Dog peeing blood: why and how to treat

When the owner notices that the dog is peeing blood, he begins to panic. After all, an animal is the youngest child in the family, and when he gets sick it becomes scary.

First you need to understand the reasons, and then begin treatment. Colored urine is not a good signal for the owner; in 90% of cases it is a sign that the pet is sick. Rarely, this effect is possible when consuming certain foods that contain dyes.

Main reasons:

Internal injuries. If the dog has recently been in a fight, he could have been injured.
Neoplasm. Alas, they are not uncommon in animals either.
Stones, sand in the kidneys.
Poisoning, especially rat poison.
A disease associated with poor blood clotting.
Infection, most often the symptom appears after a tick bite.
Prostate disease in male dogs.

Why does a dog pee blood? How to treat? The responsible owner’s task is to immediately deliver the patient to a veterinary clinic to diagnose the problem. If the disease is dangerous, then every hour of delay can cost the animal its life.

It is necessary to compare the dog's behavior recently with its usual state. This will help the veterinarian make an accurate diagnosis faster. Possible associated symptoms:

Loss of appetite.
Restless behavior.
Incontinence.
Discharge of blood between urinations.
Temperature.

Before visiting the veterinarian, you need to clearly think through the answers to a number of questions:

When did blood first appear?
What is your dog's appetite for the last three days? What does she eat?
Were there any fights or injuries?
Were there any insect bites? If a dog pees blood after a tick bite, then it urgently needs help, otherwise it may die.
How has the dog's behavior changed over the past three days?

The answers to these questions will greatly help the doctor to make a diagnosis; you will also have to undergo a series of examinations. If a dog pees in blood, then treatment is selected according to the diagnosis.

Cystitis

A common disease among animals. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a urine test and ultrasound of the reproductive system. The analysis pays attention to the following indicators:

Presence of protein.
Red blood cells.
Leukocytes.
Salt.

If the examination confirms a genitourinary infection, then a bacterial culture is performed. It will help determine the type of bacteria and antibacterial agents that can accurately destroy it.

Urine is collected by the dog's owner before going to the veterinarian. Purchase a jar intended for people. It is advisable to rinse the genitals. You can use the antiseptic Chlorhexidine.

The jar is placed a couple of seconds after the dog begins to urinate. Dogs are not always favorable towards such a procedure, so the owners are unable to carry out the fence themselves. Then the procedure is carried out at the veterinarian using a catheter.

If cystitis is confirmed, then in 90% of cases the veterinarian prescribes the antibiotic Cifrofloxacin or its analogue Cifran. These same drugs are also used in humans. The dose is calculated according to the formula - 10 mg per 1 kg of animal. Apply twice a day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks or more. 14 days after taking the medication, a repeat urine test is performed.

Cystitis may be a consequence of urolithiasis. In this case, the dog also pees blood. The sand and stones must come out on their own, but this is an extremely painful process. The pet is prescribed antispasmodics. Most often these are No-Shpa, Papaverine, Erva Woolly. But this is all at the discretion of the veterinarian. The stones may also be too large to pass through the urinary system on their own. Then you cannot do without medical intervention.

A gentle diet must be prescribed, which will prevent the formation of new stones. There are special foods for animals with genitourinary problems.

Diagnostics

If your dog is peeing blood, it should be taken to the veterinarian. It is advisable to bring a sample of your dog's morning urine for analysis. The doctor will examine the sick dog, do a general analysis of urine and blood, and take blood for biochemistry. If there is a suspicion of a disease of the internal organs, a specialist will conduct an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs.

How to collect urine from a dog

In ordinary life, dogs urinate on the street without human intervention, and collecting urine for analysis will not be easy. You can collect the liquid in a wide-rimmed container, jar or container. When an animal takes the appropriate pose during a walk, you need to calmly approach from the side or behind and quickly place the container under the stream. It may not be possible to collect the sample the first time and you will have to be patient. The ideal option would be to collect the first morning urine; it will provide the most complete set of information for the study. If you are unable to take urine from your dog yourself, you should contact your veterinarian, who will take the urine for analysis using a catheter.

Tick bite

In the warm season, insects attack both animals and people. Ticks carry many infections that are dangerous. In dogs, babesiosis is more common after a bite, which can be fatal if help is not provided in time.

