Letting the dog out in the backyard so it can empty its bladder is part of being a dog owner. If a dog needs to go out often and has blood in its urine, it could have a bladder infection. A bladder infection and symptoms like bleeding can become a recurring health problem.
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Bladder Infections
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Bladder infections occur in dogs when bacteria infect their bladder and urinary tracts, causing inflammation. Bladder infections are more common in female and older dogs. While it is not rare for a dog to develop a bladder infection, recurring bladder infections, especially those that involve symptoms like blood in the urine, indicate an underlying problem with a dog's urinary tract.
Symptoms
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A recurring dog bladder infection shares the symptoms of a regular bladder infection. The dog will need to urinate more often than normal, sometimes needing to void its bladder immediately after having done so. The dog might whimper while urinating because it is painful. Sometimes there will be red blood visible in its urine. Some dogs urinate in the house as well outside when they have bladder infections, according to "The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook."
Causes
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A recurring bladder infection in a dog could be caused by stones within a dog's bladder or kidneys. Struvite urinary stones can be triggered by a bladder infection and remain after the infection is treated. Urinary stones can cause bleeding on their own. If a dog has a birth defect within its bladder, it could be at a greater risk for bacterial buildup in its bladder, resulting in repeat infections and inflammation of tissues, which can lead to bleeding.
Treatment
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A bladder infection can be diagnosed by a veterinarian after a procedure called a cystocentesis, which confirms the presence of bacteria in a dog's urinary tract. The bladder infection can be treated with orally administered antibiotics. Underlying causes of a recurring bladder infection, like bladder stones or a birth defect, can be treated surgically. Once this is done, the bladder infection should not return, and there should not be blood in the dog's urine any longer.
Considerations
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A dog owner can recognize a bladder infection in her dog by symptoms like blood in the urine. It is important to get a formal diagnosis from a veterinarian before giving a dog antibiotics to treat an infection. If the bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics, the veterinarian can prescribe a different kind. Other diseases, like Cushing's disease, have symptoms that mimic a bladder infection, so it is important to consult a veterinarian, according to "The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health."
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