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Spotting Blood in Dogs
Written By Grace Park
Published: 07/19/2017Updated: 07/02/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Michele K.
What is Spotting Blood?
Spotting blood in dogs may look like small amounts of blood coming from a number of places in the canine body that you will likely see around the house. Reasons why blood spotting might be seen:
- Ear infection
- Foot or toenail injury
- Oral issues
- Urinary or bladder infection
- Intestinal or rectal issues
- Prostate problems
- Pregnancy or heat cycle
Why Spotting Blood Occurs in Dogs
There are various reasons and conditions which can cause your dog to spot blood from a number of places on his body. Here are some of the most common:
Ear Infection
Severe ear infections can cause the ear(s) to spot blood. Various traumas to the ears also have the ability to produce spotting of blood from the ear area.
Foot or Toenail Injury
Dogs are investigators of all things within their view and can, in their investigative endeavors, cut or scrape their paws or foot area by stepping on sharp objects. Sometimes foreign bodies can become imbedded into the pads of their feet. A broken toenail may cause spotting of blood as well.
Oral Issues
Various types of dental problems can cause spotting of blood. Broken teeth, gum disease, loss of teeth, oral masses and oral trauma are some things which can produce blood spotting
Urinary or Bladder Infection
Dogs can contract infectious organisms in their urinary systems. When this occurs, much like humans, spots of blood may be seen in the urine and sometimes discomfort occurs as well. When this blood spotting is seen in the house, it can have the appearance of pure blood. Bladder stones are another potential cause for spotting of blood in the urine.
Intestinal or Rectal Issues
Spotting of blood from the rectum can occur when your pet strains to defecate if he is constipated. Bouts of diarrhea can also produce spotting of blood. Inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal diseases are also conditions which can produce bloody stools.
Prostate Problems
Blood spotting from the penis in males can indicate some prostate issues. Cancers, depending on their location, can also produce blood spotting or other discharges from virtually any opening in the body
Pregnancy or Heat Cycle
Spotting of blood from the vulva of a female can be indicative of a heat cycle. Spotting of blood from the vulva of a pregnant female can, but not always, be indicative of a pregnancy issue. Some breeds and females can spot blood throughout the pregnancy and still produce healthy puppies.
What to do if your Dog is Spotting Blood
The occasional spotting of blood may not be something about which a pet parent should be alarmed but should elicit an attitude of increased watchfulness. If the spotting becomes more frequent or if the amount of blood being spotted increases, you should seek medical attention urgently or as soon as possible.
When the spotting is observed, examine your canine for possible injuries or foreign bodies. For some paw injuries or broken toenails, for example, cleaning the area and removing the foreign body may be all that is required in the moment. A trip to the vet may not always be immediately necessary.
For the conditions which are generally related to various infections, veterinary medical care is recommended as soon as possible to avoid the progression to a more serious stage or condition. Your veterinary professional will perform a physical examination and may do some testing of blood, fluids or tissue samples to ascertain the infective organism. He will most likely need to provide some sort of treatment, though the specifics will be dependent upon the organism found at the root of the infection.
In the event that your pregnant female is spotting, your veterinarian may wish to utilize imaging modalities like x-rays, CT scanning or MRI to ascertain the cause. Safety for the mother and the unborn pups will be of primary concern in these studies.
Imaging modalities may also be required for the male who is spotting from the penis to determine if the cause is prostatic or cancerous. Appropriate treatments will be recommended based upon the findings.
Prevention of Spotting Blood
So, what can you do to prevent spotting blood in your dog? Daily or frequent regular examinations of your pet at home, with attention given to:
- The condition of the ears (especially in those breeds whose ears hang down)
- Dental inspection of color of gums and condition of the teeth
- Examining the feet of your canine companion regularly and removing any surface debris and foreign bodies
- Inspection of the feces and the urine of your pet on a regular basis and keeping up with fecal and urine testing with your vet
- Noting and reporting any abnormalities in the usual habits and behaviors of your pet to your veterinary professional
Close inspection and observation of your canine companion should parallel that given to your children as you monitor and take necessary steps to ensure their health and safety. In most cases, these examinations of your pet can be done easily when you pet them, groom them or just play with them without making a big deal of it to them.
