Dog Peeing Blood: What it Means and What You Should Do

While it may not be the most obvious symptom to detect, there are a few possibilities if you find your dog peeing blood.

Blood in the urine can be a significant indicator that causes a visit to the veterinarian.

Fortunately, if your dog is peeing blood, it typically means he or she has a simple health problem – but there are a few circumstances where a dog peeing blood could indicate a significant problem.

However, a urinary tract infection is the most prevalent cause in dogs, and the infection can often be followed by the presence of urinary stones or even kidney stones.”

So, if your dog is peeing blood, this article is all you need to understand what to do.

It clearly explains why your dog is peeing blood, the possible causes, and the necessary treatment to give to your dog to cease the blood.

Stay with us as we upturn this one after the other.

Read About: What is Pet Grooming? Meaning, Importance, & Cost

Why is my Dog Peeing Blood?

You should examine your dog’s urine color from time to time to make sure everything is normal.

Because typical urine is pale to dark yellow, seeing blood clots, red, or pink urine can be concerning.

Knowing why this can happen will help you determine what kind of help your dog might require.

So, why is your dog peeing blood?

Hematuria is the medical name for blood in the urine. You can visually detect these red blood cells in your dog’s urine or through diagnostic testing.

A urinary tract infection or, in male dogs, a benign prostate condition can both cause blood in the urine (hematuria).

Any pet owner who notices blood in their dog’s urine should be alarmed and concerned.

Check Out: How to Stop a Dog From Peeing in the House

What Does it Mean When Your Dog is Peeing out Blood?

Inflammation or infection usually causes blood in your dog’s pee in the urinary tract, which can involve both the upper and lower urinary tract.

Most causes of hematuria are fairly benign. The most common, by a long shot, is a run-of-the-mill urinary tract infection.

A UTI usually occurs because bacteria — often E. coli or debris — enter the urethra. It can also happen if an infection weakens a dog’s immune system, such as skin or ear infections.

Normally, a UTI is easy to treat with antibiotics.

Blood in the urine may come from the kidneys. Idiopathic renal hematuria occurs when blood from the kidneys ends up in the urine for no apparent cause.

We normally consider this benign, and it might occur because of an infection, an immune system problem, or a pharmaceutical side effect.

To rule out any major medical conditions, consult a veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible.

Read Also: Why Is My Dog Peeing In The House? What Should I Do?

What Happens to a Dog Peeing Blood but Acting Normal?

If a dog is peeing blood but acting normal, it could be an indication of several underlying health conditions. Here are some possible causes:

1. Urinary tract infection (UTI): UTIs are quite common in dogs, and they can cause a dog to pee blood. In most cases, the dog may also show other symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, and pain or discomfort while urinating.
2. Bladder stones or crystals: Dogs with bladder stones or crystals may also show signs of blood in their urine. These can cause discomfort and even block the urinary tract, which can be a serious health concern.
3. Trauma: A dog that has been in an accident or suffered some form of trauma may also pee blood. In such cases, the blood may be mixed with urine or come out separately.
4. Cancer: In rare cases, peeing blood may be a sign of cancer in the urinary tract or other parts of the body.

Regardless of the cause, it is essential to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible. A veterinarian can perform a physical examination, run tests, and prescribe appropriate treatment to address the underlying condition. Delaying treatment can result in further complications and potentially harm the dog’s health.

What are the Causes of Blood in Dogs Urine?

In the belly of dogs, there are two kidneys. Urine is produced by the kidneys and delivered through small tubes called ureters to the bladder, where it is stored until it is passed through the urethra.

If the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or other physiological organs interacting with the urinary tract bleed, you may find blood in the urine.

So, here are the possible cause of bleeding in a dog’s pee:

1. Bladder Stones

Bladder Stones, also known as uroliths, can form inside a dog’s bladder because of pH changes in the urine, mineral imbalances in the urine, urinary tract infections, and other factors.

These stones can be of various shapes and sizes, and when they float around in the bladder, they can cause trauma to the bladder wall.

As a result, bleeding is common, and blood is visible when a dog pees. Bladder stones in dogs are pretty common.

Check Out: How to Potty Train a German Shepherd Puppy: 11 Easy Ways

2. Kidney Stones

Also known as nephrolithiasis, kidney stones are less prevalent in dogs than bladder stones, although they can still develop.

