Blood in Cat Urine (hematuria) - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment |
Overview:Hematuria means 'blood in urine' & as the name suggests, it is the presence of red blood cells in the urine. Microscopic hematuria is where the urine appears normal but upon microscopic examination, red blood cells are found to be present or gross hematuria in which the blood can be seen in the urine with the naked eye. What causes hematuria?There are multiple causes of hematuria in cats, some of which include; - Kidney stones
- Kidney tumour
- Glomerulonephritis
- Trauma
- Bladder stones
- Bladder tumour
- Bladder infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Idiopathic (no known cause)
How is hematuria diagnosed?Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your cat & obtain a history. He may wish to run the following tests to determine the cause of the hematuria; - Urinalysis.The presence of white blood cells may indicate urinary tract infection. Protein in the urine may indicate kidney disease.
- Complete blood count
- Biochemical profile to check kidney function
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP). This is a contrast x-ray examination of the kidneys, uretras & bladder. A contrast material is injected into the patient & collects in the kidneys & urinary tract. This allows the veterinarian to asses the kidneys & urinary tract.
How is hematuria treated?Treatment depends on the cause of the hematuria & may include; - Antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection
- Change in diet if the cause is urinary crystals/stones
- Surgery & or chemotherapy in the case of cancer
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