In addition to blood in the urine, the pet experiences loss of appetite, lethargy, nausea, and yellowing of the sclera. The first thing the owner should do is examine the dog's skin. If a tick is found, it must be unscrewed. While on the skin, it continues to poison the body. Therefore, its removal is a top priority.

Next, it is necessary to urgently transport the dog to a hospital. Before the trip, it is advisable to give the animal Enterosgel or any other sorbent. It won’t be able to cure, but it will at least reduce the intoxication a little. Babesiosis is a colossal blow to the liver, since it is the filter of any organism.

An experienced veterinarian will even detect a tick-borne infection at first glance, but to confirm the diagnosis, blood tests are taken from the dog. The procedure takes 15 minutes. Based on its results, the diagnosis is confirmed or refuted.

If we are talking about a tick-borne infection, then the pet is prescribed a course of a strong antibiotic, immunostimulants, sorbents, and a diet. The antibiotic must defeat the infection, immunostimulants help the body fight the bacteria, sorbents reduce intoxication, and the diet facilitates the functioning of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Babesiosis is a terrible disease. Every second dog dies from it. Serious complications are also observed after recovery.

Prevention of bites is the treatment of the animal’s withers with special drops, the use of sprays, and collars. The withers are treated once a month; the collar is an additional measure of protection if the dog goes on vacation to the forest. A common mistake is using only a tick collar.

A dog has blood in its urine: what should the owner do?

So, as we have determined, blood during urination is almost always an alarming symptom of some disease

. If your dog suddenly pees blood, it is important not to panic, but to observe the animal for several hours. To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will definitely need not only the results of tests, ultrasound and x-rays, but also the history of observing the dog according to the owner. So, you need to remember the following points if there is blood in your dog’s urine:

What is the amount of urine
(in case of serious illnesses, the bladder is partially emptied);
How often does the dog pee
(in some diseases, the dog’s urinary tract is blocked as a result of stones or after an injury, which is why the animal cannot pee);
In what position does the dog pee
(if the animal bends too low to the ground and sits down, then this happens with severe pain);
Does the pet show pain when urinating
(whining, breathing heavily, etc.);
Is there blood in the urine
, or maybe there is only discharge on the genitals (for example, when the penis is injured);
How is your pet feeling
(is there a temperature, has he lost his appetite, are there any gastrointestinal disorders, etc.).

Based on the owner’s story, as well as on the basis of test data, the doctor will be able to determine exactly what disorder led to the blood loss. The owner will only have to adhere to the veterinarian’s recommendations, strictly following the instructions of the prescribed medications.

Poisoning

Rat poison is dangerous for dogs and cats. The dog may swallow a poisoned rat or eat the poison left for it. This poison stops blood clotting because it is a hemolytic poison. That's why the dog pees blood. What to do in this case?

Urgently give the dog a sorbent and take it to a veterinary clinic. If the dog has recently eaten a poisonous substance, then he will undergo gastric lavage. When more than 8 hours have passed since the poison entered the body, this procedure is no longer useful. Drug treatment will be provided, which may include IVs and blood transfusions.

Poisoning is not something to joke about; the poison acts too quickly. It is important to notice the first symptoms promptly and contact a veterinarian. Considering the huge number of flayers that have appeared, poisoning is not such a rarity; it can happen at any time. You need to carefully monitor your pet. If he is seen picking up from the floor, then they play it safe by putting on a muzzle.

What to do for urinary tract infections?

During the development of diseases such as urethritis, pyelonephritis, and cystitis, blood enters the dog’s urine. In this case, bleeding may be almost invisible. Also, a few drops of blood may appear after urination.

If there are other external signs of the disease - fever, refusal to eat, apathy and lethargy of the animal - as well as visible difficulties with urination, you should contact a veterinarian. He will prescribe the necessary procedures and tests to diagnose the disease, and also give treatment instructions for your pet.

Leptospirosis

A common infectious disease that requires immediate assistance. You can become infected by a tick bite or by consuming food or water. Symptoms are similar to babesiosis. You can’t wait for the disease to go away on its own – it won’t happen.

The pet needs a heavy dose of potent drugs, otherwise it will die. Therefore, there is no need to delay visiting the veterinary clinic when the first symptoms appear.

You can also contact our site's staff veterinarian, who will respond to them as soon as possible in the comment box below.