Most of the time, they’re discovered as an afterthought on X-rays taken for another purpose.

Kidney stones can either stay in the kidneys or travel through the ureters, causing your dog to pee blood in either case.

3. Bladder Tumors

Tumors are aberrant cell growths, and the bladder is not immune to these masses.

Blood will travel through your dog’s pee if a bladder tumor bleeds.

4. Prostatic Disease

Prostatic disease exclusively affects male dogs, thus, this is a condition that will only affect your dog if he is a guy.

Urine must first pass via the prostate gland before transferring on to the bladder.

Due to an unhealthy prostate, blood may occur in the urine if the prostate is inflammatory, swollen, or infected.

5. Kidney Infections

Pyelonephritis is an upper urinary tract infection that happens when bacteria enter a dog’s kidneys.

Because the kidneys and bladder are related, this type of illness can cause a dog to pee blood.

6. Bladder Infections

A bladder infection, like a kidney infection, can cause a dog to pee blood.

Bacteria can irritate the bladder wall, resulting in a lower urinary tract infection, which is the most common reason for a dog peeing blood.

7. Recent Surgery

If your dog has abdominal surgery or surgery on a section of the body that is near the urinary tract, irritation and inflammation may cause blood to appear in his pee.

8. Heat Cycle

During a female dog’s heat cycle, you’ll observe blood in her pee if she hasn’t been spayed.

This isn’t a sign that there’s an issue.

What Does Blood in Dog Urine Look Like?

We don’t often notice bloody urine right away. After all, we don’t want to be staring at our dogs while they’re peeing.

Bloody urine is sometimes visible, especially if your dog urinates on a light-colored surface such as snow, carpet, or the floor.

This discoloration might be nearly normal, amber, orange, red, or brown in appearance.

Blood in the urine isn’t always visible, and finding red blood cells requires a diagnostic test. Even if your dog’s urine appears to be normal, it may contain blood.

Other diseases might cause colored pee, so the first thing you should do if your dog’s urine turns a strange hue is to consult your veterinarian.

What Do I Do if my Dog is Peeing Blood?

If your dog is urinating blood, call your veterinarian right away to schedule an appointment, or go to an emergency veterinarian if your regular veterinarian is not available.

Your veterinarian will try to identify your dog’s ailment at the appointment, and may do a urinalysis, a urine culture, an X-ray, or an ultrasound of your dog’s bladder and kidneys.

It’s critical to schedule an appointment or send your dog to an emergency animal hospital within 24 hours of seeing symptoms so that they can properly identify his disease and treat it.

Also, it’s critical to provide a detailed history of your dog’s health, including a list of signs and symptoms, when you see the veterinarian.

This information can help your veterinarian figure out what’s causing the blood in your dog’s pee, as well as diagnose and treat the problem.

Is Blood in Dog Urine an Emergency?

Bloody urine, or inability to urinate, is a medical emergency.

It can cause a bladder rupture in your dog, which can be dangerous if left untreated, so call your veterinarian right away if you observe this symptom.

However, “Blood in the pee is not a medical issue until the pet passes what seems to be straight blood,” Dr. Richter says.

“Blood-tinged urine should be investigated, but it isn’t an emergency unless the pet is in pain.”

How Do You Treat Blood in a Dog’s Urine?

According to Dr. Richter, a urinalysis to rule out infection is usually the first step in diagnosing a dog peeing blood.

However, treatment depends on the origin of the blood, and your veterinarian may give antibiotics if the problem is a urinary tract infection (UTI), but they may need surgery if there are other complications, such as bladder cancer or stones.

A metabolic disorder can cause hematuria, such as the adrenal glands producing too much steroid hormone, or diabetes.

Intact dogs with a history of hematuria may have an enlarged prostate, in which the veterinarian may recommend case neutering.

Most veterinarians prescribe anti-inflammatory or pain medication to relieve your dog’s discomfort, and if your dog has urine crystals or bladder stones, they may also recommend a diet change.

Certain prescription diets help prevent stone formation and optimize urine pH, which is an important aspect of addressing urinary tract disorders in dogs.

Here are the different treatments depending on the underlying cause of blood in your dog’s urine:

1. Infections

Antibiotics are the first line of defense against infections of the bladder, kidneys, urinary system, and other organs. Your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics based on your dog’s medication history and the location of the infection.

