Lots of blood in urine

[my2rotties]

Today, I took the dogs out to the woods to shake off some depression. My 5 1/2 year old female pittie peed in the snow and it was straight blood! She was dribbling blood everytime she peed after that. It does not look like it would be from a UTI, since there is so much blood. She does get UTIs quite often but they clear up with antibiotics or cranberry pills. I have never seen anything like this from her before.

The last time I saw this much blood in urine, it was my mother's dog. He had prostrate cancer, and I was the lucky one to have seen the first signs of it. I hated to tell my mother what I saw. Now I have to tell my hubby about little Chester.

She is going to vet first thing tomorrow. I have antibiotics for her already, but I won't start anything just yet.

What kinds of tests do they do when blood is een in urine. What else besides a UTI would cause blood in urine for a female dog?

Thanks in advance for any info. I feel sick to my stomach about this.

[rotts and roses]

While looking for information for you, all indications say this is an emergency situation and immediate care should be sought.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/emerlist.html
perhaps you should consider an emergency trip to the vet and not wait until tomorrow

[Judy Chrusch]

Diana, don't forget to take a UA specimen in and if you can, get a first morning pee and if you can let her pee a tiny bit then get the specimen that's even better. You should have seen me following Czar around the yard with a container trying to get specimens in the past, too funny. Anyway make sure she has plenty of fresh water to drink too. How is she otherwise, is she eating and playing bc those darn UTI's can be quite painful. I'd get her to the vet tomorrow as you said or better yet, today if there's that much blood. You are the only one who can make that judgement.

As for what else it may be, who knows and none of us are specialists except MARYDVM :) so I wouldn't even begin to guess nor do you need getting yourself all upset, so get your UA specimen before you go to the vet and go from their. They will test her urine and also suggest bloodwork if need be.

I hope it isn't anything serious, I wish you all the best and will have good thoughts for your little pit. Take care.



Judy

[rottlove]

Hemolytic anemia would cause bloody urine. Check her gums, if they are pale it is an emergency. I would get her to the vet asap anyway.

[my2rotties]

Thanks for the replies.

Does the snow she pees in count for a speciman. She is a little dog and to get under her to get a sample is almost impossible. She seems to be acting normally, and her gums are still pink like usual.

If UTIs hurt, you would never know it with her. She has had many and it is business as usual. I have no idea why she gets them so often. I just have never seen blood before. I sometimes wonder if pit bulls are missing certain nerves to respond to pain receptors or something. She is a tough little dog.

I tried to get in today but they are booked solid. My husband is out of town for the day and has the check book and bank cards, so I cannot go to a clinic we don't normally use with no money. I am going to call hubby and see if he can come home. I just don't want to freak him out real bad either.

When does it ever end?

[rottnkidd]

Diana - I realize you'll do what you can to get your girl checked asap, but this is very serious. If the dog is urinating all blood, something is really wrong.
If you're unable to get to the Dr until Wed., then be sure to get the first urine of the day, and keep it refrigerated until the appt. Have the vet do a urinalysis, a culture and a full blood panel.
Antibiotics are fine, but knowing the KIND of bacteria the dog has will help the vet to prescribe the appropriate one. All antibiotics aren't created equal either. ;) If she's having reoccuring infections, I don't think a culture has been done. Ask your vet. Be sure the dog has access to plenty of fresh water and is able to empty the bladder often. Many dogs develop these infections from having to hold a full bladder too often. )I'm NOT saying this is the case with your dog, I'm only mentioning it for other's that may be reading this. ) :) Also, cranberry capsules are great, but will not cure an existing infection. They can help prevent one from occuring, by preventing bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.
Best wishes and please let us know about the appt.
kathy

[Zacky]

Originally Posted by rottlove

Hemolytic anemia would cause bloody urine. Check her gums, if they are pale it is an emergency. I would get her to the vet asap anyway.

My boyfriends Pit have hemolytic anemia and his gum and eyes was all yellow, but he didn't have blood in his urine. And his blood count was down to 0.09%. He is now up to normal, but is on high dose of stereiods.

Where would you find good information about that disorder?

And I'm so sorry that you are going through this, I know it must be killing you but hang in there. Pits are really strong dogs.

[my2rotties]

I called our clinic back. This time, when I said Chester was peeing blood, I got put on hold for a few minutes. They are squeezing her in at 4:20. I already told them I had no money and I can just pay tomorrow. They better let me pay tomorrow. I have spend thousands at that place darned it.

I don't know what they are going to do to her now, but I hope I get some answers tonight.

Chester gets lots of water, all she wants. When it is cold out, she is very reluctant to go outside. We have a flight of stairs going down the deck and she is too lazy to go down, unless she really needs to go. She will go outside out of sight and wait a minute and act like she peed. It might be because of this that she has problems right now. I just can't make her go pee if she does not want to... pitties can be so stubborn.

Chester has been on Amoxillan and Cyplaxen (don't know how they are spelled). The Cyplaxen makes her throw up all the time.

I called the hubby and finally told him about this. I know he is going to speed home on slippery roads, since Chester is his little buddy. I could tell by his voice that he was pretty concerned. I told him to take his time and I would get Chester to the vet, as I always do with all the dogs.

I hope she is going to be okay. I am glad we were out in the snow and I saw the blood. If it had not been for all the white stuff, I would have never known. I wonder how long things like this can go on without being noticed... poor Chester.

[Judi W]

As long as she has a reasonable amount in her bladder the vet can collect a fresh specimin either with a cath or by expressing it with pressure.

[my2rotties]

Originally Posted by Judi W

As long as she has a reasonable amount in her bladder the vet can collect a fresh specimin either with a cath or by expressing it with pressure.

Gross! I guess that is why they make the big bucks...

I just don't think anyone needs anymore sad endings, so say prayers for the little pittie.

[RottiMomCT]

If there is only a UTI present she can most certainly be peeing dark red - it would be a very bad infection though. I work at a lab where we do urine cytology for cancer and you would not believe the colors we see in the specimen bottles .

I brought in a sample from a husky that was at the shelter and they did a dipstick and made slides...he had a horrid UTI. The slides showed purulent bacteria and sperm. The specimen was a very dark red. he was put on a course of antibiotics and 10 days later I got another sample and it was much clearer...still bacteria and sperm but the bacteria count was much less evident.

Here's hoping that's all it is...

[mmgy]

Good luck at the vet's!

[rottlove]

I so agree that this dog needs to get to vet asap!

Zacky -- Here is a link for hemolytic anemia. My last rottie died from it even though we did everything. Your friend is very lucky that his pit is doing okay.

http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/

[flyballmom]

Just seconding the thought that Chester needs to be seen ASAP (sounds like you're doing that) and that it could, indeed, be "just" a UTI, albeit a bad one. Some Pits ARE very stoic about pain, mine on the other hand won't look at you or walk normally if you barely step on his wittle toesie. He's a wuss. If I have my time zones right, you ought to be heading for the vet about now...please let us know what you find out.

[my2rotties]

Well they did urine tests and xrays. Tne urine tests showed small amounts of bacteria, but the vet seemed to think she should not have had such bloody urine. The xrays showed no stones or anything. I guess her bladder would need to be filled with air to see if there are any. The vet never saw any blood in her urine that was tested.

She is on some sort of funky antibiotic for two weeks to see if it clears up. The vet almost seemed like she was just hopeful that antibiotics would fix this up. It is just my gut feeling. She said lets try the simple approach first,which I whole heartedly agree on. If there is something much more then a UTI, I would never prolong Chester's suffering. I don't want to do anymore tests then what has to be done.

I will watch her like a hawk and for once I am glad we have lots of snow on the ground. I am worried deep down inside, since she peed a large amount of thick blood. It did not look good to me at all. I will hope and pray for her, and just take each day as it ocmes to us.

Thanks for all the advise and concern. This is why I love these boards so much. I don't know what I would do wihtout all of you.