Why is my dog peeing blood?
Let’s be honest. There are some things in life we never want to deal with. And for dog owners, seeing blood in your pet’s pee is definitely one of them.
In the worst-case scenario, it could mean something serious - but don’t panic just yet. It’s good to know that this isn’t always life-threatening.
There are actually a bunch of reasons for why your dog is peeing blood and might be straining when doing so. So, let’s break it down, figure out what’s going on, and most importantly, talk about what you can do to help.
How old is your pooch? Dogs can have blood in their pee at any age, but how old they are can help point to the cause. For example, in younger dogs, it’s often linked to familial hematuria, which is a hereditary condition. On the other hand, if your older dog is showing this symptom, the most common culprit is cancer.
Gender also matters here. Female dogs are more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs), and those can sometimes lead to blood in their urine.
The medical term for blood in the urine is hematuria, and it can signal a range of underlying causes – some mild, and others more serious. These might include UTIs (often in females), hereditary issues (younger dogs), or cancer (older dogs).
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What symptoms should I watch out for?
The most obvious sign is the blood itself, which might change your dog’s pee to shades like amber, red, orange, or even brown and bright red. Your dog might also start peeing more often than usual or show signs of discomfort, like tummy pain. In some cases, you might even see bruising under their skin caused by tiny blood vessel leaks.
However, sometimes blood in the urine isn’t obvious, especially if there isn’t much of it. You might not even notice a difference in the color of their pee unless it’s tested during a routine check-up or while you’re actually looking into another health issue.
Oh, one other thing – if your dog has eaten beet recently this can affect the color of their pee. If they aren’t showing any of the other tell-tale signs, it’s worth thinking back to what they’ve been eating before you hit the panic button – it might save you a lot of stress!
What’s causing the blood in my dog’s urine?
Age aside, there are plenty of other reasons why your dog might have blood in their urine. Here are some common causes:
Sometimes blood shows up because of an infection – whether it’s in your dog’s bladder, kidneys, prostate, or urethra. These areas can become vulnerable to bacteria, especially if your dog’s immune defenses are weakened. Older pooches and those with conditions like diabetes are more at risk, so keep an eye out for signs of trouble.
Tumors
Both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors are pretty common in dogs. While most don’t cause issues unless they’re in sensitive areas, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. If you notice any growths on your dog get your vet to check them out quickly to rule out anything serious.
Stones
Kidney or bladder stones could also be the culprit. These form when minerals in your dog’s pee clump together into tiny crystals, and if they get large enough they form a stone, which can cause a lot of discomfort. A major warning sign is if your pup seems to be in pain when peeing – don’t wait, call the vet!
If you’re dog’s peeing blood and straining, it might be a sign that they’ve ingested something toxic. Rat poison is a common example, but poisoning can also come with other symptoms like lethargy, coughing, breathing troubles, or an unwillingness to exercise. If you suspect poisoning, get help right away.
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infections happen when bad bacteria get into your dog’s urinary tract. Blood in their urine is often a key symptom, alongside difficulty peeing, losing bladder control, and being in pain while peeing. You might also notice a stronger-than-normal smell or your dog obsessively licking around their urinary opening.
Injuries
Dogs are often getting into trouble (which is a reason why many of us love them so much!) so if they’ve recently experienced physical trauma, it could explain why your dog’s peeing dark red blood, for example. Report any injuries to the vet – they’ll want to evaluate what’s going on internally.
Prostate issues (male dogs)
Male dogs can suffer from prostatic diseases, with seven possible types that could lead to blood in their urine. These include:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Squamous metaplasia
- Cystic hyperplasia
- Bacterial infection
- Prostatic abscess
- Paraprostatic cysts
- Prostatic cancer
As well as blood in their urine, you might notice symptoms like trouble peeing, a weak urine stream, or even difficulty pooping.
Estrus (female dogs)
Female dogs bleed when they’re in heat, and while the blood isn’t technically in their urine, it can look that way, since it comes from the same area. This is a natural part of their cycle but can sometimes confuse dog owners.