Diagnosis and treatment

If at the time of detection of the problem there is no direct threat to life, observe the pet for 6-12 hours before going to the veterinary clinic. To make a diagnosis, the doctor will need the following indicators:

frequency of urination;
presence and severity of pain;
associated symptoms;
amount and shade of urine excreted;
features of posture when relieving yourself.

The stronger the pain, the more exotic the position of the unfortunate animal. A sick male does not lift his paw, but sits down as close to the ground as possible.

After a clinical examination and history taking, urine and blood are taken from the animal for general and biochemical analysis. If prostatitis is suspected, a semen sample is examined, and if pyometra is suspected, a vaginal smear is examined.

An X-ray of the abdominal cavity and an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys are required. Additional diagnostic methods include endoscopy and biopsy.

A treatment regimen is prescribed only after diagnosis. When constructing it, the doctor relies on the cause of the ailment. Most situations can be resolved with drug therapy. Surgeries are recommended only as a last resort when other treatment methods remain powerless.

von Willebrand disease

Animals diagnosed with von Willebrand's undergo blood transfusions. In the future, it will be necessary before each surgical operation. Dogs with spontaneous bleeding are discarded from breeding.

Urolithiasis and infections

If there is excessive accumulation of salts or the formation of stones, the dog is given painkillers and prescribed a course of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and diuretic drugs.

In advanced cases, the bladder is washed. During treatment, it is recommended to change the food and switch to a veterinary line. Urinary tract infection is treated in a similar way.

Helminthiasis

Diseases caused by parasites are treated with anthelmintic and acaricidal drugs. When secondary infections occur, antibiotics are prescribed. To restore internal microflora, it is recommended to take a course of probiotics, vitamin and mineral complexes.

Diseases of the genitourinary system

Gynecological diseases are treated only surgically. The likelihood of relapse is minimal with complete sterilization. In this case, both the ovaries and the uterus are removed.

Males have a chance to do without surgery - a course of antibiotics is enough. But in this case, there is a risk of developing a chronic disease, which will require re-treatment in case of relapse.

Severe poisoning

In severe intoxication, the animal loses a large amount of fluid. Infusions of saline solution can help prevent dehydration. The effect of the poison is suppressed by the introduction of an antidote. Further treatment depends on the symptoms.

Malignant tumors

Oncology is treated surgically followed by a course of chemotherapy. The exceptions are elderly dogs and animals with chronic diseases. They have a hard time with anesthesia and radiation. Despite the fact that all nearby tissues are cut out along with the tumor, the likelihood of relapse remains.

Injuries

As a rule, after an injury, a pet requires surgery and a further recovery period. It may drag on, but with proper treatment, hematuria quickly goes away.

Risk factors

Some dog breeds are predisposed to bladder or kidney problems that may cause the dog to urinate blood.

For example, Dalmatians, Shih Tzus, miniature schnauzers, bichon frizes, Lhasa Apsos and Yorkshire terriers are breeds at risk for developing bladder stones, while West Highland white terriers, Scottish terriers, Shetland sheepdogs, beagles, American Eskimos and Wire-haired fox terriers are at risk. at risk of developing bladder tumors.

Any breed of dog can have bladder or kidney problems, so the problem of urinating blood is not limited to any dog breed.

How to collect urine for testing

One of the owner’s tasks is to collect the pet’s urine for analysis. Here you will have to be patient with the animal. In the case of small dogs, everything is simpler - they can do their business in a regular cat litter box. But this trick won’t work with large dogs. You should take a sterile jar or a special container for collecting urine with you on your morning walk and collect a small amount each time you urinate.

Don't collect urine from the ground! And directly from under the dog.

It's okay if it doesn't work out for you. The clinic will be able to take urine for analysis using a urinary catheter, or by cystoscopy - directly by puncturing the bladder (this is completely safe).

Questions a veterinarian asks during an appointment

To understand the essence of the problem that has arisen, during the appointment, the specialist collects the necessary information.

The owner of a four-legged friend needs to be prepared to answer the following questions:

at what point and how long ago did blood appear in the urine;
when exactly the removal of blood impurities is noted - at the beginning, middle or end of urination;
what position does the pet take at the time of defecation;
what is present in a dog’s diet, the amount of water it can drink per day;
frequency of urination.

Only by collecting the most complete medical history will the doctor be able to accurately identify the existing problem.