If There’s One Big Takeaway That You Want People To Understand About Hematuria What Would It Be
DR. SALARI: Hematuria is not normal and should not be ignored in any situation, regardless of your sex, race, or medical history. Determining the cause or etiology of the hematuria is our job. While we often give patients good news that the cause is benign or easily treatable, catching a more serious diagnosis like bladder cancer earlier can be life-saving and well worth the trip to the urologist. We are here to help you through this.
Injury To The Kidneys
Glomeruli are tiny structures within the kidneys that help filter and clean the blood. Glomerulonephritis is the term for a group of diseases that can injure these structures.
In people with GN, the injured kidneys are unable to remove waste and excess fluid from the body. Without treatment, GN can lead to kidney failure.
Chronic GN often occurs in young men who also have hearing and vision loss.
Acute GN comes on suddenly and may cause the following symptoms:
- facial puffiness in the morning
- blood in the urine
What Treatment Options Exist For The Various Causes Of Hematuria
DR. SALARI: In anybody who has hematuria, the most important task at hand is determining why you have hematuria, as the “why” ultimately dictates the treatment options. For simpler causes of hematuria such as infection, we would prescribe antibiotics. For more serious causes of hematuria, such as bladder cancer, we will often perform a bladder biopsy or removal of the bladder tumor in the operating room. By getting the proper workup, we can help guide you through the best treatment options.
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What Are Some Common Causes Of Hematuria
DR. SALARI: Hematuria is never considered normal, which is why it is important to determine the etiology or cause of the hematuria. If you do have either microscopic or gross hematuria, the most common causes include urinary tract infection , recent instrumentation such as a recent Foley catheter or urologic procedure, kidney or bladder stones, BPH or enlarged prostate in men, vaginal or uterine tissue breakdown in post-menopausal women, and bladder cancer. Importantly, being on a blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin or warfarin, does not cause hematuria.
Blood Clots In Urine In Men
Blood clots in the urine may be caused by various underlying conditions, ranging from an infection to cancer. Although most times than not the condition will take care of itself it is advisable to visit your physician for a check up.
Blood clots in the urine may be caused by various underlying conditions, ranging from an infection to cancer. Although most times than not the condition will take care of itself it is advisable to visit your physician for a check up.
Blood clots in urine can make the urine appear pink or red in color and in some cases the urine will have a maroon hue. If you experience pain when you pass small blood clots in urine try to identify the regions causing the pain, as this will help the diagnosis and eventually the treatment plan. It is also important that you ensure that the redness of the urine is in fact blood. Certain foods like beet root and medication may cause the urine to turn red. If you have doubts it is advisable to undergo laboratory tests to confirm.
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Diagnosing Dog Blood Clot
Because there is a large number of potential underlying problems associated with dog blood clotting, a diagnosis will need to be made by your vet as soon as possible. Veterinarians will typically conduct a thorough physical exam, urinalysis, and basic blood work, in order to determine a definitive diagnosis.
Imaging tests, such as x-rays, are used to confirm the presence of blood clots and pinpoint their exact location. If stones are not found with this method, your vet may move onto ultrasounds, which may be more suitable for a dog blood clot located in the urinary tract.
Once the blood clot is confirmed, the source and cause of it will then be evaluated. A biochemistry analysis that includes blood and urine tests will indicate the health of your dogs kidneys, which can affect his urinary tract as well.
Tests may be completed to test your dogs coagulation factors. Coagulation factors are substances that are made in the liver and circulate in the bloodstream. There are 13 coagulation factors, and each one becomes activated in a specific sequence when a blood vessel or tissue injury occurs these factors work with platelets to produce a clot at the site of an injury. A prothrombin time analysis measures blood clotting based on extrinsic coagulation factors, which helps to determine if the clotting rate is normal. This allows your vet to determine if your dog has a bleeding disorder or excessive clotting disorder.
What To Expect At The Vets Office
The veterinarian will need to determine what disorder is to blame for your cats hematuria. He or she will start with a physical examination and complete health history, often followed by some combination of diagnostic tests. Possibilities include:
- A blood chemistry panel
- Urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing
- Abdominal x-rays and/or ultrasound
Appropriate treatment will depend on the results of these tests and the eventual diagnosis. Some of the more common disorders that cause hematuria in cats are:
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis Medications used in the treatment of FIC include pain relievers , anti-anxiety medication , and nutritional supplements . Canned food is recommended to promote the formation of dilute urine. Many cats with FIC experience intermittent flare-ups regardless of treatment. Stress relief, including clean litter boxes, ample opportunities for play and mental stimulation, preventing conflicts between feline housemates, and maintaining a consistent home environment are vital to reducing the frequency and severity of FIC attacks.
Urinary Tract Infection Feline urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics. Sometimes a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing is necessary to determine what antibiotic will resolve the infection. If the infection occurs in conjunction with struvite bladder stones, a special diet or urinary acidifier will also be necessary to dissolve the stones.