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How vets diagnose blood in your dog’s pee
If your dog is showing symptoms of peeing blood, don’t delay – it’s crucial to get them to the vet quickly, especially since some of the underlying causes can be very serious. Here’s how the vet might go about pinpointing the issue:
Share what you’ve noticed
Be ready to give a full rundown of any symptoms your dog has had. If they’ve recently been injured or eaten something they shouldn’t have done, let your vet know – it’s all useful information.
Physical check-up
The vet will examine your dog closely to look for signs of swelling, tenderness, or growths. They’ll likely run a complete blood count too, which can reveal any odd levels of red or white blood cells, platelets, and other key markers like calcium or phosphorus.
Urinalysis
Your dog’s pee will be tested for pH levels, minerals, blood cells, hemoglobin, protein, and glucose. If there’s a high concentration of minerals, it could mean crystals or stones, and the vet might examine those under a microscope.
Gender-specific tests
Male dogs may need an ejaculate sample to check for prostate-related issues. For female dogs, the vet might perform a vaginoscopy or cystoscopy to assess their genital health.
Imaging
If the vet suspects a tumor, they might order an ultrasound or X-ray. Sometimes a biopsy is needed to confirm whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
Treating blood in your dog’s pee
How your vet treats your dog will really depend on the diagnosis. Their first priority will be stabilizing your pup, and from there, they’ll tackle the root cause of the problem.
Stabilizing in this case might involve giving intravenous fluids to rehydrate your dog or even a blood transfusion if their red blood cell count is dangerously low.
Stabilizing in this case might involve giving intravenous fluids to rehydrate your dog or even a blood transfusion if their red blood cell count is dangerously low.
Infections
If your dog has an infection — like in their bladder, kidneys, or urinary tract — the vet will probably prescribe antibiotics. The specific type will depend on where the infection is and whether your dog has any history that might influence the treatment plan.
Stones
Bladder or kidney stones? These can sometimes be managed with a special diet low in protein, phosphorus, and magnesium, which helps promote acidic urine. The vet might also recommend increasing your dog’s water intake, but in more severe cases, they may need to remove the stones either surgically or through less invasive methods.
Tumors
Treatment for tumors depends on their location and the vet’s diagnosis. They might even refer you to an oncologist for specialized care.
Poisoning
If poisoning is the culprit, the treatment will depend on what your dog ingested. For example, if it’s rat poison and they’re experiencing vitamin D poisoning, they’ll need to stay on an IV drip until their electrolyte, calcium, and phosphorus levels are back to normal.
The vet might also give them a phosphate binder, like aluminum hydroxide, to help remove the excess phosphorus more quickly.
Injury
If trauma caused the blood in your dog’s urine, the treatment will depend on where the damage is on their body and how severe it is.
Prostate issues
Prostate problems can come from different causes, so treatment varies:
- Bacterial infections: Your dog may need aggressive, long-term antibiotic therapy.
- Benign issues (like hyperplasia or cystic changes): These often occur in unneutered dogs, and neutering is usually enough to fix the problem.
- Cysts or abscesses: These require surgical removal and drainage.
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Helping your dog recover
No matter what’s caused the blood in your dog’s urine, the most important thing you can do is follow your vet’s advice when it comes to care and monitoring. If the issue turns out to be related to diet, the vet will recommend a proper food plan. Always check with them before adding any nutritional or vitamin supplements.
And here’s one thing you can always do – make sure your pup has plenty of fresh, clean water. Keeping them well-hydrated is a small but critical way to help support their recovery.
Blood in the Urine Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Great Dane
Five Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Frequent Urination With Blood Spots
We adopted this dog about 10 months ago. She is house trained but today she has 2 "accidents" within an hour of each other and both times I noticed a red tinge to her urine blood drops in the puddle. She is not spayed but her last heat cycle was in April.
should we be worried?
