Detecting blood in your dog’s urine is usually straightforward. While typically not a severe health issue and often treatable, in rare instances, it can signal serious health concerns.
Upon noticing blood in your dog’s urine, it’s important not to ignore it or overreact. Instead, it’s a situation that requires attention. Consult your vet promptly to determine if it’s a serious problem and proceed with the appropriate treatment.
Why Does Your Dog Have Blood in Its Urine?
Several factors can contribute to the presence of blood in your dog’s urine. Age is one significant factor. Young dogs with an inherited condition known as familial hematuria often exhibit this symptom. This is the most common cause of blood in a dog’s urine.
In older dogs, blood in the urine is generally indicative of cancer. Gender can also be a factor in diagnosis. Urinary tract infections, more common in female dogs, can cause blood in the urine.
Medically, the presence of blood in the urine is known as hematuria. While some cases can be serious, most instances are treatable and not severe.
Signs of Hematuria in Dogs
Obvious signs include the presence of blood in the dog’s urine.
The urine may appear pink, brown-red, tea-colored, or reddish instead of its usual pale yellow color.
Increased frequency of urination.
Abdominal pain or discomfort.
What Causes Blood in Your Dog’s Urine?
Various factors can determine the causes of blood in your dog’s urine, such as gender, breed, and age. Older dogs with bloody urine may have kidney or urinary tract cancer. Younger dogs, although less likely to have cancer, often have familial hematuria.
Common causes of blood in a dog’s urine include:
Kidney or bladder infection: Caused by bacteria entering the genital or rectal area. The dog may frequently attempt to urinate without success, and when urine is produced, it may be bloody or cloudy.
Urinary tract infection: More common in females, symptoms include pain during urination, frequent licking of the urinary opening, and frequent urination. Although uncomfortable, it’s typically treatable with antibiotics.
Poisoning: Blood in urine can indicate your dog has ingested a harmful substance. Other symptoms include persistent coughing, abdominal swelling, pain, and difficulty breathing. If these symptoms appear, seek immediate veterinary help.
Estrus: This isn’t a cause of blood in urine but may be mistaken for it. Your dog may be ‘in heat,’ a regular part of the female reproductive cycle occurring every six months, which can cause bleeding in the same area.
Other Potential Causes of Blood in the Urine
Tumors
Prostate issues
Injury
Cancer
Coagulation disorder
Idiopathic renal hematuria
Diagnosing Blood in Your Dog’s Urine
Blood in a dog’s urine can have many causes. Therefore, it’s crucial to take your dog to the vet for a comprehensive check-up to identify the cause. Providing information about recent injuries, exposure to toxins, or changes in diet or supplements can assist the vet in making a diagnosis.
The vet will begin with a thorough physical exam to check for abnormalities such as swelling. They’ll also take a blood sample to examine the levels of red and white blood cells.
Urinalysis is a crucial diagnostic tool that tests the pH of the urine and measures the levels of minerals, red blood cells, hemoglobin, glucose, and protein. This test helps the vet determine the cause of the blood in the urine.
Treatment
The treatment for blood in a dog’s urine depends on the diagnosis. After the vet examines your dog and identifies the cause, they’ll recommend appropriate treatment, which could range from surgery to medication, depending on the severity of the issue.
