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When a small urination with blood in a cat. How to detect blood in cat urine. Analysis - we collect urine correctly

In veterinary practice, it is called hematuria, which in Latin means "bloody urine". This symptom is a wake-up call for pet owners. Hematuria, the presence of blood, bloody inclusions, clots indicates the development of serious urological problems, symptomatic pathologies and diseases. If you find blood in the urine of a cat, immediately take your pet to the veterinary clinic for examination and an accurate diagnosis.

What does normal urine look like in cats?

Urine is a bodily fluid that is produced in the kidneys and excreted through the urinary tract. With the excretion, decay products, foreign substances, salts, enzymes, and vitamins are excreted from the body of animals. This is a natural and normal process of homeostasis, which is necessary to maintain a normal internal environment.

Normal urine in cats should be clear, light yellow, straw and even orange in color, without a sharp specific odor. The color of urine in fluffy purrs largely depends on the diet, nature, intensity of metabolic processes in the body. A red tint of urine may appear if your pet likes to eat beets, carrots. By completely eliminating such foods, urine will quickly restore its natural color.

Urine in cats with hematuria

If any failure occurs in the body, pathological infectious and inflammatory processes develop, the color of the urine may change. Flakes, cloudy sediment, blood cords, clots may appear. Condition, urine color depends on the general physiological condition, age of the pet.

As a rule, blood in the urine of pets can be seen with the naked eye. Urine acquires a brown, brown, red tint. blood clots may be oblong or round in shape. With pronounced hematuria, blood is noticeable in the tray, on the fur of animals in the vulva.

With a mild course of the disease, at the initial stages, bloody inclusions are hardly noticeable in the urine. Therefore, this pathology can be detected only by laboratory diagnostic methods, microscopic analyzes that show red blood cells in the urinary sediment. Blood cells during research have the usual size, shape, or vice versa, they are deformed.

The intensity of urine color depends on the underlying cause, the concentration of red blood cells in the urine.

Causes of blood in the urine

Blood in the urine of felines can occur for a variety of reasons. This pathology can be provoked by various exogenous and endogenous factors. In the etiology of hematuria, in most cases, disturbances in the functioning of the organs of the genitourinary tract of animals, various urological pathologies and diseases are laid down.

Blood staining of urine is most often diagnosed with urolithiasis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis. In some cases, this pathology can be the result of blows, severe injuries, falls from a height.

Causes of blood in the urine in cats:

Staining of urine with blood can also be caused by long-term use of certain medications - corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory, pain medications.

Hematuria often develops against the background of various infections, systemic pathologies, as well as after injuries of the genital organs, bladder, for example, after animals fall from a great height. Blood in the urine of cats may indicate that the animal has been fed low-quality prepared foods.

The causes of hematuria include: heart attack, polycystic kidney disease, vascular anomalies in the organs of the genitourinary tract, changes in the shape of the bladder in the case of the formation of polyps, diverticula, calculi.

Bloody inclusions, blood cells in the urine may appear after surgical operations on the peritoneum, sterilization, catheterization. In castrated cats, older animals, the presence of blood in the urine always indicates the development of urolithiasis. In cats, blood spots in the urine may be seen in the first two to four days after birth or during estrus.

Chlamydia, rickettsia, mycoplasmas, various types of helminths can also provoke the development of hematuria.

Severe bleeding is caused by toxic substances, hemolytic poisons, tumors, acute inflammation of the bladder. In diseases of the organs of the reproductive system, urine may be contaminated with bloody discharge from the vagina, prepuce.

It is possible to establish the exact cause that led to the development of hematuria in cats only after undergoing a comprehensive diagnosis, passing laboratory tests in a veterinary clinic.

Symptoms of hematuria

The main symptom of hematuria in cats is a sudden change in the color of the urine. In the urine, bloody inclusions, clots, strands are noticeable. This pathology is accompanied by other symptoms, among which are:

  • frequent urge to urinate;
  • painful urination;
  • deterioration of the general physiological state;
  • loss of appetite, refusal of favorite treats;
  • decreased physical activity, drowsiness, apathy.

