Hi,
I have a rescue spayed female Carolina Dog I adoped 1 1/2 years ago. She came with a bladder infection and submission urination...bladder infection cleared with months of off/on antibiotics and submissive urination much better.
Now, this week after taking her out for a last pee before bedtime, she started dropping a copious amount of blood once inside the house and it lasted for about 30 seconds and was gone. Before this happened I noticed she was very lethargic throughout the day. At the vet's the following morning she still had blood in the urine. All has been well for a week. She's been my enthusiastic hiking partner.
Again, this morning, I checked her for blood before letting her out to pee. There was fresh and dried blood on the vulva and blood in the urine which she dripped while checking the vulva.
She is scheduled for an ultrasound since more antibiotics are not an option now.
Do any of you have an idea? I've thought....passed a kidney stone for the first epiosde of bleeding, cancer, a more severe urinary tract infection...what??? I need some suggestions to be informed when I see the vet next week. Have any of you had similar experiences??
Thanks, I'm desperate! She is the BEST dog I've ever had and I want to take care of her.

Bladder stones are probably the second most common cause of blood in the urine, second only to bladder infection. But a urinalysis should have shown crystals and bacteria if bladder stones are the cause.

She may have an infection that wasn't responsive to the antibiotics that were previously used, and a culture/sensitivity may be necessary.

Bladder or urethral cancer is certainly a possibility, and if other tests are negative, needs to be ruled out.

Here's hoping that it's just stones, which can be treated successfully with medication, diet, and sometimes surgery.

Thanks so much for your reply. Jesska does have crystals in the urine shown through urinalysis. She was treated and has also been on C/D. Once off the C/D the crystals returned.
With your reply which I've printed out for my vet, I will ask the other questions you posed.
Thanks again!

Well, I think you have your answer. She has crystals in her urine. That means she'll probably have to remain on a special diet for the rest of her life, or the crystals will just keep returning. Eventually she'll develop a UTI and probably bladder stones if she doesn't already have them.

The urinary acidifiers like cranberry supplements will also help. You could try adding apple cider vinegar to her drinking water, too.

well i dont have any ideas with that, but im really concerned with your dog so i suggest you to go to your nearest vet..

Like vetgroomer said, it is quite probable that your dog will need to stay on the special prescription food for the rest of her life.

However, this sparked in me a curious question-- not that this is what I think is happening with your dog, Jesska-- I think the UT stones are the culprit here (I'm showing my ignorance here, I beg your indulgence): In human women who are either menopausal or have had a hysterctomy, sometimes vaginal bleeding can occur due to dryness/chafing of the vaginal walls. Can the same thing happen to dogs who have been spayed (the same as having a hysterectomy, afterall)? Does anyone know?

I've never heard of a dog developing vaginal bleeding due to dryness/chaffing of the vaginal wall after they've been spayed. I suppose it's possible. But spayed dogs don't continue to be sexually active, while women often remain sexually active after a hysterectomy.

Hi,
Thanks all for your input. I really appreciate it!

On recommendation from Jess' vet, after viewing her ultrasound, we are headed for an appt. on Monday at UC Davis. The ultrasound showed that she has what the vet called "sludge" in her bladder. There is no cancer or kidney stones. Thank goodness for small favors!

Forgive the description, I'm a novice here and this is the way I understand it. Both Jesska's vets think that she may have a problem with the urracus (?)(don't know the correct spelling) and bacteria may be collecting in that small area. If it is the case, after sucking the "sludge" out and that area can be "closed" via arthroscopic surgery the problem may be taken care of. There are no guarantees at this point or that the procedure can be done arthroscopically. She may have to have invasive surgery. We'll find out on Monday!!

She's our Christmas present ($$$$)for the next ten years!!! She's so worth it, though!

Your input is still welcome.