The sight of blood often makes people panic. When it’s coming from your dog, that panic sometimes goes into overdrive. If your dog house-trained dog is peeing inside suddenly, it’s time for a trip to the vet ASAP whether you see blood or not. While many things can cause bloody urine (hematuria) in dogs, your vet is the best person to help you figure out why and how to fix it.
Is Blood in a Dog’s Urine an Emergency?
Hematuria is not generally an emergency for dogs. However, a urinary obstruction or blockage is an absolute emergency. While more common in males, females can become blocked too. Blockages are usually caused by a bladder stone that has made its way into the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out of the body) and become lodged there, unable to move forward or back.
In such cases, most dogs require surgery to remove additional bladder stones (called a “cystotomy”) and clear the urethra of the blockage. Without treatment, the bladder will rupture and release toxic waste into the main body cavity.
These dogs may also have to start a prescription diet to prevent new stones from forming such as Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare. Certain breeds are predisposed to bladder stones including Dalmatians, Miniature Schnauzers, and Bichon Frises.
What Causes Dogs to Pee Blood?
If your dog is peeing blood, several things could be causing it. Some causes have simple treatments, while others can result in costly vet bills and surgery. Here are the top 3 most common causes of blood in the urine for dogs.
Urinary Tract Infection
A UTI happens when bacteria are introduced into the bladder. The most common bacteria that causes a UTI is E. coli. Many dogs accidentally deposit these bacteria into their urethra when cleaning themselves. It can also be transported there during breeding.
Thankfully, UTIs can usually be treated with a round of antibiotics from your vet. Make sure to follow their instructions exactly since antibiotics can upset your dog’s stomach and not finishing them can result in antibiotic-resistant infections.
Bladder Stones
As we already discussed, bladder stones can cause urinary blockages. However, it’s uncommon in dogs since their stones grow quickly. As the stones move around in the bladder, they cause irritation and bleeding of the bladder walls. They can also hold bacteria, resulting in a difficult-to-clear UTI. Bladder stones can be diagnosed by ultrasound or x-ray.
Some can be dissolved with a prescription diet, while others must be extracted from the bladder via cystotomy. Many dogs must spend several days in the hospital on antibiotics and pain medication after this painful procedure.
Kidney Disease or Injury
Occasionally, blood passes down from the kidneys and into the bladder The kidneys are responsible for concentrating urine and filtering out toxins from the blood. If the kidney becomes injured physically (think hit by a car) or by chemical contamination such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), they may become inflamed and irritated.
Depending on the type of kidney disease or injury, your dog may need to be hospitalized on intravenous fluids for many days. If the kidneys are bleeding due to toxin exposure, they may require specialized medications to prevent further damage.
Other Causes
Some other, less common causes, include:
- Bladder cancer: Cancer can develop anywhere in the body. When it arises in the bladder, it often causes bleeding and hard-to-treat UTIs.
- Prostatitis: A condition affecting male dogs that involves inflammation of the prostate.
- Chemotherapy: If your dog is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, the medication can cause bleeding within the kidneys or bladder.
- Bleeding Disorders: Some dogs develop bleeding disorders such as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP). Both conditions can result in bloody urine in dogs. These diseases are usually treated with blood transfusions and steroid medication.
- Addison’s Disease: Characterized by the adrenal glands not producing enough cortisol and aldosterone. These hormones are responsible for regulating blood pressure, metabolism, and stress responses (think flight or fight). If the hormone levels drop too low, it can be deadly.
How do you treat blood in a dog’s urine?
If you see blood in your dog’s urine, it’s a safe bet that it’s time for a vet visit. Over-the-counter supplements and treatments can do more harm than good, depending on the underlying cause. Even if the cause is minor, you’ll want to make sure that’s the case.
Your vet will likely run some blood work and a urinalysis to see what’s going on. They may also want to take X-rays or perform an ultrasound on your dog’s kidneys and bladder. Hopefully, it’s just a UTI and they’ll send you home with some medication and request a recheck in 10–14 days. Follow all your vet’s instructions and finish medications, even if your dog appears to be 100% better.
The Bottom Line on Dogs Peeing Blood
No matter why your dog is peeing blood, the vet is the best person to help you determine how to treat it. Taking a “better safe than sorry” approach is the way to go when your dog has bloody urine. Don’t use over-the-counter medications or supplements unless your vet recommends them. Be sure to follow up with your vet as instructed.