Female Dog Blood in Urine: What to Do

Seeing blood in your female dog’s urine can be scary, and I completely understand why. The good news is that many causes are treatable, especially when you act quickly. The important part is knowing what counts as an emergency, what you can do at home right now, and what your veterinarian will likely test for.

Quick note: This article is informational and not a substitute for veterinary care. If you are unsure, it is always safer to call your vet or an emergency clinic.

Is it really urine blood?

“Blood in the urine” can look a few different ways:

• Pink, red, or brown urine in the puddle, on white snow, or on a pee pad.
• Small red streaks or drops near the end of urination.
• Blood spotting on bedding or around the vulva that can be mistaken for urine blood.

In female dogs, blood can come from the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra) or from the reproductive tract (vulva, vagina, uterus). Knowing which is more likely helps your vet narrow things down faster.

Two simple checks that can help:

• Watch her pee on a white surface (paper towel, pee pad, snow). If the urine itself is pink or red, the urinary tract becomes more likely.
• Look for spotting at rest (blood on bedding or dripping when she is not urinating). That can point more toward a reproductive source, such as heat or vaginal discharge.

Helpful clue: If your dog seems to be peeing frequently, urgently, or painfully, the bladder and urethra jump to the top of the list. Also, some dogs do not show obvious pain, so normal behavior does not always rule out a significant problem.

When it is an emergency

Please seek urgent or emergency care if you notice any of the following:

• Straining to urinate with little or no urine produced
• Repeated squatting every few minutes
• Lethargy, vomiting, weakness, collapse, or pale gums
• Large amounts of blood or blood clots
• Severe pain, crying, or a hunched posture
• Possible toxin exposure (especially rodent poison)
• Recent trauma (hit by a car, fall, dog fight)
• Pregnant dogs or dogs that could have a uterine infection

Female dogs are less likely than males to fully block, but a complete obstruction is still rare, but possible (for example, from a large stone, swelling, or a mass). If your dog cannot pass urine, treat it as an emergency.

Common causes in females

1) UTI or bladder inflammation

Urinary tract infections and bladder inflammation are more common in female dogs, in part because bacteria can more easily travel up a shorter, wider urethra. Signs often include frequent urination, accidents in the house, urgency, licking at the vulva, and discomfort.

Important: Not all “UTI symptoms” are actually UTIs. Sterile cystitis, bladder stones, tumors, and even stress-related inflammation can look similar. That is why urine testing matters.

2) Bladder stones (uroliths)

Stones can irritate the bladder lining and cause blood, straining, and frequent urination. Some stones require prescription diets, medications, or surgery depending on stone type and size.

3) Heat bleeding (not urine)

If your dog is not spayed, blood from a heat cycle can drip and appear like urinary bleeding. Heat bleeding usually occurs with swelling of the vulva and changes in behavior. Still, if you are not sure, your vet can help you tell the difference.

4) Pyometra (uterine infection)

This is one of the biggest reasons I urge quick action for unspayed females. Pyometra can cause vaginal discharge (sometimes bloody), fever, lethargy, vomiting, increased thirst, and a very sick dog. It can be life-threatening and often requires emergency surgery.

5) Kidney disease or kidney infection

These can cause blood in urine along with increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, appetite changes, or vomiting. Bloodwork and urinalysis are key for diagnosis.

6) Trauma, toxins, or clotting issues

Injuries to the urinary tract or clotting problems from toxins (like anticoagulant rodenticide) can cause bleeding. Low platelets (thrombocytopenia) and some immune-mediated conditions can also lead to abnormal bleeding. This is an emergency, especially if bleeding appears in other places (bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, black stools).

7) Medication side effects

Some medications can increase the risk of gastrointestinal or urinary bleeding, or affect clotting in certain situations. If your dog takes any prescriptions (including anti-inflammatories, steroids, or blood thinners), tell your veterinarian what she takes and when the last dose was.

