Dog Bladder Infection and Blood

Bladder infections are known to cause a variety of fastidious symptoms in dogs. The presence of blood in the urine is one of the most alarming symptoms of bladder infections in dogs---the one that often causes owners to seek prompt veterinary attention.

  1. Identification

    • Bladder infections, medically known as cystitis, are infections of a dog's urinary tract. Blood in the urine (hematuria) is a quite common symptom of bladder infection in dogs.

    Features

    • Hematuria may be gross (visible to the naked eye), or it may be microscopic. Typically, owners notice blood in the urine when the dog leaves droplets of blood around or when there is a pinkish tint to the urine.

    Considerations

    • Bladder infections generally cause a variety of symptoms other than blood in the urine. Affected dogs may urinate frequently, strain to urinate and produce only a few droplets, exhibit increased thirst or appear lethargic.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Bring a fresh urine sample to the veterinarian to submit for urinalysis, in order to confirm or rule out a bladder infection. Uncomplicated cases of bladder infections are treated with a course of antibiotics, and signs of improvement are generally seen within 48 hours.

    Warning

    • In the long term, bladder infections may lead to pain, weight loss and inappropriate urination. Left untreated, a bladder infection may also spread to the kidneys, causing severe illness or, in extreme cases, death.