The cat often meows, shows anxiety, trying to go to the tray. If hematuria manifested itself against the background of bacterial and viral infections, an increase in the overall temperature is possible in the initial stages of the disease.

Experiencing discomfort, pain, animals can rush around the apartment, try to do "their own business" in the wrong place. Cats clog dark corners, secluded places, lie on their stomachs on cold tiles. Decreased response to external stimuli. Just yesterday, an active and cheerful pet refuses to participate in outdoor games, shows little interest in the world around him.

Having noticed the first alarming symptoms, one should not delay a visit to the vet clinic and self-medicate. Timely, correct prescribed treatment can only be prescribed by a veterinarian after the diagnosis.

Diagnostics

To eliminate the symptoms of hematuria in cats, it is necessary to find the root cause that caused this pathology. Veterinary specialists, in addition to collecting information from anamnesis, a comprehensive examination of four-toed patients, must necessarily conduct a series of laboratory tests of urine.

Before passing urine for analysis, you need to remove the filler, thoroughly disinfect the cat tray. After the pet goes “little by little”, collect with a disposable syringe from the tray into a special sterile container, which can be purchased at a pharmacy, veterinary pharmacy, veterinary clinic.

Urine collection is carried out three to four hours before the material is submitted for analysis, and only in the morning. It is advisable to keep your pet on a starvation diet for 12 hours. If the animal is undergoing treatment, tell the veterinarian what drugs are prescribed for the pet.

In case of difficult urination, urine for analysis is taken during catheterization in a veterinary clinic.

The delivered sample is checked in laboratories using various test systems that allow you to determine the concentration of red blood cells, the presence of white blood cells, pathogenic microorganisms, acetone, pus, epithelium in the urine. According to the results of the analyzes, the physicochemical properties of urine will be determined.

For additional diagnostics, clarification of the diagnosis, radiography of the bladder, ultrasound of the genitourinary system are prescribed.

Treatment of hematuria in cats

The treatment regimen, treatment course is prescribed by a veterinarian based on the results of diagnostic studies. Therapeutic methods are aimed at eliminating the root cause, normalizing the general condition of the animals, stopping the main symptoms of the disease. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the sooner the condition of your beloved pet will return to normal. The risk of developing chronic pathologies and serious complications is reduced.

Fluffy patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic pharmacological agents. To relieve the pain symptom, painkillers are administered intramuscularly. If hematuria has developed against the background of infectious diseases, broad-spectrum antibiotics, antibacterial drugs of the cephalosporin, penicillin series can be prescribed for treatment.

In case of genital infections, the external genitalia are washed with decoctions, tinctures based on medicinal plants.

In addition, a therapeutic diet can be prescribed to the cats, and the diet is adjusted. Cats provide peace, optimal conditions. Ready-made dry food is excluded from the diet, with the exception of medicinal, solid food. It is possible to feed a sick animal only with easily digestible products, having previously coordinated the feeding regimen, nutrition with the attending veterinarian. Animals should always have access to fresh drinking water.

Additionally, homeopathic remedies, immunomodulators, vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed to increase the body's resistance. With antibiotic therapy, enzyme agents are prescribed to normalize the intestinal microflora.

Prevention

It is very important to monitor the behavior and general condition of your pet. Pay attention to hygiene, cat immunity, organize the right diet. In order not to provoke the development of urolithiasis, low-quality industrial feeds with a high content of salts, flavors, and stabilizers should not be present in the diet.

If your pet's condition worsens, do not self-medicate. Contact your veterinarian or take the animal to a veterinary clinic.

Content:

Hematuria is a sign of a large number of diseases of the kidneys and bladder. It is accompanied by pain and is the basis for an urgent appeal for veterinary help. It is necessary to collect bloody urine in a clean, dry tray, transfer it with a syringe to a glass vial, and deliver it to the clinic within four hours. Perhaps the pet will have to do an x-ray, ultrasound, and other tests, so you can’t feed it, so as not to distort the results of the studies.

