Put simply, what blood in your dog's urine means is that something is wrong! After all when blood is noticed in your dog's urine it means there is internal bleeding occurring somewhere. There real challenge facing dog owners is what factor/factors are causing it to occur.
Seven of the most likely possibilities are: A bacterial infection somewhere in the urinary tract with the most likely being the bladder; an infected prostate; trauma due to injury; uterine infection; uroliths/stones; poisoning; some type of blood sucking insect bite with the most likely being a tick.
Regardless of what blood in your dog's urine means one thing is for sure a trip to the veterinarian is in order to isolate the cause and have the problem treated sooner rather than later. Next why don't we delve a little deeper into three possible causes.
*Bladder Stones: Bladder stones are made up primarily of minerals and are a result of small crystal clumping together over time. In extreme cases stones can grow to over 3 inches. Once firmly in place bladder stones can cause inflammation which can results in internal bleeding. Stones that are large enough, or positioned in the right place, can restrict or block urine flow leading to a serious medical concern that can become life threatening within a couple of days. The three types of stones seen in dogs are struvite, calcium oxalate, and uric acid. Diet, medication, and certain natural remedies can help dissolve struvite stones. On the other hand calcium oxalate stones may have to be removed surgically. Dogs which have the greatest incidence of bladder stones are Dalmatians, Dachshunds, Bulldogs, Miniature Schnauzers, and Shih Tzu.
*Internal trauma/Injury: When trying to determine what blood in your dog's urine means internal trauma or injury should be one of the first things pet parents consider. Internal injury is a fairly common occurrence and may be a sign that organ damage has occurred. There are endless possibilities as to the cause internal trauma/injury ranging from being hit by a car to an altercation with another animal. The only way to determine whether internal injury has occurred is with the help of x-ray technology. Other tests may be needed as well.
*Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Once bacterial has overwhelmed you dogs immune system and makes itself at home in the lining of the bladder bleeding can, and often does, occur. The amount of blood in the urine will generally increase as the infection worsens and spreads. The best way to treat these types of infections is with a two-week regimen of antibiotics in conjunction with an all natural homeopathic remedy to protect against recurring infection and promote urinary tract health.
In conclusion, we have covered a lot of ground and hopefully you have found the answers you were searching for but realistically when trying to determine what blood in your dog's urine means your veterinarian is going to be your most valuable resource.
Robert D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic consumer advocate for natural pet health and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field.
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