Causes of blood in a cat from the urethra. Blood in the urine of a cat: causes and treatment

The health and general well-being of any pet largely depends on the state of the excretory system. This dependence is explained simply: the kidneys remove from the body numerous toxic compounds that inevitably arise during its vital activity. Therefore, if you find blood in the urine of a cat, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic, as this symptom may indicate severe health problems in your pet.

Of course, such a question may seem silly, but it is not. The fact is that really red urine is not always the case. Sometimes the matter is limited to its slight pinkish tint, which not every owner can notice. Often " tomato juice"is allocated only at night or in the early morning, and the rest of the time the cat has an almost normal color. In severe cases, whole blood clots can be seen. However, the condition of the animal is such that even an inexperienced breeder will obviously sound the alarm and take his pet to the veterinarians.

That is why in veterinary clinics they always take urine for analysis, since only with its microscopic examination can one detect the presence of blood cells (if they are there, of course). This helps to make a correct diagnosis and quickly start treatment that will really help the animal.

hunting period

But what if this pathology manifests itself during estrus? In principle, the causes may be the same as in the postpartum period. Simply put, in this case, it is necessary to contact the veterinary clinic as soon as possible to make a specific diagnosis. The faster you do this, the higher the chances of a relatively “painless” and successful outcome.

The appearance of blood in the urine of a cat is a very bad sign. This phenomenon indicates the development of an inflammatory process or other disease. What are the causes of blood in the urine? How to properly treat hematuria? Let's consider these questions in this article.

What normal cat urine looks like

Urine is produced by the kidneys. With it, all harmful substances, excess salts, vitamins, hormones and enzymes come out through the urinary system. Without this process, the proper functioning of the body is impossible.

Normally, cat urine is clear, ranging in color from light yellow to orange. It should not contain impurities, turbidity and blood. The urine of a healthy cat does not have a strong odor.

Causes of blood in the urine

This is what abnormal cat urine looks like.

Hematuria develops for several reasons. Its appearance can cause infections, various acute and chronic diseases in the acute stage, as well as injuries and falls.

The main symptom of hematuria is red or brown urine. In some cases, clots or small patches of blood are visible in it. Urine may become stained after eating beets or carrots, but in this case, after a couple of days, its color will return to normal.

With hematuria, the cat loses its appetite, becomes lethargic. She may be disturbed by the process of urination, some animals begin to urinate past their pot (on carpets, upholstered furniture).

What does urine look like with hematuria

Blood in the urine of a cat can be found on the filler

With this disease, blood impurities in the cat's urine will be noticeable. The color depends on the number of red blood cells: the more of them, the more intensely the urine will be colored. Blood clots and blotches are rare, but this may indicate a severe stage of the disease.

Sometimes blood in the urine can be overlooked. Recognize it only in the laboratory during microscopic examination. Erythrocytes are visible in the urinary sediment, they can have a variety of shapes: flattened, wrinkled, or not at all deformed.

How not to start the course of the disease

Usually cat owners do not pay attention to the color of their pets urine. Any changes in the behavior of the animal should be noted. If you notice that the cat is worried when urinating, be sure to look at the color of the urine.

In the initial stages of the disease, it may not change color, but the animal changes its behavior: meows loudly, tries to defecate on soft surface, rushing around the apartment. In this case, cat urine should be taken for analysis already at the first signs of the disease.

Cat urine collection for analysis

Not many owners know how to properly collect urine. To do this, you will need a clean tray, gloves, and a sterile container. Follow this algorithm:

  • wash the cat litter well, pour boiling water over it;
  • remove the filler from the tray;
  • if the cat does not agree to urinate in an empty pot, sprinkle disinfected aquarium pebbles on the net or buy a special urine collection litter from the pet store;
  • after the cat has gone to the toilet, put on gloves and carefully pour the urine into the prepared container;
  • the jar should be submitted for analysis as soon as possible (3-4 hours).

