If you have discovered blood in your dog's urine, you are rightly very concerned and wonder what is wrong with your darling. This post will help you keep a cool head. To be well prepared for the case of emergency. Because here veterinarians inform you about possible causes, specific symptoms and explain what exactly you can do to help your pet as soon as possible.
Do I have to go to the vet immediately?
It's clear you're startled when you see blood. Now it is also important to take the right steps to make your dog feel better quickly. Is blood in the urine an emergency? Fact is: If you discover blood in the urine of your animal, then something is wrong, because blood normally has nothing to do with urine. First of all, it is important to observe the dog well and to consider: Does my animal show other symptoms? If it is restless, it wants to urinate all the time, but may not be able to? Drinks it more lately? If your dog has been lying on his bed all day and does not want to do anything?
Based on the general condition, it is already very easy to narrow down whether the condition of your dog is an emergency. Even if your pet seems to be quite fit, you should always contact a veterinary surgeon in time, so that he/she can find out the cause.
Possible causes of blood in the urine in dogs
The causes, which can be behind it, are very diverse and should always be clarified by a veterinarian! This is the only way to effectively treat.
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Possible causes include:
1. Urinary tract infections
Often triggered by bacteria that have risen up the urethra and thus end up in the bladder. Especially bitches are affected because of their shorter urethra. There is a high risk that the infection will continue to the kidneys and renal pelvis, and an antibiotic should always be administered if bacteria are detected. This must of course be prescribed by your veterinarian. Read more in our article Urinary tract infection in dogs.
2. Urinary stones
Crystals or pebbles in the urine are extremely unpleasant for your pet and often urinary bladder infections are secondary to the constant irritation to which the bladder is exposed by the abrasion of the sharp-edged crystals on the mucous membrane. The blood in the urine is caused by the shedding of the mucous membrane, which is rejected. Reading Tip: Urinary stones in dogs.
3. Diseases of the prostate gland in male dogs
Since the male dog's prostate is in close proximity to the urethra and also the bladder, changes there can have an effect on the urine. More detailed information can be found on our veterinary blog in the article Diseases of the prostate in dogs.
4. Side effects of medication
Some medications can cause a bloody change in the urine. Whether this could also be the reason for your dog must be checked by a veterinarian on the basis of his medication schedule.
5. Bladder growths such as tumors or polyps
If there are circumferential growths in the urinary tract, these growths can discolor the urine bloody due to newly formed blood vessels. For the diagnosis of a circumferential increase an ultrasound examination is necessary, sometimes even a mirror examination of the urinary bladder.
6. Chronic diseases such as.B. Diabetes or infectious diseases, which are accompanied by anemia
The degradation products of the red blood cells, which are part of the systemic disease, stain the urine red. You can read more about diabetes in our article Diabetes in dogs.
7. The supposed blood in the urine is not blood: also Beet can stain the urine red due to the dye present in the tuber!
After ingestion of beet, the urine may briefly turn red, but this should disappear after a few hours and is completely harmless. So if your dog has eaten food or treats with red beet, check the urine again carefully for its color the next time you urinate.
Symptoms that can accompany blood in the urine
The following symptoms are often observed in combination with bloody urine. So pay close attention to your four-legged friend:
Frequent urination, urinating in unusual places, sudden uncleanliness
Dribbling, difficult or painful urination
Changed smell of the urine
Increased licking in the genital region
Fever – if you are unsure whether your pet has a fever, read again on our veterinary blog how to take your dog's temperature
Reduced general well-being, lethargy
Diagnosis
A diagnosis should only be made by a veterinarian! He or. she will examine your dog thoroughly, determine the size of his urinary bladder to exclude a blockage of the urethra and certainly also examine a urine sample.
It is therefore advisable to collect a fresh urine sample and bring it with you so that your veterinarian can look for signs of infection, urinary stones or other underlying causes. To rule out other metabolic or other diseases, your veterinarian will also perform a blood and/or ultrasound examination.
By means of ultrasound the thickness of the bladder wall can be determined, urinary crystals or polyps can be found and by means of a puncture even sterile urine can be taken for further important examinations.
In rare cases, it may be necessary to do a cystoscopy (which is a cystoscopy of the bladder), often along with a bladder biopsy, for further diagnosis. Your veterinarian may also find it necessary to take an x-ray to find any stones that may be in the bladder or urinary tract, causing obstruction in the worst case.
Treatment
As different as the causes that can trigger the presence of blood in the urine, so are the treatment options.
In general, however, in the case of cystitis, which is always very painful, no matter what the cause, the first priority is to give painkillers. Depending on the degree of pain, anti-inflammatories to opioids may be administered. Your veterinarian will be the best judge of what treatment is appropriate for your pet.
If a bacterial infection has led to the bladder infection, your:e veterinarian:in will take a Antibiotic administer. Also after placing a urinary catheter, an antibiotic is administered to prevent an ascending infection from the catheter.
Sometimes the subcutaneous (= under the skin) or intravenous (= into the vein) Administration of fluids may be necessary to promote the emptying of the bladder. Animal with sufficient liquid. supplying nutrients.
In some patients also a Change of diet useful to change the pH-value in the urine resp. Reduce the formation of bladder crystals or bladder stones. Some bladder stones can be successfully dissolved with a correct diet.
In the case of a tumor or polyps, it must be considered whether an antibiotic is necessary Surgery can and must be performed, often only after prior biopsy of the circumferential proliferation.
In case of a chronic disease, which is primarily responsible for the blood in the urine, the disease itself must be treated. This is why it is so important that your veterinarian does everything possible to find out what is causing the bloody urine.
What home remedies are suitable if I have discovered blood in the urine& there are preventive measures?
The most important thing is to make sure that your dog has enough water available and drinks every day. Some dogs are very "bad drinkers", then it can help to add water to the food or to soak the dry food beforehand. Other dogs are more likely to drink if many different bowls of different sizes and materials are provided. Let your creativity run wild when designing drinking options for your pet.
In any case, you should make sure to take your dog outside regularly so that he has the opportunity to urinate and rinse the bladder.
Attention in cold and wet weather: always dry your dog well and avoid drafts and cold floors, always provide him with a warm blanket as a support.
Talk to your:r vet:in about alternative treatments, too, such as supplements and/or acupuncture. The effect of cranberry juice against urinary tract infections has not been proven. However, there is no harm in offering this along with fresh water, as cranberry juice or cranberry supplements can improve bladder health and reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infections. But always remember that these home remedies can not cure an acute bladder infection.
If your dog is at risk for recurrent urinary tract infections, you should talk to your:r veterinarian:in about options for long-term prevention, including supplements and special diets.
The prevention of urinary stones or the prevention of their recurrence often involves a special diet to influence the pH and mineral content of the urine. The exact diet will be prescribed by your veterinarian and depends on which stones are diagnosed. In any case, it is very important that your dog drinks enough water and urinates regularly.
Treatment and prevention of risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, bladder stones, or even surgical correction of a retracted vulva can help prevent urinary tract infections and their consequences, and play a significant part in keeping your pet healthy.
Seek advice from a veterinarian?
If you have noticed bloody urine in your dog or suspect that urine output is not normal, make an online appointment with our veterinarians at FirstVet now. We help you to assess the situation and advise you how to proceed now.