Why is my senior dog's bloody urine returning after antibiotics?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It becomes concerning when an older dog develops blood urine that is non-responsive to antibiotics. Having blood in the urine with out bacteria can mean a bladder stone or a bladder tumor. Tests I would consider next would be a urine culture, one belly X-ray to look for a bladder stone and full blood work. If the culture is negative and the X-ray doesn't show a stone then I would worry about a bladder tumor. An ultrasound of her bladder would help diagnose if she has a bladder tumor. Another option before doing more testing is to try a more powerful antibiotic for 3 weeks. But if the blood is still present with out the presence of bacteria then I would go forward. I hope this helps!

If a urinary tract infection is suspected and your vet has tried with two different antibiotics thus far without any luck, it is time for a more thorough diagnostic work up to try and rule out some other possibilities. Firstly, I would recommend a urine culture / susceptibility test that is sent out to the lab. This will tell us the specific microbe present in the urine sample and what antibiotics are best to use against it. You will need to have your vet obtain a sterile sample for this test as a free catch sample will obtain bacterial from the environment. Secondly, I would recommend obtaining a diagnostic ultrasound of the abdomen and bladder to make sure there are no obviously structural issues contributing to Maggie's current situation. Thirdly, I would get some baseline blood work to rule out any other common systemic conditions that could affect a dog that is getting a little bit older. Hope this makes sense. Good luck!

Antibiotics typically improve UTI signs within 1-2 days so Bakka could have something else like a stone in his urinary tract or even an issue like a prostate gland infection or rarely cancer. As the antibiotics are not working and a stone could cause him to be unable to urinate and have kidney damage, Bakka should be seen by a veterinarian.

I'm sorry to hear that Snare has been having so many urinary issues. There are several possible causes for his ongoing bloody urine and straining. One possible cause is that the bacteria causing his urinary tract infection are resistant to the antibiotic being used. Others include the possibility of prostate issues, bladder stones, crystals or a bladder mass, which could be partially blocking the urethra or causing discomfort. I strongly recommend taking Snare to his vet first thing in the morning for further evaluation. Your vet will likely recommend additional diagnostic tests, which may include a urine culture, x-rays or an abdominal ultrasound. If Snare becomes unable to urinate or is straining, but unable to pass any urine, this is an emergency and should be addressed by an emergency vet immediately. I hope this helps and that Snare is one the mend soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm not sure what your question is, but if a veterinarian has looked at Bubba's urine under a microscope and determined there is an infection, it is good he is on the antibiotics. If he has been on the medications and still having problems with the urine, I would recommend seeing a vet to determine if there is something more going on, like bladder stones. If this isn't your question, please repost your question and we will be happy to help you further. Kisses to Bubba!

He could have a urinary tract infection so he should be examined by a vet. Your vet can run a urinalysis to look for infection and other potential causes. He could also have urinary stones, prostate problem, tumor, etc. If he has an infection then he will need an antibiotic to treat.

It sounds like Blacky had a urinary tract infection, which sometimes can become recurrent or resistant and difficult to treat. His urine may need to be cultured again to see if the infection has resolved. Sometimes bladder stones or polyps, or diseases like Cushing's or kidney disease could also cause urine leakage. Finally, he may have urinary incontinence due to a neurologic issue and require medication to help stop the leakage. I would recommend talking to your veterinarian to see if there are any additional tests they would recommend.