Causes

There are the following factors for the occurrence of hematuria:

  • injury,
  • urolithiasis disease,
  • cystitis,
  • kidney pathology,
  • infection of the bladder and kidneys,
  • neoplasms.

The causes of a traumatic violation of the integrity of the kidneys or bladder are road accidents, falls from a height, attacks by dogs or hooligans.

Urolithiasis (urotiliasis) occurs when salts that are sparingly soluble in urine are formed. They are deposited on the walls of the renal tubules of the ureters, the bladder in the form of grains of sand, stones that injure blood vessels and cause hemorrhages.

There is no rational explanation for the causes of cystitis. Inflammation develops for no apparent reason, often without the detection of crystals of insoluble salts. The likelihood of inflammation of the bladder due to stress is high.

The cat experiences pain when urinating, defecates where necessary, screams, squeezes out droplets with great effort.

Like urotiliasis, cystitis mainly affects cats. The reason is the anatomical peculiarity of the urinary tube. The disease worsens when the immune system is weakened or after the animal stays in a draft.

Infectious lesions of the urinary organs develop against the background of weakened immunity caused by viral diseases, poor nutrition, obesity or old age. The development of metabolic pathologies, such as diabetes, opens the way for secondary infections.

Infection of the urinary tract leads to kidney disease.

The reason for the formation of tumors is permanent phlogistic processes in the bladder and kidneys, excessive weight, congenital anomalies. The development of neoplasms is accompanied by their destruction. Defects are formed at the site of the walls of blood vessels, which is the cause of hemorrhages.

It must be taken into account that old and sterilized animals are defenseless against infections and are prone to metabolic disorders. Therefore, they are susceptible to diseases, a sign of which is hematuria.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The animal meows plaintively before the act of urination. Oppression, disruption of the intestines, inactivity, thirst are observed. For diagnostic tests, it is necessary to collect urine in a clean, dry tray and transfer it with a syringe to a glass container. In addition, the doctor may prescribe a standard and biochemical blood test, ultrasound of the bladder, kidneys. When stones are found, their composition is studied.

Treatment

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis and the condition of the cat at the time of the start of therapeutic procedures. Lack of urine output can be fatal. If stones are found, surgical intervention is indicated. When diagnosing neoplasms, surgical treatment is combined with subsequent chemotherapy. Along the way, antimicrobial agents, analgesics, antispasmodic, antiphlogistic drugs are used.

With urinary retention, drotavegil or other antispasmodics are used. If relief does not occur, excess urine is removed through the catheter. If it is impossible to carry out catheterization, a urethrostomy is performed - the formation of a new hole to ensure outflow.

Prevention

Prevention of diseases that can cause hematuria is associated with the following requirements:

If the cat had cystitis or urotiliasis, constant monitoring of her health is required. It is necessary to regularly visit the veterinary clinic, take urine samples for analysis, use prophylactic agents recommended by a specialist.

Normally, the color of urine in a cat is yellow and has a very specific smell. Even a slight change in color indicates a disease of the excretory system. If the urine becomes too dark, then this indicates that the amount of coloring substances in the body is greatly increased. This is caused by dehydration, nausea and vomiting. Dark brown color indicates that the destruction of red blood cells in the body has begun with hemolytic anemia and urolithiasis.

A healthy pet has clear urine, and when blood appears in it, it is safe to say that a pathological process begins in the body. Therefore, the owner of the cat must definitely inspect the tray more carefully in order to notice the deviation in time and contact a specialist.

The main causes of blood in the urine

There are several reasons why a cat pees with blood. And it's not always about pathology. It often happens that hematuria occurs due to poisoning, tumors in the body, or general diseases such as a cold. The most common reasons are:

  1. 1. Injuries. Very often, blood in the urine appears after a fall from a height, a car collision or a blow with a blunt object in the abdomen. A pet can fall out of the window in the spring, so you should carefully monitor it. And you can get injured or hit while walking. Therefore, if a cat has blood in the urine after a blow, it must be urgently carried to the veterinarian, because the likelihood of kidney damage is very high.
  2. 2. Urolithiasis or urolithiasis. It is often believed that the disease occurs in the process of feeding a cat with poor-quality dry food. But in reality, veterinarians call this statement a myth. Urolithiasis and blood in the urine can be caused by overweight, poor nutrition and genetics.
  3. 3. Infections. They can be triggered by the action of microorganisms such as E. coli, staphylococcus and streptococcus. Blood in the urine begins to appear due to the fact that microorganisms destroy the mucous membrane of the bladder.
  4. 4. Tumors. Oncoprocesses occur most often in cats after 11 years. This condition is the most difficult to treat.
  5. 5. Cystitis.

