible cause of blood in the urine, can be found below.

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