Cost of Spotting Blood
There are, of course, some costs involved with utilizing appropriate veterinary medical care, just as with our human maladies. Here are the estimated costs associated with a few of the conditions known to cause spotting of blood in dogs:
- Ear infection and inflammation costs can range from $200 to $3,500
- Urinary tract infection treatment costs range from $300 to $1,000
- To treat inflammatory bowel disease, those costs can range from $300 to $6,000
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Spotting Blood Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Chihuahua
Three Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
N/A
Why is he leaving red blood spots on our sheets and pillows?
Sept. 29, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Without being able to see your pet, I am not sure where the blood spots are coming from Leaving that blood behind is definitely not normal, for sure. It would be a good idea to have him seen by a veterinarian who can see him and examine him, to find out where that blood is coming from and see what treatment is available.
I hope that all goes well!
Sept. 30, 2020
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Boykin Spaniel
Ten Years
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood Spotting When Urinating
2-3 drops of blood when urinating
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
3 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Blood in the urine is always something that should be paid attention to, and the best thing to do would be to have your dog seen by a veterinarian. They will likely want to examine your dog, check a urine sample to see whether there is an infection or another problem, and once they know more they will be able to help treat your dog.
I hope that all goes well!
Oct. 4, 2020
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Chihuahua
7 months
7 found this helpful
7 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Spotting Blood
I have a 7 month old chihuahua and need some advice. When she was about 4 months old (around 21st June) I noticed she was spotting some blood from her vulva, she had no other symptoms apart from that and this lasted a month or a bit longer. I assumed this was her first season so I was planning to wait 3 months and then get her spayed. So now I planned to get her spayed as it’s been abit over 3 Months but I think she’s gone into season again as her vulva is swollen, she’s more anxious and needy than normal and also has started spotting, could this be her 2nd season? If so when do I get her spay
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
7 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. 4 months old is very young to go into heat, although not impossible. 3 months later is very soon to have her second heat, although also not impossible. Most veterinarians recommend waiting 2-4 weeks after a heat cycle for surgery, so that would probably be the best timing to plan for. It would be a good idea to have them check her urine while she is there, to make sure that there aren't any problems underlying.
I hope that all goes well for her!
Oct. 7, 2020
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East Siberian Laika
Three Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bleeding Out Of Prnis
Hi. My dog Niko had been leaving spots of blood everywhere he walks. I have collected his urine during the morning and evening times and it has been very dark yellow, practically dark orange. I have taken him to the vet last week and they did pee analysis and said he had no infection. He was prescribed an antibiotic for 7 days. He took all of the pills. He had no issues until today. Help!
Sept. 26, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
If this problem is still continuing, it would be a good idea to have a recheck for him, and probably x-rays or an ultrasound to see what m ight be going on inside his bladder.
Oct. 15, 2020
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Labrador Retriever
Seven Months
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Loss Of Appetite, Bad Breath
My dog (male) has been sleeping a lot lately, and hasn’t been eating as much as usual but still gets 2 meals a day. He just takes hours to finish them. We’ve never really had an issue with his breath but the last couple days it’s been pretty bad. And he yawns a lot with a quiver in his jaw right after like he’s trying to swallow something. We didn’t think it was much to think about until we found a little bit of what looked like blood on his bed this morning. No change in urine or stool, no yelping or whining.
Aug. 6, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. From your description, it sounds like your dog probably has some periodontal disease that needs attention. If it is affecting his life to the point of pain, it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian. They will be able to examine him, look at his teeth, and let you know what needs to happen so that he is comfortable and pain-free again. I hope that all goes well for him.
Aug. 6, 2020
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