Watch a video on how to collect urine from a cat for analysis.

How to detect blood in cat urine

In some cases, blood is visible to the naked eye. Pour the urine into a glass or clear plastic jar, place it in front of a window or other light source, and examine it carefully. Red or brown coloration, as well as inclusions and clots, indicate hematuria.

If blood impurities are not visible in the urine, but the animal is worried and behaves differently than usual, an analysis should be done in the laboratory. The veterinarian will examine the sediment under a microscope and determine if it contains red blood cells or other impurities: white blood cells, epithelium, pus, protein, etc.

Diagnostics for hematuria

If there is blood in the cat's urine, the veterinarian will prescribe a list of examinations in order to make a diagnosis. It includes the following activities:

  • general urinalysis - determination of the presence of blood and other impurities in the urine;
  • culture and sensitivity of urine - determination of the type of infection, selection of antibiotics;
  • smear from the vagina - with vaginitis;
  • a general blood test - determining the presence of inflammatory processes in the body;
  • biochemical blood test - the work of the kidneys is evaluated;
  • coagulogram - this analysis determines blood clotting;
  • x-ray of the abdominal cavity - to detect stones in the kidneys and ureters;
  • x-ray with contrast - will help detect tumors, stones and possible anomalies in the structure of the organs of the urinary system;
  • Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - will detect possible infections, the presence of tumors and stones;
  • cystoscopy - examination Bladder and the urethra using an endoscope that is inserted into the vagina;
  • analysis of stones - for the appointment of an appropriate diet and treatment;
  • histology of the removed tumor - determining the type of tumor and prescribing treatment (chemotherapy).

How to help a pet

Keep your cat calm and remove from the diet solid food

You should not self-medicate, as you will only harm your pet. If it is impossible to show the animal to the veterinarian, consult with him by phone, he will tell you how to alleviate the condition of the animal.

As a first aid, you can do the following:

  • put the cat in a warm, clean room, provide her with peace;
  • for pain relief, give an injection intramuscularly with an analgesic drug (baralgin, no-shpa);
  • remove all solid foods from the diet, replace it with liquid foods;
  • water should be freely available;
  • give the cat decoctions of parsley root or bearberry, they have a disinfectant property;
  • a decoction of horsetail or juniper will help remove substances that cause inflammation from the urinary tract.

Never give your cat antibiotics without a doctor's prescription, this will only aggravate the situation. Show the animal to the veterinarian as soon as possible, since only he can prescribe the diagnosis and the exact treatment regimen after a clinical examination and tests.

Treatment for blood in urine

Treatment for hematuria depends on the diagnosis of the cat. The scheme is written by a veterinarian, it may include the following items:

  • antibiotics (intramuscularly, intravenously or orally);
  • at urolithiasis a special diet is prescribed;
  • intravenous infusions. solution or glucose - with dehydration;
  • with some - vitamin K1;
  • drugs that stop bleeding;
  • antispasmodics and painkillers;
  • removal of stones and neoplasms surgically;
  • for problems with urination, a urinary catheter is placed.

Blood in the urine of a pregnant or postpartum cat

Cats during pregnancy and after childbirth sometimes have blood in the urine. This may indicate the development of urolithiasis and the exacerbation of chronic diseases of the urinary system.

In and after childbirth, many medications are contraindicated, which complicates the treatment process. Do not give a cat medication without consulting a specialist, as this can harm the animal itself and its offspring.

How to Prevent Blood in Your Cat's Urine

In order to prevent blood from appearing in the urine of a cat, simple preventive measures should be followed:

  • carry out deworming in a timely manner;
  • exclude cat walks on the street;
  • protect the animal from injury and falls from a height.

The presence of blood in the urine is a symptom of serious diseases that should be treated. Show the animal to the veterinarian, conduct the necessary examinations and follow all the instructions of the attending physician.