8) Vaginitis or vulvar irritation

Vaginitis (including juvenile vaginitis in young dogs) or irritation around the vulva can cause discharge or spotting that looks like urinary blood. Your vet may recommend an exam and targeted testing to confirm the source.

9) Tumors or polyps

Less common, but possible, especially in older dogs. Your vet may recommend imaging and, if needed, referral testing.

What to do at home

• Call your veterinarian and describe the color, frequency, and any straining. Mention whether she is spayed.
• Encourage water intake (fresh water; you can ask your vet about adding a small amount of low-sodium, onion-free, garlic-free broth).
• Keep her calm and leashed for bathroom trips so you can observe output.
• Take photos of urine color on a white paper towel or pad, and note the time and frequency.
• Try to collect a urine sample if possible.

Do not give human pain medication (ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen). These can be dangerous or fatal to dogs. Also avoid leftover antibiotics. Wrong antibiotics, wrong dose, or stopping early can make infections harder to treat.

How to collect a sample

If your clinic asks you to bring urine, here are simple tips:

• Use a clean container with a lid. A clean plastic food container works in a pinch.
• Catch midstream if you can. Let her start, then collect.
• Refrigerate promptly and deliver as soon as possible (ideally the same day, often within about 6 to 12 hours unless your clinic advises otherwise).
• Label it with the time collected.

If your dog is very uncomfortable, or collecting at home is difficult, your vet can collect urine in clinic using a sterile technique, which can be especially important when infection is suspected.

What to expect at the visit

Most appointments start with a history (when it started, any straining, accidents, thirst changes, medications, and spay status) and a physical exam. Your clinic may test a fresh urine sample you bring, or collect one in clinic. Many basic urine results can be available the same day, while cultures and some specialized tests take longer. Costs vary by region and by whether imaging or culture is needed, so it is reasonable to ask for an estimate and what is most urgent versus optional.

Tests your vet may run

Veterinary teams usually start with the basics and then add more targeted tests depending on what they find.

Urinalysis

• Checks for blood, crystals, inflammation, glucose, protein, concentration, and more

Urine culture

• Confirms bacteria and identifies the best antibiotic
• Especially important for recurring UTIs or complicated infections

Imaging

• X-rays can show many types of stones
• Ultrasound can evaluate the bladder wall, uterus (if unspayed), kidneys, and soft tissue structures

Bloodwork

• Evaluates kidneys, hydration, infection, anemia, and clotting clues

The goal is to treat the actual cause, not just the symptom of blood.

Treatment options

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, but common plans include:

• Antibiotics (ideally based on culture results)
• Veterinarian-prescribed pain relief and anti-inflammatories
• Diet changes for certain stone types
• Increased water intake strategies to dilute urine and reduce irritation
• Surgery for stones that cannot be dissolved, tumors, or pyometra

If you are offered a prescription urinary diet, ask your vet what stone type they suspect and how long the diet is needed. In some cases it is temporary, in others it is long-term prevention.

How to lower the risk

• Keep fresh water available and consider adding moisture to meals (wet food or vet-approved toppers).
• Offer more potty breaks. For some dogs, more frequent opportunities to urinate may help reduce bladder discomfort and support urinary health.
• Wipe and keep the vulva area clean after messy outdoor play, swimming, or diarrhea episodes.
• Address weight if your vet recommends it. Overweight dogs can be more prone to urinary issues.
• Finish all prescribed medications and go to recheck visits if your clinic recommends them.
• Ask about spaying if your dog is unspayed. It prevents pyometra and reduces other reproductive risks.

If your dog has repeat urinary symptoms, advocate for a urine culture and imaging. It is one of the fastest ways to avoid chasing the problem with guesswork.

Bottom line

Blood in your female dog’s urine is never something to ignore, but it is also not something you have to face alone. With prompt veterinary guidance, a urine test, and the right treatment plan, many dogs feel better quickly and return to normal.

If you are seeing blood today, start with two steps: call your vet and observe whether she is straining or unable to pass urine. Those details help your veterinary team triage your dog appropriately.