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What Causes A Dog Blood Clot In Urine
Clots, in general, form when platelets and plasma proteins in the blood thicken and coagulate. In some cases, an underlying medical issue can also cause a dog to develop a blog clot. Blood may begin to clot for a variety of reasons, including:
- Long term use of steroids or corticosteroids
- Trauma that causes inflammation
- Protein loss through the GI tract or kidneys
There are multiple diseases and medical issues associated with a dogs urinary tract that can cause blood clots to appear in his urine. For example, urinary stones, such as canine bladder stones or kidney stones, are a common cause of blood clots in urine. Even tick-borne illness, which can interfere with the bloods clotting ability, are a potential culprit.
Male dogs that are not neutered are at higher risk for prostate disease, which can then lead to inflammation in the urinary tract and cause bleeding.
Hypercoagulability, or the tendency to develop blood clots is usually inherited. There are also several types of congenital blood protein disorders that are present in dogs from birth signs of these conditions typically appear at an early age. These blood disorders, which can cause clotting issues, have been reported in several dog breeds, including:
- Alaskan Klee Kai
If you believe your dog is susceptible to any of these conditions, the best thing to do would be to have your dogs urinary tract evaluated by his vet to screen for potential blood clots.
What To Expect At Home
Cats who are under treatment for hematuria should be kept indoors so they can be closely monitored, encouraged to eat and drink, and take any prescribed medications. When cats are taking antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, they should take the entire course, even if their condition rapidly returns to normal. Follow your veterinarians instructions regarding any other medications that have been prescribed.
Modifications to the diet and home environment are an important part of managing some cats with hematuria. Feeding canned and/or prescription food, keeping fresh water available at all times, and stress relief are common recommendations.
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Bladder Or Kidney Stone
The minerals in your urine can sometimes form crystals on the walls of your kidneys or bladder. Over time, those crystals can become small, hard stones. Some kidney stones are symptomless, but if one becomes large enough, it can create a blockage in your urinary tract and cause extreme pain. They can also irritate the lining of the urinary tract and, in turn, cause bleeding, Dr. Smith said.
According to the NIDDK, your healthcare provider might remove it or break it up into small pieces to get rid of the stone. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience pain so severe that you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position as well as nausea and vomiting or fever and chills.
Asymptomatic Urinary Tract Stones
Urinary tract stones are one of the commonest causes of heavy blood in the stool .
Kidney stones may cause injury when they move inside the urinary tract leading to hematuria with clots.
Common locations of the urinary tract stones:
- Kidney stones .
- Urinary bladder stones.
Urinary stones are often diagnosed by an imaging study such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan of the urinary tract.
You can learn more about urinary stones.
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What Should I Be Looking For
Dog blood clots can often go unnoticed for some time. Unless you are paying attention to your dog every time he pees, blood clots can go unnoticed.
While hematuria usually isnt painful for dog, passing blood clots in their urine will be. Because of this, one of the first signs of the condition may be discomfort. If it appears that your dog is in distress or makes any audible whining noises as he pees, its important that you begin to monitor his urination.
One of the easiest ways to determine if your dog has blood or blood clots in his urine is to have him urinate on a light-colored surface, such as snow, carpet, a pee pad, or even a piece of paper. Youll be able to see if his urine is discolored or if there are any clots. A dog blood clot in urine will appear as a gel-like clump of blood.
Because blood clots in urine usually mean your dog is suffering from another medical problem, you may also notice that your dog is displaying additional symptoms as well. If blood clots are present in your dogs urinary tract, he may also be experiencing dog vomiting, an inability to control his urination, not urinating at all, or your dog may show signs of pain around his prostate, abdomen, or bladder. Excessive grooming, frequent vocalizing, panting, aggression, loss of appetite, and changes in sleep, can all be indications that your dog is experiencing pain.
Why Is There Blood In My Childs Urine
Both visible and microscopic blood in the urine of children can be a sign of a medical condition or risk of developing a medical condition.
If a red, pink, or brown color is visible, the change is likely due to medication or eating certain foods. Regardless, parents should consult a doctor if they notice any abnormal color changes in their childs urine.
Roughly 3 to 4 percent of children will experience microscopic blood in their urine. Because microscopic blood isnt visible, parents should also look for these signs:
- Puffiness around the eyes
- Swelling of hands and feet
- Abdominal or groin pain
- Sickle cell disease
Its also possible that your child has benign familial hematuria, which could mean that there is nothing medically wrong with your child.
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Hematuria: Blood In The Urine
Blood in the urine should never be ignored. This could be the first sign of a serious condition. In order to help your doctor with the correct diagnosis, you may try to provide details such as:
- Was it associated with pain?
- Did you see blood clots?
