Cross Breeds

My neighbour's 12 year old collie/labrador cross-breed dog has been losing blood - cause unknown?

This poor animal has been suffering from blood-loss through urine for over 2 weeks the vet has treated him with antibiotics but as soon as the course ends the blood-loss starts up again. Today the vet has taken 2 x-rays but states that there is nothing wrong with the dog although they have also taken a blood test which they are sending away and it will take at least two weeks before the results are known. All the vet will do is prescribe more antibiotics. The dog is overweight (13lbs) but this is a more recent occurrence as 6 months ago he was 13lbs underweight! He is not allowed to overeat and exercised regularly. My neighbour is so worried about this much-loved pet and is a pensioner who is beginning to struggle with the bills. Today's visit cost in the region of £600. Can anyone out there help diagnose what could possibly be wrong?

Public Comments

1. Yikes! Unfortunately, any vet who could actually see the dog is probably going to do a better job than a bunch of well-intentioned strangers on the internet. Your neighbor may want to consult a second vet, just to be safe. There are credit cards available in the US and Canada - I don't know about the UK, but I'm sure there's SOMETHING - to help with the cost. It doesn't sound too good for your neighbor's dog, though. Good luck!
2. Your friends dog could have a urine infection or possibly kidney problems. If your friend hasn't got alot of money she should take her doggy to the P.D.S.A. and they charge what you can afford.Usually a donation of £10 http://www.pdsa.org.uk/ Your friend shouldn't be making herself short of money for vets fees, I hope her/his dog is ok.
3. Sound like your neighbor's dog might have bladder or kidney stones.
4. If your in the UK and the owner is a pensioner see if they can take the dog to a PDSA,its a donation sceme for animals (vets) because the owner will have a pension book she won't have to pay..Poor dog I hope it all gets sorted out quickly.
5. I can't see the dog and I'm not a vet. However if that were my dog I'd take it to a different vet and get a second opinion. In my city we have a clinic that handles cases that regular vets either can't treat or diagnose. You can only get in there with a referral from your vet. I don't know if where you live has a clinic like that, but it's worth looking into. When I can't get an answer from two vets I ask for the referral.. I'm not saying what you should do, just what I'd do. GL
6. o that sounds really bad my friend had the same dog ben and the vet said there was nothin wrong with it but two weeks later see woke up to find it dead in a pool of blood the postmortim discovered it had a stomach ulcher and a brain tumar i would diffentally pay good money to get the dog look at by another vet. hope he get better.
7. There is something seriously not right with this vet, no way should 2 x-rays and some blood tests cost that much money. My pup had x-rays, ultrasounds, and an emergency operation and it only cost £400 at a highly respectable vet. Also, blood tests should not take 2 weeks, they can usually be done there and then in the vets with a waiting time of 20 minutes, and if not within 3 days from a lab. I would seriously consider a second opinion as any dog losing blood in urine constantly whilst rapidly putting on so much weight would indicate a kidney problem or such like. So definately go to a different vet, it's all I can suggest without knowing more details.