Hematuria is a very disturbing symptom of many pet diseases. Therefore, the sooner the owner detects it, the sooner treatment will be started. And in the end, the animal can be saved.

Disease diagnosis

If symptoms of hematuria are found, you should immediately consult a doctor, because self-medication at home can only complicate the course of the disease and lead to the death of the pet. But before going to the clinic, the cat should be placed in a warm place, away from drafts. It is imperative to remove dry food from the pet’s diet, give it as much water as possible and disturb the animal less often.

In the clinic, a specialist will conduct a complete examination of the cat or cat. Urine brought for analysis will be carefully examined to determine the presence of blood in its composition.

In addition to a general urine test, the doctor prescribes blood tests to determine the inflammatory process in the body and how affected the animal's kidneys are. If there is a suspicion of an infection, then a bacteriological study will be carried out to identify pathogenic microflora and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics.

If you suspect that hematuria has arisen on the background of a sexual infection, the doctor will take a smear from the cat. To diagnose urolithiasis, you will need to perform an ultrasound examination of the kidneys and bladder. The same study will help determine the presence of a tumor in the genitourinary system. If kidney stones are found, they will be examined to select the right diet and drugs.

To determine hematuria, the doctor often prescribes cystoscopy - an examination of the urethra and bladder through endoscopy. And if poisoning is suspected, a blood clotting test is taken.

First aid for a pet

But it often happens that, having found red urine in a neuter cat, the owner is not able to take him to the clinic immediately. Then you need to give first aid to the cat. But first, you should contact your doctor so that he can prescribe the necessary drugs and painkillers over the phone. And after the cat is given medicine, you can try to alleviate his condition:

  • provide your pet with access to clean water;
  • feed the animal only liquid food;
  • give the pet a decoction of parsley or bearberry, which have disinfectant properties;
  • a decoction of horsetail will help to cope with inflammation of the urinary tract.

Giving antibiotics to a cat without a doctor's prescription is not worth it. This will only lead to complications.

These animals are either transparent or have a yellowish tint. It is all the more unpleasant to see "tomato juice" in your pet's tray or to find out that when Urinalysis revealed occult blood. This is hematuria in cats. There are not so many reasons for this phenomenon, and therefore an experienced veterinarian in most cases is able to quickly identify them.

What is cystitis? This is an inflammation of the bladder. It should be noted that specifically in cats, “cystitis” is often also understood as inflammation of the upper urinary tract (which is associated with some of their anatomical features). In addition, with the same success, inflammation of the lower sections also falls under this definition, so that in many cases the entire genitourinary system has to be treated.

In about 10% of cases, this is observed in completely healthy young cats.(but they have blood in the urine only occasionally, and not constantly). Other reasons may include:

  • Severe injuries. It is typical for cats, or those who have fallen under the wheels of a cyclist.
  • Blood clotting disorder, because of which the blood vessels begin to "poison" the blood into the urine.
  • The presence of stones in or(This occurs in approximately 10% of cats over the age of eight).
  • bacterial infections. Note that in cats, primary

If the cat is urinating with blood, it means that you need to urgently seek help from a veterinarian. Such a deviation directly indicates serious illness or injury. It is almost impossible to determine the cause of hematuria on your own, so you should not ignore a visit to a specialized clinic.

It must be understood that hematuria is only a symptom, not a disease. Therefore, without finding out why the cat pees with blood, it is useless to start any treatment. Conventionally, two types of hematuria are distinguished: microscopic (when the blood cells in urine will be visible only under a microscope) and macroscopic (urine has a characteristic scarlet color).