In veterinary terminology, the appearance of blood in the urine of a cat is called hematuria, which in Latin means "bloody urine" (hema - blood, urine - urine). The discovery of this symptom is a serious wake-up call for the owner to immediately pay close attention to the health of the pet.


Reasons why urine turns red

There is no smoke without fire, and in this case, the etiological factors of bloody staining of urine are the following pathological conditions in the animal's body:


What does normal urine look like?

Urine is a fluid produced by the kidneys and excreted through the urinary system. With excretion from the body are removed:

  • harmful metabolic products;
  • salt;
  • foreign substances;
  • enzymes;
  • hormones;
  • vitamins.

This whole process contributes to the maintenance of a normal internal environment of the body, the so-called homeostasis.

A healthy cat has clear, yellow or orange color. Color largely depends on the type of nutrition, the nature of metabolism.

What does urine look like with hematuria?

Blood in cats' urine can be seen with the naked eye, changing from straw-coloured to red or brown.

  • The intensity of staining largely depends on the number of erythrocytes, it can vary from bright to barely noticeable.
  • In rare cases, clots in the form of blood cords or blotches may be observed.

With a mild course of one of the diseases listed at the beginning of the article, blood is not always visible visually. It is possible to detect it only with the help of laboratory research, namely microscopic analysis. Erythrocytes are found in the urinary sediment:

  • some red blood cells retain their shape well;
  • others, on the contrary, are severely deformed: wrinkled, swollen, flattened, etc.

Dark staining of urine can also acquire in cases that are in no way associated with any disease. For example, if a pet likes to eat beets or carrots. There are few such fans, but they do exist. Exclusion from the diet of these products quickly brings the color of urine to the physiological norm.

How not to start the disease, or what to pay attention to?

It is unlikely that furry owners examine urine every day, trying to see if there is blood in it or not. Yes, and doing it every day does not make sense. The only reason for concern can be the unusual behavior of a cat or cat associated with the process of urination.

In most cases, such an unpleasant symptom as hematuria is accompanied by:

  • pet oppression;
  • refusal to feed;
  • an increase in body temperature.

The animal may experience pain while coping with natural physiological needs, which manifests itself:

  • anxiety;
  • throwing around the apartment;
  • heart-rending meow;
  • attempts to go to the toilet in places not intended for this;
  • other signs of discomfort at the time of urination.

If such signs appear, it's time to conduct a home mini-examination.

How to collect cat urine for analysis?

Collecting cat urine is not difficult. This should be done with gloves to protect yourself from possible infection in case of infection. Also, do not forget about disinfection. cat litter before and after sampling.

The filler is removed from the tray, the grate is left. After the next trip of the cat to the toilet, the liquid is carefully poured into a transparent vessel (a glass for collecting tests).

Not all cats are docile. In especially shy or wayward cats, you can take urine for analysis only with the help of a catheter. Naturally, the procedure should be carried out by a specialist.



How to detect blood in cat urine?

The collected sample is viewed in transmitted light: the glassware is raised to eye level, placing it in front of a window or other light source.

  • Red or dark brown urine, the presence of blood clots indicates hematuria. Going to the doctor in this case is not advisable to put off indefinitely.
  • If the liquid does not have obvious signs of staining, and the pet’s condition is difficult to diagnose as normal, then to calm one’s own conscience, the urine is sent for analysis to a veterinary laboratory. By using special methods laboratory veterinarians will accurately determine whether there are red blood cells in it or not, and at the same time they will check the delivered sample for other items: the presence of protein, white blood cells, acetone, pus, microbes, epithelium, etc.

Based on the data obtained, the veterinarian-therapist, coupled with the data of the clinical examination, will be able not only to find the cause of the pathology, but also to prescribe the correct treatment.

How to help a pet?

The owner of a cat with hematuria is unlikely to be able to help her on his own, rather, on the contrary, inept actions will lead to irreparable consequences.

