Why Is My Dog Peeing Blood? What It Means and What to Do
Noticing blood in your dog‘s urine can be very alarming for any pet owner. While it may indicate a serious underlying problem, prompt veterinary care and an accurate diagnosis can help get your pup on the road to recovery.
Although it is an abnormal symptom that always warrants a trip to the vet, blood in dog urine is actually quite common. Knowing what signs to look out for, and what steps to take, can help you catch potential issues early and get your dog the treatment they need.
Signs of Blood in a Dog‘s Urine
What exactly does blood in dog pee look like? The medical term for this symptom is hematuria. Signs you may notice include:
- Pink or red-tinged urine
- Urine that looks brown, red, or has a coffee-ground appearance
- Spots or streaks of visible blood in the urine
- Straining or crying out when urinating
- Frequent urination or urinating small amounts
- Accidents in the house from a previously housetrained dog
If you see any of these symptoms, it‘s important to collect a urine sample if possible and contact your veterinarian right away to be seen. Hematuria always requires professional evaluation and treatment.
Common Causes of Blood in Dog Urine
There are quite a few potential health issues that can cause a dog to pee blood. Some of the most common causes include:
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Bacterial infections of the urinary tract are a frequent cause of hematuria, especially in female dogs. The bacteria cause inflammation of the bladder and/or urethra. Other symptoms may include straining to urinate, frequent urination, strong-smelling pee, and urinary accidents.
Bladder or Kidney Stones
Mineral crystals can build up into stones within the kidney, bladder, or urethra. These stones are very irritating and abrasive to the lining of the urinary tract, causing bleeding. You may also notice straining and frequent urination. Certain breeds like Dalmatians, Yorkies, and Shih Tzus are predisposed.
Bladder Tumor or Cancer
Tumors of the urinary tract, both benign and malignant, can cause bleeding into the urine. This tends to occur more often in senior dogs. Other symptoms include straining, blood clots in urine, weight loss, and urinary obstruction.
Prostate Issues
In unneutered male dogs, prostate disease is a common cause of urinary symptoms like blood in the urine. An enlarged prostate gland can put pressure on the urethra and cause bleeding. Neutering often resolves the issue.
Clotting Disorders
Any problem with the body‘s ability to clot blood, whether from low platelet counts, clotting factor deficiencies, or ingestion of certain rodent poisons, can lead to bleeding into the urinary tract. Other signs may include pale gums, bruising, and bleeding from other areas.
Trauma
Blunt force trauma to a dog‘s abdomen or urinary tract, like being hit by a car or stepped on, can cause bleeding in the urine. More severe trauma may also result in urinary tract rupture or obstruction.
Less common causes of hematuria in dogs include:
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
- Toxin/poison ingestion like NSAIDs or antifreeze
- Renal telangiectasia (benign blood vessel malformation of the kidney)
- Prostatic cysts
- Idiopathic renal hematuria (benign bleeding of unknown cause)
Veterinary Diagnosis
To get to the bottom of why your dog is peeing blood, your veterinarian will need to do some investigating. Diagnostics may include:
Complete Urinalysis
Testing a urine sample is one of the first and most important steps. This checks for the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells (indicating infection), crystals, bacteria, and protein.
Urine Culture
If a UTI is suspected, the urine is sent to the lab to determine exactly what bacteria is present and which antibiotics it is sensitive to. This helps the vet choose the most effective treatment.
Complete Blood Count and Blood Chemistry
Bloodwork provides information about your dog‘s organ function, hydration status, electrolytes, and cell counts. This helps rule out certain causes like kidney failure or clotting disorders.
Abdominal X-Rays
Radiographs allow your vet to visualize the size and shape of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder to check for stones, tumors, or other abnormalities.
Abdominal Ultrasound
An ultrasound uses sound waves to give an even more detailed look at the urinary tract and nearby organs to aid in diagnosis of issues like tumors, cysts, kidney disease and stones.
Specialized Testing
Depending on the suspected cause, more advanced diagnostics may be needed like clotting tests, stone analysis, toxin screening, or even cystoscopy (using a tiny camera to visualize the inside of the urinary tract).
Treatment
The treatment for blood in a dog‘s urine depends on the underlying cause discovered through diagnostic testing. Common treatments include:
- Antibiotics for UTIs or prostate infections, sometimes for an extended period
- Surgical removal of bladder or kidney stones
- Dietary changes to dissolve certain types of stones and crystals
- Intravenous fluids to flush out toxins and maintain hydration
- Plasma transfusions and Vitamin K for clotting disorders
- Chemotherapy and/or surgery for urinary tract tumors
- Neutering for prostate issues
With prompt treatment, most dogs recover well from hematuria. However, the long-term prognosis depends on the specific diagnosis. Some conditions like UTIs have a very good outcome, while others like cancer may be more guarded.
When to See an Emergency Vet
While any sign of blood in your dog‘s urine should be evaluated by your vet as soon as possible, certain situations warrant an immediate trip to the emergency clinic:
- Unable to urinate/straining unproductively
- Large clots or profuse bleeding from the urethra
- Collapsing, pale gums or extreme lethargy
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or reduced appetite in addition to the bloody urine
- Known ingestion of toxins or trauma
These signs could indicate urinary obstruction, anemia, or another serious complication that needs urgent treatment. When in doubt, give your vet a call for advice.
Prevention
While not all causes of bloody urine can be prevented, there are a few ways to reduce your dog‘s risk of developing certain conditions:
- Keep your dog at a healthy weight to prevent excess stress on the urinary tract
- Feed a high-quality diet and avoid table scraps to prevent crystal and stone formation
- Make sure your dog always has access to fresh, clean water to encourage frequent urination and bladder flushing
- Consider a pet fountain to encourage water intake
- Take your dog out frequently for bathroom breaks
- Keep up with annual vet exams to catch any issues early
- Pick up any spilled antifreeze or other toxic chemicals immediately
When to See the Vet
At the end of the day, blood in your dog‘s urine is never normal and should not be ignored. Even if your dog is acting fine otherwise, it‘s important to have them evaluated by a veterinarian to find and treat the underlying cause before it potentially progresses to something more serious.
Prompt treatment is always best, as many conditions are much easier to treat when caught early. Collecting a urine sample to bring to your appointment can help speed up the diagnostic process. With appropriate care and treatment, your dog will hopefully be leak-free in no time!