The main reasons that provoke a deviation:

  • stones in the kidneys;
  • tumors of the genitourinary system;
  • glomerulonephritis;
  • injury, fall from a great height;
  • blood clotting disorders;
  • thrombocytopenia;
  • poisoning with rat poison;
  • infectious diseases;
  • the presence of malignant or benign tumors;
  • taking certain medications.

If the cat has fallen and pees blood, then it is likely that the bladder is damaged. Especially dangerous is the situation in which thick bloody mucus flows from the urethra. This condition can result in the death of a pet, so you should seek veterinary help immediately. You can also notice that the cat pees with blood "just a little bit" after removing the urethral catheter. The problem usually disappears after the first independent urination of the animal. Otherwise, a bacterial infection should be suspected.

About 20% of cases of hematuria in cats have an unknown cause. If the veterinarian was unable to identify the real trigger, then the diagnosis is idiopathic cystitis.

Diagnosis and symptoms of hematuria

To find out why the cat is urinating with blood, the veterinarian will conduct a complete examination of the animal, and will also ask you to describe the symptoms that occurred when the deviation appeared. Very often hematuria is accompanied by:

  • pollakiuria (frequent discharge of small amounts of urine);
  • the manifestation of obvious discomfort during urination (meowing, trembling in the limbs, tail);
  • constant licking of the genital area;
  • lethargy;
  • restless behavior;
  • loss of appetite.

It is almost impossible to independently determine the cause of the deviation. One can only assume the localization of the trigger. For example, if blood clots come out, then the problem lies in diseases of the lower urinary tract, minor injuries. If the urine is evenly colored in a scarlet hue, then most likely the cat has problems with the kidneys, ureters or bladder.

The veterinarian will definitely prescribe several diagnostic tests that will help make the final diagnosis.

  1. Analysis of urine. The presence of white blood cells in urine may indicate infectious diseases. But protein is a sign of kidney disease.
  2. Blood test (biochemical and complete). Additionally, blood clotting tests may be done.
  3. Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity. It is carried out to assess the size of the kidneys, as well as to detect sand, stones, tumors.
  4. Intravenous pyelography and urethrography. This is a contrast x-ray examination of the kidneys, ureters and bladder. At the beginning of the procedure, the animal is injected with contrast material, which is collected in the kidneys and urinary tract. This allows the veterinarian to take a picture with shadowed areas in place of possible abnormal areas.

Conservative treatments for hematuria

As mentioned above, veterinarians usually select treatment based on the diagnosis. And hematuria, as a symptom, disappears on its own. If an infectious disease has been identified, then antibiotics are prescribed. If the infection is accompanied by inflammation, then additional steroids may be prescribed.

Since there are a lot of reasons for the appearance of blood in the urine, it is necessary to know at least the most basic methods of treatment. So, if during the analysis a violation of the pH level of urine was revealed, then it is necessary to transfer the cat to a special diet food, as well as increase the amount of water consumed. In rare cases, supplements are prescribed to the animal to increase the acidity of the urine. However, such therapy is a short-term measure, because in the long run, supplements will do more harm than good.

A fairly common cause of hematuria can be accidental ingestion of poison by a cat. Most often, pets eat rat or mouse poison. Intoxication can be recognized by the presence of the following symptoms:

  • vomit;
  • diarrhea;
  • general lethargy;
  • increased salivation;
  • the appearance of foam from the mouth.

Even if there is full confidence that there are no rodenticides in the house, it is necessary to give the cat plenty of water with absorbents to drink. After the veterinarian confirms the poisoning, the animal is given droppers with saline, and high doses of vitamin K are also prescribed.

If the cat pees blood after a fall, then as a first aid, you can immobilize the animal, and also attach a cool heating pad to the lower body. Since, in addition to damage to the organs of the urinary system, the consequences of a fall can be fractures, dislocations, concussions, it is necessary to entrust the main course of treatment to a specialist.