2. Stones

You can treat bladder and kidney stones with a low-protein, low-phosphorous, low-magnesium diet that promotes acidic urine and encourages higher water consumption, or by removing the stones using nonsurgical or surgical techniques in more severe cases.

3. Tumors

Tumor treatment is determined by the location and type of tumor. For a more expert diagnosis and treatment, your veterinarian may recommend you to an oncologist.

4. Poisoning

The drug consumed determines the treatment for poisoning.

If your dog has eaten rodenticide and has vitamin D poisoning, she will need to be put on an IV until her electrolyte, calcium, and phosphorous levels have returned to normal.

They may give your dog a phosphate binder, such as aluminum hydroxide, to aid in the removal of excess phosphorous from her system.

5. Injury

The extent and location of the internal damage identified during the diagnostic will dictate the therapy if your dog’s pee contains blood as a result of trauma.

6. Prostate

Because there are a variety of illnesses that can cause prostatic disease, the diagnosis will dictate the treatment.

For primary or secondary bacterial infections, your dog may need aggressive antibiotic therapy that may last much longer than a standard antibiotic regimen.

In dogs who have not been neutered, neutering is sometimes the only treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, cystic metaplasia, testicular tumors, and cystic hyperplasia.

Cysts and abscesses in the prostate need to be surgically removed and drained.

What Can I Give My Dog for Urinary Tract Infection?

UTIs in dogs are uncomfortable, just like they are in humans, and waiting too long to send your dog to the vet for treatment might make symptoms worse.

The infection has the potential to spread to the kidneys and prostate.

While it may tempt you to hurry out and get an over-the-counter cure for your dog right now, Marx advises against it because human drugs are hazardous to canines.

If you think your dog has a UTI, take him to the doctor for antibiotics. A urine culture is used to diagnose a dog UTI.

Your veterinarian will examine a sample of your dog’s urine to see if bacteria are present, as well as any crystals, which could show bladder stones.

You can collect a urine sample at home or have your veterinarian perform it in the clinic, according to Marx. Here’s how to do it:

1. Obtaining a Urine Sample in the Comfort of Your Own Home

If at all workable, Marx suggests getting urine from your dog’s first-morning pee, as it will be the most concentrated sample. You should catch it in a clean, sealable container.

You can also place a soup ladle below your dog to capture the urine when she pees and then transfers it to a clean container. However, you must send a urine sample collected at home to your veterinarian’s clinic within two hours.

2. Collecting a Urine Sample at the Veterinary Clinic

If you are unable to obtain a sample at home, your veterinarian can obtain a sterile sample using a needle. Marx explains, “It’s a short treatment that most dogs bear really well.”

If your vet finds crystals in the urine sample, he or she may need x-rays to look for bladder stones.

Bladder stones can result in recurring bladder infections, which need to be treated.

According to Marx, the most frequent treatment for a UTI in dogs is a basic course of antibiotics that is usually given for seven to fourteen days.

You should also encourage your dog to consume water in order to eliminate bacteria from the bladder.

How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections from Occurring in a Dog

According to Marx, the simplest way to avoid another UTI is to make sure your dog gets lots of freshwater. Also, take your dog for frequent walks or give him plenty of pee breaks throughout the day.

If your dog has recurrent UTIs, your veterinarian may suggest supplementation.
According to Marx, “cranberry and vitamin C can aid dogs with chronic UTIs by reducing urine pH.” “However, consult your veterinarian before utilizing any treatment.

These supplements can exacerbate some illnesses, particularly if certain crystal forms (calcium oxalates) are a contributing factor.”

Your dog’s multiple UTIs or difficulty getting one to go away could be due to an underlying medical condition. Additional testing may be recommended by your veterinarian to discover the primary cause of chronic UTIs.

FAQs

References

• veterinaryemergencygroup.com – BLOOD IN DOG URINE: CAUSES AND WHAT TO DO
• wagwalking.com – Blood in the Urine in Dogs
• dailypaws.com – Could Your Dog Have a UTI? Here’s What to Do
• thesprucepets.com – Why is My Dog Peeing Blood?
• dogster.com – Is Your Dog Peeing Blood? Here’s Why