- What shape did the clots have?
- The color of the blood
- At what time during urination did you see blood in the urine ?
Blood in the urine can present in one of two ways:
- Gross hematuria
- Microscopic hematuria .
Both types can have serious causes.
What Is Hematuria What Are The Risk Factors For Hematuria
Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in the urine and affects up to 30% of the adult population in their lifetime. These red blood cells can originate from any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, prostate , and urethra.
Hematuria can be detected both by your own eyes and with a microscope. When visible to the naked eye, it is called gross hematuria. When seen only under the microscope, it is called microscopic hematuria.
There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of an adult developing hematuria from a concerning cause. Patients over the age of 50 years and patients who smoke or have a history of smoking carry the highest risk of developing hematuria.
What other symptoms can you have with hematuria ?
When you have hematuria, it is common to not have any other symptoms. If you do have other symptoms, these symptoms can be various annoying urinary symptoms, including burning with urination, urge to urinate, frequent urination, getting up at night to urinate, straining to urinate, starting and stopping during urination, and feeling unable to empty your bladder.
If you are passing blood clots with your urine, it is even more important that you see a urologist soon, as the blood clots could block the outflow of your urine, which can be dangerous if untreated.
If you have a fever, it is also very important to see a urologist as soon as possible, as hematuria could be from an active infection.
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What Do I Do If I Notice Blood Clots In My Dogs Urine
If you see blood or blood clots in your dogs urine, or if he is exhibiting any of the symptoms above, contact your vet immediately. Dog blood clots in urine can be a life-threatening condition, and early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve your dogs chances of survival.
Treatment for blood clots in dogs typically depends on the underlying cause. However, it is likely that your vet will prescribe blood-thinning medication to help reduce the size of the clot and break it down. If this is the case, your dog will need to be closely monitored to ensure he doesnt injure himself. While taking blood-thinning medication, even something as mild as a small cut or abrasion can bleed profusely.
In some circumstances, surgical removal of the clot could be an optiondepending on where it is located and the effectiveness of the blood thinning medication. Other situations may allow for a blood clot removal through a specialized catheter, which pulls the clot out manually. As these procedures are more invasive, there are higher risks for complication and bleeding.
Your vet may also suggest fluid therapy to eliminate the development of any more blood clots. With fluid therapy, electrolytes such as potassium are injected under your dogs skin. This treatment helps to boost your dogs urinary system to better regulate his blood volume and blood pressure.
Treatment For Blood Clots In The Urine
Treatment for blood clots in the urine is determined by the underlying causative health condition. Often, blood clots in the urine result from fairly minor problems and do not require medical treatment as the condition resolves on its own. When blood clots in the urine are due to a urinary tract infection, the treatment involves the use of antibiotics. If kidney stones are responsible for blood clots in urine, the patient will be advised to drink plenty of water. If hematuria is accompanied by pain, a doctor will prescribe pain relievers.
No matter what the possible cause of red-colored urine, your first point of call is your doctor, who will ask about your symptoms, examine you physically, and order urine tests if necessary.
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Is A Small Blood Clot In Urine Curable
Here we are almost at the last stage of these articles, namely what causes small blood clots in urine in most cases, if one is having abdominal pain accompanied by blood in the urine or urine hematuria, one must consult a physician or should opt for a physical examination.
Any disease in an earlier stage is treatable, and so is these disease. If treated earlier, this urine hematuria is curable. Some physical examination, blood tests, and examination of the patients urine sample are necessary.
In certain cases, if it indicates some kidney disease, one must opt for a kidney biopsy and a urine test suggested by the doctor.
Biopsy of any body part is the test of the said body cells to determine whether the cell of that body part consists or carries cancerous cells.
Mayo Clinic Q And A: Blood In Urine Should Not Be Ignored
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What could be causing a small amount of blood to show up in urine? I am in my 70s.
ANSWER: Blood in the urine hematuria can be alarming. Although some causes of hematuria can be serious, others are fairly harmless and may clear up with little or no treatment. Either way, it definitely should be evaluated by a health care provider.
Blood in the urine thats clearly visible is called gross hematuria. Blood in the urine that isnt clearly visible is called microscopic hematuria. With gross hematuria, urine may be red or pink, or similar in color to cola, tea or rust. Gross hematuria often occurs without other symptoms. It takes little blood to discolor urine, so youre probably not losing as much blood as it may appear. However, heavier bleeding that involves passing blood clots is an urgent issue that can be painful and puts you at risk of having a blocked bladder outlet and inability to pass urine.
The first step is to determine if the discoloration is blood. Urine can become discolored in other ways, such as by blood proteins from eating beets or taking certain medications, including some used to treat urinary tract infections. Occasionally, vaginal bleeding can be mistaken for hematuria and vice versa. Hematuria in older adults nearly always indicates the need for an evaluation to determine the cause of bleeding.
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