Surgical treatments

Veterinary surgery may be required to remove stones or tumors from the bladder. You also need to contact a surgeon if blood in the urine appears in a cat that has recently had a difficult birth, complicated by ruptures. But cats may need the help of a surgeon after an unsuccessful ureostomy. However, we must not forget that the expansion of the urethra does not guarantee the absence of a recurrence of the problem.

You will also have to undergo hospital treatment for those animals in which a cancerous or benign tumor has been found. Unfortunately, cancers in veterinary medicine are diagnosed at rather late stages, after the animal has been treated with antibiotics, but continues to suffer from hematuria.

How to help an animal at home

The presence of blood in the urine of a cat in any case requires the attention of a veterinarian. Even the most effective folk recipes will eliminate an unpleasant symptom, but will not affect the root of the problem. Therefore, the following means should be considered only as a temporary help to the animal.

  1. Apple vinegar. If there is confidence that hematuria was the result of inflammation of the bladder (for example, there is another recurrence of the disease), then you can give the cat a weak solution of apple cider vinegar. It is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that eliminates almost all unpleasant symptoms. The easiest way to give your pet vinegar is by pouring half a teaspoon into 200 milliliters of water. If the animal does not want to drink a sharp-smelling homemade medicine on its own, then you will have to pour in the vinegar solution with a syringe.
  2. Cranberry extract. Numerous scientific studies have proven that cranberry juice contains special compounds that prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the bladder. That is why sour berry extract can be found in the composition of many "super-premium" class feeds. To help your cat fight off an infectious disease, it is recommended to add 3-4 cranberries to your daily diet. If the animal spits out berries, then you can add a few grams of natural juice to the water in the drinker.

Note! Cranberries acidify the animal's urine. Before starting home treatment with this remedy, it is necessary to conduct a simple test for the level of urine acidity.

Despite the fact that blood in the urine is a rather dangerous symptom of diseases of the genitourinary system, with timely diagnosis and the right treatment, it will not be difficult to cope with the problem.

You can also ask a question to our website staff veterinarian, who will answer them as soon as possible in the comments box below.

    Hello! A 9-year-old cat, urinating with blood, was taken to the veterinarian, they did systems and injections. On the ultrasound stone 4 mi, treated for 5 days in the clinic. We are buying, the doctor has just said purina pro plan urinary. We give medicines for healthy kidneys. And after 3 days again blood in the urine. They also prescribed pavirin injections 2 times a day and some kind of hemostatic, they lasted 2 days and today I went to the toilet 7 times with blood. What to do? Could this be how the stone comes out? What measures to take? How to help an animal?

    • Hello! Yes, blood is evidence that the mucous membrane is injured by the sharp edges of struvites (stones). T.K. it is large, the process will be lengthy. It might be better to operate so that the stone does not clog the ureter. I do not see antibiotics prescribed in the treatment regimen. No-shpu can be in tablets (1/4) 3 times a day to relieve spasms and make it easier to empty the bladder. Dicynon as an antiseptic can be used. But with such a disease, treatment will not take 5 days. Follow the prescribed treatment regimen completely, do not skip giving medications.

      Svetlana 22:50 | 01 Feb. 2019

      Continuation of the story, they performed an operation, it turned out that there were no stones, but there was a growth almost along the entire perimeter of the bladder, the doctor said that this was the first time he had encountered this, he said that it looked like polyps, but definitely not them. Tell me, please, what can it be? And what should we do?

      Daria - veterinarian 23:36 | 02 Feb. 2019

      Hello! To conduct a histology of the tissue, a biopsy. Exclude neoplasia, neoplasms. Did you do a general blood test? there are no suspicions of neoplasms in the body (lymphocytes and platelets are normal?). I didn’t encounter this myself, so I would send her to an oncologist to rule out pathologies in their narrow specialty. If they do not find a job for "themselves", then already think together with more experienced specialists.
      To be honest, if you have a familiar human urologist or surgeon, you can ask him (in fact, the structure of tissues is the same). Human doctors have more patients (people feel sorry for themselves and go to doctors, but they bring pets less often, so many clinical cases remain unexplored or veterinary specialists do not encounter them). Maybe a human doctor will suggest something else besides my options.
      And by the way, the pet was not examined for a viral infection?