cat or dog peeing blood
Seeing blood in your pet’s urine can be scary, and it is important to pursue work-up as the causes of blood in the urine can range from mild/easily treatable to severe and life-threatening.
WHAT IS HEMATURIA?
The medical term for a cat or dog peeing blood is hematuria. So what is hematuria? It can range from a pink-hue to the urine, bloody clots passed in the urine or frank red blood. Sometimes hematuria can be microscopic (present even if the urine looks normal to the naked eye). It is also important to be aware that not all red urine is blood. Some conditions can cause pigmenturia, where the urine looks red or brown for reasons unrelated to bleeding.
Hematuria can be better characterized using clues from patient history and diagnostics to determine where the blood is originating (ex: the upper urinary tract including the kidneys, the lower urinary tract such as the bladder and urethra, or the reproductive tract such as the vagina, uterus or prostate). Clotting disorders could also lead to urinary bleeding. Please refer to the table below for a list of potential causes of a cat or dog peeing blood and how the clinical signs may differ.
HEMATURIA CAUSES
It is important to seek veterinary attention if you notice your cat or dog peeing blood. Please be certain to provide a complete history of your pet’s symptoms as they can help guide diagnostic testing with particular attention to any change in appetite, thirst/urination habits and behaviors. Your vet will start with a physical examination to screen for signs of systemic illness (ex: fever, evidence of bleeding elsewhere, etc.), urine testing to look for signs of infection, microscopic abnormalities and confirm hematuria (vs. look-alike pigmenturia), and blood work (to help check kidney function, red blood cell counts, clotting ability, and signs of systemic infection/inflammation). Additional testing may include urine culture (if infection is suspected, this identifies the exact bacteria and the most effective antibiotic) and imaging such as x-rays (to screen for stones) or ultrasound (visualizes bladder wall and kidneys along with other important abdominal organs).
If you notice your dog or cat peeing blood, the severity of the case can vary. While some cases of hematuria are more straightforward (ex: bacterial urinary tract infection), others can be more complicated. In complex cases, additional testing such as specific coagulation tests, cystoscopy (using a camera to assess the lining of the urinary bladder and urethra) and even biopsies may be indicated. Your veterinarian will review findings as they are available and help guide diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations.