Blood in Dog Urine: Causes and When It's Urgent

Come in immediately if

Any of these: call 2126 7440 now.

Straining with no urine, or only drops (stones blocking the urethra, most common in male dogs)
Dark brown urine like strong tea or cola, with pale or yellow gums and weakness
Possible rat bait exposure, or bleeding elsewhere (gums, bruises, bloody stools)
Vomiting, not eating, very flat
A knock to the belly (road accident, fall)

Cause	Features
Cystitis / urinary tract infection	More common in females; frequent, small, bloody urine
Bladder or urethral stones	Common in Schnauzers, Shih Tzus, Bichons, Yorkshire Terriers; can block males
Prostate disease	Middle-aged and older entire males
Tick fever (Babesia)	Red cells destroyed, urine turns dark brown; often fever and pale gums; common in Hong Kong
Rat-bait poisoning	Blood stops clotting; bleeding days later
Bladder tumour	Older dogs; recurring blood and straining
Trauma	Road accidents, falls

In unspayed females, bleeding while in season is easily mistaken for blood in the urine. Check whether the blood appears only when urinating.

Use a clean (ideally new) plastic container and catch urine midstream.
For females, slide a shallow dish or spoon underneath.
Bring it within 2 hours, or keep it in the fridge (not the freezer) for up to 12 hours.
Photos or video of the urine and how your dog urinates also help.

Urine tests: red cells, bacteria, crystals and concentration; culture if needed.
Blood tests: blood count, liver and kidney function; a blood smear or rapid test for tick fever, clotting tests for suspected poisoning.
Ultrasound and X-ray: bladder stones, tumours and prostate size.
Treatment: antibiotics and pain relief for cystitis; some stones dissolve with a prescription diet, while blockages or large stones need surgery; tick fever and poisoning need hospital care.