Aug. 6, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I think that I would take her into your veterinarian and have them check her urine for infection. It may be that she is coming into heat again, but that doesn't usually cause frequent urination or accidents. If she has an infection, she may need antibiotics or other treatments so that it does not get worse. I hope that all goes well for her.
Aug. 6, 2020
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Bullmastiff
Nine Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
Hello,
I went to the vet on Monday for my male neutered bull mastiff. He has been peeing blood, peeing often and leaking blood. They prescribed amoxicillin and rimadyl for him. He has had 5 doses of his prescribed medicine and has shown no signs of improvement. Should I take him back to the vet?
Aug. 6, 2020
Answered by Jessica N. DVM
0 Recommendations
Hello-
Thank you for your question. Yes I do think it would be a good idea to have a recheck performed. The next step would be to take an x-ray of the bladder to look for a stone and culture the urine to see if there is a resistant UTI occurring. If all comes back normal from there the step after that would be to perform an ultrasound of the bladder to assess for a bladder growth. I hope he feels better soon.
Aug. 6, 2020
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Black lab
Six Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
She is peeing a little blood what does that mean
Aug. 5, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. If she is peeing blood, that may mean that she has a bladder infection, and that should be treated as soon as possible. It would be best to have her seen by your veterinarian, as they can examine her, get a urine sample and look at it, and get her the right medications so that she feels better. I hope that all goes well for her.
Aug. 5, 2020
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Beagle Boxer Spaniel mix
Three Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Pees More, Not Eating As Much
My dog has always had problems with leaving brown stink spots when she gets up. She gets her anal glands done regularly and I try to wipe her with dog sensitive wipes during the day. Recently I’ve noticed that the spots have a light reddish tint to them. She is peeing a lot more than usual.
Aug. 4, 2020
Answered by Dr. Ellen M. DVM
0 Recommendations
Hello, thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that your dog is having some issues!
Without examining your dog, it's very hard for me to know what is going on. What you describe could be consistent with something like a urinary tract infection (the red tint could be blood from the urine). It's also possible that an anal gland could be infected or irritated.
I recommend having your dog seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will likely want to check her anal glands and may recommend checking a urine sample as well.
I hope that your dog starts feeling better soon!
Aug. 4, 2020
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Cocker Spaniel
not sure but an older dog
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine Blood Sometimes Drips From Penis Always Thirsty And Pee Frequently
he very normal acting still high spirts
Aug. 3, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I'm glad that he is feeling okay other than what you are noticing. That is definitely something that you should have seen by a veterinarian. They will be able to examine his urine, maybe do some blood work to make sure that there isn't something going on otherwise, and let you know what is happening so that you can treat it before it becomes a problem. I hope that he continues to feel great ends as well.
Aug. 4, 2020
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Blue Heeler
Duke
11 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine Difficulty Urinatin
Blood In Urine Difficulty Urinating
We have Duke. Duke is a Blue Healer, apx. 11 years of age. He is neutered & has had 2 ACL surgeries in addition to a damaged right shoulder surgery from an accident that occurred with his previous owner when he was a puppy. We took Duke in while he was healing from that surgery. Duke is a nearly Humanlike dog. During the past year he has been experiencing streaking ^ heavy blood in his urine, difficulty urinating, extensive accidents all throughout the house (even though he has long been well housebroken). We have had him to the vet multiple times, to no avail & resolution. It is beyond difficult to continue to afford these surgeries & issues with the vet (I was laid off from regular employment after 40 years of work about 5 years ago & have been unable to find regular employment since), but we want to help him. Do you have any ideas what we can do to help him? Is there something naturally we can do? The vet did not indicate any malignant cancer or anything, but no solutions either.
Labrador Retriever
Buster
14 Years
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
We have Buster, male-yellow lab, 14 years old. In the last 6/8 months he has lost weight, began wanting to binge eat his food, will attempt to sneak food from table/counter if left unattended (has never had this behavior), his coat has significantly aged with white. We acknowledge the seeing the that comes with older age, however, we woke this a.m. to the routine, upon urination was RED blood, not dark, streaked, seemed separated from urine but with it. Very concerned.
