Our veterinarians reviewed the most common causes of blood in male dog urine and discussed diagnostics and treatment. 

_{Disclaimer: All content and information on this website are for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute veterinary medical or pet health care advice.} 

What could cause blood in male dog urine? 

Blood in dog urine, also called hematuria, generally results from bleeding somewhere along the genitourinary tract.

There are many potential reasons for blood in male dog urine. 

Also, some conditions can make urine look like it has blood in it even though blood is not present. 

Hemoglobin or myoglobin getting in urine

Urine can turn brown-red with hemolysis that is breaking up red blood cells in the bloodstream. 

As this happens, hemoglobin, an oxygen-delivering protein from red blood cells, gets into the urine, coloring it and making it look like there is blood in it. 

Immune-mediated disease, blood parasites, medications, and toxins, among other reasons, can cause hemolysis.  

Similarly to hemoglobin, myoglobin, a protein in muscle cells, can get into the urine and discolor it. This can happen with muscle degradation. 

Both hemoglobin and myoglobin are not technically blood. But they can create an appearance of bloody urine. 

Genitourinary problems

Many urinary pathologies can cause blood in male dog urine. 

Most commonly, the lower urinary tract, which includes the urinary bladder and urethra, is to blame. But sometimes, the upper urinary tract organs, which include the kidneys and ureters, can have an issue. 

In addition, prostatic disease is widespread in dogs and is a common reason for blood in male dog urine. Cystitis is not that common in male dogs compared to female dogs but can still happen along with prostatitis – prostate inflammation. 

Here you can see listed some of the diseases of the urinary and genital tracts that can cause bloody urine or leaking blood from the prepuce in male dogs: 

• Urinary bladder stones
• Prostatitis, prostate hyperplasia, or prostatic tumors
• UTI (urinary tract infection; rare in male dogs)
• Bladder cancer or polyps or tumors of other organs of the genitourinary system
• Trauma
• Renal disease, including tumors, kidney stones, cysts, and inflammation (rare).

Hidden blood in urine

Sometimes, urine looks normal, while urine analysis shows more than normal red blood cells in the sample. The reasons for that can be similar to those for visible blood in urine described above. 

Blood clotting problems

Sometimes, blood in urine indicates a problem with blood coagulation (clotting). In these cases, the genitourinary tract can be just one of the places where bleeding occurs and where it is easily visible. 

Symptoms in male dogs with blood in urine

So, how do you know there is blood in dog urine? Usually, it is visible as either red-colored urine or some visible bleeding from the prepuce. 

The urine can be uniformly discolored. In other cases, you can see blood only in the beginning, middle, or end of urination or between urinations.

Besides, depending on the main problem, other symptoms might be evident. 

For example, in dogs with clotting issues, you can see bruising and signs of bleeding elsewhere. 

In dogs with lower urinary or prostatic disease, straining and discomfort when peeing, as well as more frequent urination, are commonly seen.

With bladder stones that can obstruct the way out for urine, even a complete inability to pee can happen, requiring immediate urgent veterinarian attention!

With diseases of the prostate, sometimes you can also notice straining to defecate (poop) as an enlarged prostate can push on the intestines blocking the easy passage of feces. 

You can notice multiple other signs, including some serious ones such as absence of appetite, lethargy, and many more, in cases of kidney conditions or cancer.

Some dogs do not have any additional signs and are acting normally despite peeing blood. 

Diagnostics in cases of blood in male dog urine

Diagnostics aim to determine, if possible, what caused blood in your pet’s urine. 

Your veterinarian will receive a lot of helpful information from history and your dog’s age, breed, and neuter status, as well as from a thorough physical exam. 

Additional diagnostics are frequently needed. They can include:  

• Rectal exam to assess prostate 
• Urinalysis – analysis of the urine, sometimes done by cystocentesis, that is, the punction of the urinary bladder through the tummy wall
• Blood tests – in cases where hemoglobinuria or myoglobinuria are suspected, blood loss is significant, your veterinarian suspects blood clotting issues, and to assess organ functioning
• Ultrasound and x-rays 
• Endoscopy (rarely)

Treatment of male dogs with blood in urine

As one can expect, treatment will solely depend on the diagnosis. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for these patients. It can differ drastically from dog to dog and one condition to another.

Your veterinarian might treat inflammatory conditions medically.

Some prostatic diseases can warrant neutering if not done yet.

Depending on the stone type, veterinarians treat bladder stones with surgery and/or diet; medications can also be prescribed.

Bladder cancer can require chemotherapy or radiation therapy and sometimes additional surgical procedures. 

In all other cases, treatment will also be recommended to treat the primary issue, if needed, medically or surgically. 

Do not wait to get help for your pet. Many conditions that cause blood in male dog urine are painful and cause discomfort (see Symptoms above).

References

Syme H. Haematuria.

Davies The Veterinary Specialists. Haematuria (blood in the urine) fact sheet.

Parry NM. AVMA 2018: A stepwise approach to investigating hematuria in dogs.