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Blood in urine.

Species: Dog
Breed: German Shepherd
Age: 5-8 years
I have taken my dog to 2 vets, and had numerous tests. I noticed she was peeing blood and they checked for infection. None. She was in great pain, so had x-rays and ultrasound to test for stones, look for masses, etc. There was nothing. She does have arthritis and hip dysplasia. Also, vertebrae on her back are misformed. They ran full blood work which came back great.
We started her on Rimadyl about 2 weeks ago. She is 70 lbs. and take 75 milligrams 2x daily.

She is still not herself. She pants a lot, and the last few days seems lethargic and depressed. She will eat but isn't excited about it as usual.

She got into some bread 5 days ago and was constipated for a day and now has had diarrhea for the last two days. Not sure if that is normal.

Also she shakes her head a lot, and vigorously. She does it a lot more at night.

I am not sure what to do. The vet says there appears to be nothing wrong, but there is such a drastic change in her demeanor that I find that hard to believe. She is nothing like the dog I had two weeks ago.

Any suggestions? Are they something like diagnosticians who can help with all these random symptoms?


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

I'm so sorry to hear about Saga's difficulties. This is really an unusual case.

It sounds like your vet is doing all of the same things that I would do. Do you know if Saga's urine was sent to the lab for a culture? This is a test that is separate from a normal urinalysis. It usually takes several days for the results to come back. Sometimes the normal lab tests that we run on urine can miss an infection. If a culture has not been done then this is not a bad thing to do. A hidden infection can definitely be painful.

Is Saga spayed? If not, you could ask your vet about the possibility of pyometra which is an infection in the uterus. It doesn't directly cause blood in the urine but it can cause blood to flow from the vagina and this could make it look like it is in the urine. Pyometra can make a dog feel very unwell. While most dogs with pyometra will have a high white blood cell count, some dogs can have a normal WBC.

I have seen some dogs who have a condition called interstitial cystitis. This condition is much more common in cats than in dogs, but it can exist. This is a condition that causes blood in the urine and we don't really know why. It is painful as well. If this is the case, then Rimadyl really should help.

I can't tie in the head shaking with the other issues.

In most areas, there are either veterinary teaching hospitals or specialty hospitals nearby where you can see an internal medicine specialist. If you feel that things are not improving then you can ask your vet for a referral.

I hope things look up soon!

Dr. Marie.


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Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

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Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.