Normally, the dog’s urine is straw-yellow, without a sharp pathological smell. A change in the shade of liquid excrement signals that there is some kind of violation in the animal’s body. For example, dark mustard urine is from dehydration, saturated orange indicates problems with the liver or gallbladder, black indicates a possible tumor. And what does red urine mean in a dog, in other words, if there is blood in it? Let’s try to figure out what are the causes of blood in dog urine.
Why do dogs have blood in their urine
Blood in the dog’s urine is almost always an alarm signal, which means that there is a serious problem. Spotting may appear for the following reasons:
- Hemolytic poisoning is intoxication from rat poisons, which act as destroyers of red blood cells. If an animal accidentally swallows such a poison, vomiting, convulsions, pain, blood clots in the urine may occur. Hemolytics include not only rat poison, but also arsenic, some inedible mushrooms, snake and spider poisons. It is important to contact a specialist soon so that he saves the pet by injecting him with an antidote (if available), sorbents, painkillers, cardiac and rehydration drugs. And if there is no way to get to the doctor right now, then at home you should immediately induce vomiting by pouring 50-200 ml of hydrogen peroxide into the dog’s mouth. You will need the introduction of sorbents (Atoxyl, Enterosgel, Presorb). The poisoned poor fellow needs to be taken to the vet clinic as soon as possible;
- Urinary tract infections – very often the dog urinates blood with cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis. With such problems, urine turns red from blood, and the following symptoms may also occur: pain during an attempt to relieve a minor need, swelling of the genitals (with inflammation of the urethra), fever, useless attempts to pee, apathy and refusal to eat (due to pain and discomfort). By the way, with these ailments at the end of urination, blood also happens when a portion of urine has already been released from the animal’s urethra. And in some cases, there are only small drops of blood in the urine, which can easily be overlooked, so you will have to pay attention to the general condition of the dog. Such a disease should not be allowed to take its course. In the clinic, the dog will be examined (ultrasound, urine and blood analysis), the primary cause of the problem will be determined and treatment will be prescribed (antibiotics, antipyretics, antispasmodics, diet);
- Parasitic diseases are worms, namely capillaries, which live in the urinary system of the dog, which leads to the fact that the urine becomes red. The animal loses weight, sleeps poorly, often experiences pain with diuresis, kidney indicators increase. As well as pyroplasmosis, a disease that is transmitted through the bites of ixod mites, causes a dark cherry color of urine due to the destruction of red blood cells and the release of free hemoglobin from them in large quantities, which leads to reddening of excrement;
- Urates / struvites (urinary stones) in the kidneys, urethra, bladder – similar formations appear in pathology of the liver, kidneys, blood vessels and metabolic disorders in general. If the dog urinates blood, experiencing pain at the same time, if it is clearly uncomfortable to write to the animal, then it may be precisely in the stones that make it difficult for normal urine excretion. The appearance of urates /struvites contributes to the development of urolithiasis, which also often causes blood in the dog’s secretions. And ICD entails cystitis, pyelonephritis, kidney failure. As an aid to the dog, the introduction of painkillers, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodics and antibiotics is required. But first it is important to identify what led to the appearance of stones;
- Prostate diseases in males (prostatitis, cystic, abscess, adenocarcinoma of the gland) – such ailments can not only cause blood in the urine, but also provoke problems with defecation, vomiting attacks, urinary retention. Depending on the cause of the disease, the doctor prescribes either medication or surgical treatment;
- Gynecological diseases in bitches (pyometra, ovarian cyst, etc.) – in such cases, the animal may have urine with blood (or bloody-purulent discharge from the vagina), appetite is weak, the stomach swells. Almost always, removal of the ovaries and uterus is chosen as a treatment, since it is impossible to get rid of such diseases with medication;
- Damage to the organs of the genital or urinary systems as a result of injury – drops of blood in the urine may also be present in cases when the dog got, for example, under the wheels of a car or fell from a height. If such an accident has occurred, it is important to get to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Worst of all, if blood in the urine appeared due to severe bruising or rupture of internal organs;
- Eating foods or using drugs that stain urine – if a dog likes to eat beets, then its urine may well have a pinkish or even red hue. Excrement can also be colored in an unconventional color due to the “fault” of some medications. If the dog is cheerful, eats well, does not look apathetic, it is worth remembering if he did not eat something that would give the urine a red or pinkish tinge.
The dog has blood in his urine: what should the owner do
So, as we have determined, blood during urination is almost always an alarming symptom of some disease. If the dog suddenly peed with 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 observation of the dog from the words of the owner. So, you need to remember the following points if there is blood in the dog’s urine:
- What is the amount of urine (in case of serious ailments, the bladder is partially emptied);
- How often does the dog pee (in some diseases, the urinary tract of the dog is blocked as a result of the location of stones or after an injury, which is why the animal cannot go small);
- In what position does the dog pee (if the animal bends too low to the ground, 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);
- What is the well-being of the pet (is there a temperature, has appetite disappeared, are there gastrointestinal disorders, etc.).
Based on the story of the owner, as well as based on these tests, the doctor will be able to determine exactly which violation led to blood loss. The owner will only have to adhere to the recommendations of the veterinarian, clearly following the instructions of the prescribed medications.