  • The only thing that is required from the owner is to deliver the cat to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible or show it to a familiar specialist.
  • If it is not possible to quickly bring the animal to the hospital, then you can try to get advice by phone, describing in detail all the signs that were observed.

Correspondence conversation rarely carries positive effect, since only during a personal examination, the veterinarian makes appropriate conclusions about the condition of the cat and the severity of the course of the disease process.

As a first aid, the cat owner should:

  • provide a sick animal with peace by placing it in a warm, draft-free room on a bedding;
  • intramuscular injection of painkillers (no-shpa, baralgin), which will alleviate the pain syndrome;
  • exclude all solid foods from the diet, instead offer liquid food and easily digestible feed; water ad libitum;
  • to disinfect the urinary tract before going to the doctor, give the cat a decoction of bearberry, parsley root, furadonin;
  • inflammatory products from the urinary tract are removed with a decoction of juniper, horsetail.

Experimenting with antibiotics is not worth it, since their uncontrolled use will only complicate the situation, worsen the cat's condition and require longer treatment in the future.

Once again, it should be repeated that all these manipulations will alleviate the painful condition of the animal, but will not lead to a cure. Therapeutic measures for hematuria should be carried out only by a veterinarian after a comprehensive clinical and laboratory study.

KotoDigest

Thank you for subscribing, check your inbox, you should receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription

Finding blood in the tray domestic cat, should not be ignored. Moreover, it is necessary to take urgent measures to establish the cause of the appearance of blood in the pet's urine, as it indicates serious problems with the health of the animal.

The urine of a healthy cat is light or light yellow in color, clear and free of impurities. Blood in the urine of a cat, or hematuria, can be a sign of many diseases, not just those associated with genitourinary system. The color of urine with hematuria can be red or brown, sometimes it becomes the color of meat slops with blood clots. The color of urine depends on the number of red blood cells that have entered it.

The most common causes of hematuria in cats are:

  • bacterial inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system: urethritis, pyelonephritis;
  • kidney infarction;
  • renal colic;
  • kidney neoplasms (lymphosarcoma);
  • kidney injury upon impact, fall or when hit by a transport;
  • salt deposits or polyps in the bladder;
  • prostatitis in cats;
  • long-term antibiotic treatment;
  • poisoning with toxins (rat poison or poisoned mice);
  • intrauterine anomalies in the development of the organs of the genitourinary system (most often the kidneys);
  • cardiovascular diseases;
  • postoperative complications, most often they occur after operations to sterilize animals;
  • response to certain medications.

Symptoms of hematuria

The onset of the disease leading to the condition when the cat pees with blood is asymptomatic, and can only be detected by a change in the color of the filler cat tray. With the progression of the pathological condition, the cat becomes restless when trying to urinate. He cannot urinate: he tries to do it several times, but still unsuccessfully.

The animal becomes restless, during urination it may growl in pain. Always a clean cat can urinate not in the tray, but in other places. Possible manifestations of gastrointestinal disorders - vomiting and diarrhea.

The animal ceases to show interest in food, becomes depressed, sad. He is dry, which indicates increased. These symptoms may be associated with problems with the genitourinary system, but only a veterinarian can establish an accurate diagnosis after the results of a study of a sick animal.

Diagnostic studies

Determining the exact cause of the presence of blood in the urine has great importance in the choice of therapy and in the further recovery of the animal.

If the cat pees blood, then to confirm hematuria, urine should be examined for the presence of red blood cells. To collect urine, you must thoroughly rinse and disinfect the cat's litter tray or buy a special tray for collecting urine. If it is not possible to obtain urine for analysis in this way, then the animal has to be catheterized in a veterinary clinic under general anesthesia.

Urine cultures are also done to test for antibiotic susceptibility to see which one will be effective in treating a viral or bacterial infection.

If the cat has a severe blockage of the urethra and urine cannot be removed by catheterization, then the doctor makes a puncture in the bladder through the abdominal wall and collects urine.

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