Saturday, July 3, 2010

What Does Blood in Dog Urine Mean?

A dog quickly becomes a member of the family and when the doggie is not feeling well, family members become worried. The dog cannot tell its owners what is wrong, so the humans must resort to attempting to diagnose the problem before visiting the vet. Some conditions are much more serious than others when it comes to dog infirmities. Knowing what things like blood in dog urine mean will help owners to decide on the best course of action should the situation arise.

When blood appears in the urine, the liquid will have a pinkish tinge due to mixing with the color of the pee. When the secretion is bright red, it is usually coming from the rectum or vaginal area instead. The dog owner should first determine where the blood is coming before making a diagnosis.

Once it has been established that the blood is actually coming out in the urine, the causes will need to be determined. Just like people, dogs can get urinary tract infections and the symptoms are similar for each. Frequent, painful urination containing blood, characterized by straining, is a common characteristic of this infection. The dog should be examined by a vet who will then prescribe antibiotics.

Bloody urine can also signify a prostate infection in an unaltered mail dog. The prostate may become enlarged if this condition is present and the dog should be taken to the vet. A disease carried by a tick can also cause the urine to appear bloody. The tick should be removed as soon as possible and saved in a bag for testing. A visit to the vet will result in testing of the tick and recommendations regarding further treatment.

Ingested poisons can also cause this blood to appear, rat poison being the most common. Trauma to the bladder area and urinary or reproductive system cancers can also cause this condition. When the vet is visited in these and the other cases, a recent urine sample of at least one teaspoon should be brought for testing. The sample should not be more than four hours old and it should be refrigerated after collection, prior to being taken to the vet.

Blood in dog urine can mean anything from a urinary tract infection to cancer, but in each case, the dog owner should contact a vet. The medical professional will give the dog a complete physical, test the urine sample, and prescribe medication to treat the condition. If the situation does not improved within the recommended time, another visit to the vet may be necessary.

1 comment:

  1. First time that I saw it it freak me out because my dog is very special to me and after reading this post I know now how to handle things like that. Thanks!!

    Vets Minster

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