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Most people will recognise that passing blood in your urine
is never a good sign. Never more so, than in an elderly
male dog such as "Charlie".
Whilst a urinary tract infection (or cystitis) giving rise
to bleeding is relatively common in the female species it
is much less likely in the male. In contrast, problems associated
with the prostate gland feature much more prominently. Prostatic
enlargement and subsequent secondary infection are all too
common in the entire male dog but was a condition we were
able to rule out with "Charlie" as he had previously
been castrated. Castration shrinks the prostate gland reducing
any likelihood of potential problems.
This raised the spectre of possible cancer within the bladder
to explain the bleeding which had persisted despite treatment
with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Fortunately, a
simple radiograph was able to demonstrate a solitary large
stone or calculus within the bladder. This had arisen from
an excessive build up of calcium oxalate crystals.
Surgery was then performed to remove the offending article.
Once seen close up it is not difficult to imagine how this
object rattling around his bladder would have caused the
observed bleeding: painful to handle let alone rub against
his bladder lining! Now that the offending and somewhat
expensive stone has been removed "Charlie" can
resume his "duty" of remarking his territory without
it bringing tears to his eyes!
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