Blood in the urine of the pet that could look either orange or red, but different than usual. Blood in the urine of your pet can have different causes, such as Urinary Tract Infections, bladder stones, or prostate infections. Although blood in the urine isn't always a sign of a critical medical condition, it is advised to consult the veterinarian for a treatment.
How to Recognize
Blood in your pet’s urine may indicate a urinary tract infection or the presence of bladder stones. Blood in the urine can also signal a more serious condition. Since blood is not always visible in a pet's urine, recognizing other signs of a urinary problem is an important first step toward pursuing veterinary attention. Unless your pet is trained to urinate on pads, you may not notice blood in the urine. You are more likely to observe other symptoms, such as frequent urination in small amounts, that prompt you to bring your dog or cat to the veterinarian. Blood in the urine may not become evident until laboratory tests are performed on a sample of your pet’s urine.
Causes of Blood In The Urine
The most common causes of blood in the urine of dogs and cats are urinary tract infections and bladder stones. Cats that suffer from feline lower urinary tract disease may have blood in their urine. Other causes of blood in a pet’s urine include kidney infections, some cancers, feline leukemia, autoimmune disorders, blood clotting disorders, rodenticide poisoning and other toxicities.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will conduct a physical examination on your dog or cat and pose questions regarding the symptoms that you have observed. He or she will palpate your pet’s bladder. Blood and urine samples will be collected for analysis. Blood tests will reveal the presence of an infection and evaluate kidney function. A urinalysis will reveal the presence of blood and crystals, and the urine’s specific gravity will be determined. Specific gravity is an indicator of how efficiently the kidneys are concentrating the urine. A urine culture will reveal which type of bacteria is present if the blood is the result of infection. Abdominal radiographs may be taken to check for bladder stones or masses.
Similar Symptoms
Signs of a urinary infection include a frequent urge to urinate. Your dog may ask to go outdoors more often, or your cat will make more frequent trips to the litter box. Although your pet is urinating more often, the amount of urine passed each time is noticeably less than usual. You may notice a foul odor to the urine, and your dog or cat may persistently lick at the genital area. If your pet has substantial bladder stones, there is a possibility that drips of blood-tinged urine may be seen on flooring or bedding.
Possible Conditions
It is crucial to note if your male cat is crying in the litter box or straining to urinate. This behavior indicates that your cat may be experiencing a urinary blockage. This is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary intervention to relieve the blockage.
Treatment for Blood In The Urine
Treating the blood in your pet’s urine requires treating the cause. Urinary tract infections may be treated with a round of antibiotic drugs. If your pet’s screenings have revealed crystals or bladder stones, dietary therapy may be attempted to reduce the size of the stones and prevent future stone formation. Surgical removal of the stones may be recommended. If your male cat has a urinary obstruction, hospitalization will be required to clear the blockage and to ensure that adequate urine flow has been restored.
Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.