Hematuria

Introduction

• Presence of blood in the urine.
• Hematuria is a sign NOT a diagnosis.
• Cause : urinary tract hemorrhage, manifestation of abnormal hemostasis.
• Signs : discoloration of urine.
• Diagnosis : detection of blood on dipstick and presence of red blood cells on cytological examination of urine.
• Treatment : depends on etiology.
• Prognosis : depends on etiology.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

• Signs of underlying disease:
  • Renal pain or abnormal renal size/shape.
  • Palpation of abdominal mass associated with bladder/urethra.
  • Prostatic mass or painful prostate on palpation.
  • Vaginal or preputial discharge.

• Signs associated with anemia:
  • Pallor.
  • Tachycardia, tachypnea.
  • Hemic murmur.
  • Weakness.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

• Other causes of urine discoloration:
  • Hemoglobinuria.
  • Myoglobinuria.
  • Abnormal pigment in urine.

Sequelae

Prognosis

• Dependent on underlying cause.

Expected response to treatment

• Resolution of blood in urine.

Reasons for treatment failure

• Underlying cause not diagnosed or misdiagnosed.
• Inappropriate treatment of underlying cause.
• Bilateral benign idiopathic renal hematuria has no treatment.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

• Batamuzi E K & Kristensen F et al(1994) Idiopathic renal hematuria in the dog. Vet Rec 135 , 603.
• Hitt M E & Straw R C et al(1985) Idiopathic hematuria of renal origin in a dog. JAVMA 187 , 1371-1373.