If your dog is having a urination problem you should see your veterinarian right away. While odds are it’s simply a bladder infection it could be something much more severe.
Bladder infections are most commonly seen in female dogs but they do happen occasionally in male dogs as well. Sometimes you can see blood in the urine when there is an infection.
But, blood in the urine could also be a sign of bladder stones or of a kidney problem, or even a problem with the urethra.
If possible try and collect a urine sample before taking your dog in to see your veterinarian. This will help to speed up the diagnosis.
It is best to try and catch the urine midstream and not collect it off the floor. Once the urine is on the floor it can become contaminated with many different things so trying to catch urine midstream is best.
To do this you could attach a cup to a stick or use a shallow dish if your dog squats very low to the ground. Not all dogs will tolerate this but if you came catch a sample that would be great.
Most of the time urination problems can be diagnosed with a simple urinalysis. However your veterinarian may want to do a more complete workup including a blood count, physical exam, and maybe even an x-ray or an ultrasound.
If your dog does end up having a bladder infection you should make sure your dog receives a complete treatment of antibiotics. Many people stop treating their dogs as soon as symptoms of infections go away, but you should keep treating until the prescription runs out or your veterinarian tells you to stop.
