Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs

Quick Answer
  • Hemorrhagic cystitis means inflammation of the bladder with bleeding, so urine may look pink, red, brown, or cloudy.
  • See your vet promptly if your pig is straining to urinate, passing only small amounts, acting painful, or has a strong ammonia odor to the urine.
  • In pigs, urinary infections can move upward into the kidneys, so early treatment matters.
  • Common veterinary steps include urinalysis, urine culture, bloodwork, and imaging when stones or blockage are a concern.
  • Treatment options vary from outpatient antibiotics and urine-supportive care to hospitalization and surgery if there is obstruction, severe infection, or kidney involvement.
Estimated cost: $180–$2,500

What Is Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs?

Hemorrhagic cystitis is inflammation of the bladder lining that causes bleeding into the urine. In pigs, this may show up as red, brown, or cloudy urine, frequent attempts to urinate, straining, or discomfort during urination. In some cases, the bladder inflammation is mild and limited to the lower urinary tract. In others, infection can travel upward and involve the kidneys, creating a much more serious problem.

In swine medicine, hemorrhagic cystitis is often discussed as part of cystitis-pyelonephritis complex, especially in breeding females. Actinobaculum suis is a well-known cause, but other bacteria can also be involved. Miniature pet pigs can also develop cystitis, and bladder stones may occur at the same time, which can worsen irritation and bleeding.

For pet parents, the key point is that blood in the urine is never something to ignore. Some pigs remain bright early on, while others decline quickly if infection, obstruction, or kidney injury develops. Your vet can help sort out whether this is a lower urinary tract problem, a stone issue, or part of a more advanced urinary infection.

Symptoms of Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs

  • Blood-tinged, red, brown, or rusty urine
  • Frequent urination or repeated attempts to urinate
  • Straining, grunting, or obvious discomfort while urinating
  • Cloudy urine, pus-like debris, or strong ammonia odor
  • Reduced appetite or lethargy
  • Weight loss or poor body condition with longer-standing disease
  • Fever is not always present, so a normal temperature does not rule it out
  • Little to no urine production, severe straining, collapse, or sudden worsening

See your vet immediately if your pig cannot pass urine, seems weak, collapses, or has severe pain. Those signs can point to urinary blockage, bladder rupture risk, or kidney involvement. Even when the symptoms seem mild, blood in the urine deserves a veterinary exam because pigs can have significant urinary disease before they look critically ill.

What Causes Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs?

Bacterial infection is one of the most important causes. In pigs, Actinobaculum suis is a classic urinary pathogen, especially in sows, and other bacteria such as E. coli, Trueperella (Arcanobacterium) pyogenes, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus species may also be involved. These infections often ascend from the lower urinary tract and can inflame the bladder enough to cause bleeding.

Management and environment matter too. Reduced water intake, infrequent urination, fecal contamination around the perineal area, poor hygiene, excessive body weight, and mobility problems can all increase risk. In miniature pet pigs, bladder stones and crystals may irritate the bladder lining and either mimic cystitis or occur alongside infection.

Some pigs have lower urinary tract disease only, while others develop ascending infection into the kidneys. That progression can lead to pyelonephritis, kidney damage, and, in severe cases, acute renal failure. Because several different problems can cause blood in the urine, your vet may need testing to separate infection from stones, trauma, reproductive tract bleeding, or other urinary disease.

How Is Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs Diagnosed?

Your vet will start with a physical exam and a close history, including when the bleeding started, whether your pig is straining, how much urine is being passed, water intake, appetite, and any recent breeding, farrowing, or hygiene concerns. Watching the pig urinate can be very helpful, because frequent passage of small amounts of bloodstained or cloudy urine strongly supports lower urinary tract disease.

A urinalysis is one of the most useful first tests. It can show red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, crystals, urine concentration, and pH changes. A urine culture helps identify the organism and guide antibiotic choice. In pigs, culture for Actinobaculum suis may require special anaerobic handling, so sample collection and transport matter.

Many pigs also benefit from bloodwork to check kidney values and hydration status. If your vet is concerned about stones, obstruction, bladder wall changes, or kidney involvement, they may recommend radiographs or ultrasound. In severe herd cases or when a pig dies suddenly, necropsy findings can confirm cystitis, pyelonephritis, and the extent of urinary tract damage.

Treatment Options for Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs

Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.

Budget-Conscious Care

$180–$450
Best for: Stable pigs that are still passing urine, have mild bleeding or straining, and do not appear blocked or systemically ill.
  • Office or farm-call exam
  • Basic urinalysis
  • Empiric outpatient antibiotic plan when your vet feels this is appropriate
  • Hydration support and husbandry correction
  • Urine acidification or diet adjustments if your vet recommends them
  • Short-interval recheck
Expected outcome: Often fair to good when disease is caught early and limited to the bladder.
Consider: Lower upfront cost, but less diagnostic certainty. If the infection is resistant, involves stones, or has already reached the kidneys, this level may miss important complications.
Most Common

Recommended Standard Treatment

$450–$1,100
Best for: Most pigs with blood in the urine, recurrent urinary signs, reduced appetite, foul-smelling urine, or concern for ascending infection.
  • Exam and pain assessment
  • Urinalysis plus urine culture and susceptibility testing
  • CBC and chemistry panel
  • Targeted antibiotic plan based on likely or confirmed bacteria
  • Fluid therapy as needed
  • Imaging such as radiographs or ultrasound when stones or upper urinary tract disease are possible
  • Follow-up urinalysis or culture
Expected outcome: Good for uncomplicated bladder infection; more guarded if kidney infection, chronic damage, or stones are present.
Consider: More complete and usually more informative, but requires more testing and a higher cost range.

Advanced / Critical Care

$1,100–$2,500
Best for: Pigs that are blocked, unable to urinate, severely painful, dehydrated, azotemic, or suspected to have pyelonephritis, bladder rupture risk, or stone-related obstruction.
  • Hospitalization and close monitoring
  • IV fluids and injectable medications
  • Advanced imaging or repeated imaging
  • Sedation and cystocentesis if the bladder must be decompressed
  • Management of urinary obstruction
  • Surgery such as cystotomy when stones or blockage require removal
  • Kidney monitoring and intensive supportive care
Expected outcome: Variable. Some pigs recover well with timely intervention, while prognosis becomes guarded to poor with severe kidney damage, bladder rupture, or prolonged obstruction.
Consider: Most intensive option with the highest cost range and more procedures, but it may be the safest path for life-threatening or complicated cases.

Cost estimates as of 2026-03. Actual costs vary by location, clinic, and individual case.

Questions to Ask Your Vet About Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs

Bring these questions to your vet appointment to get the most out of your visit.

  1. Do my pig’s signs fit lower urinary tract disease, kidney infection, stones, or another cause of bleeding?
  2. What tests do you recommend first, and which ones are most important if I need a more conservative care plan?
  3. Is a urine culture needed, and does the sample need special handling for anaerobic bacteria?
  4. Does my pig seem blocked or at risk of becoming blocked?
  5. What treatment options do we have at the conservative, standard, and advanced levels?
  6. Should we change diet, water access, bedding, or sanitation to reduce recurrence?
  7. Are bladder stones or crystals part of the problem?
  8. What signs at home mean I should seek emergency care right away?

How to Prevent Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pigs

Prevention starts with consistent access to clean water. Pigs that drink less and urinate less often are at higher risk for abnormal urine concentration and urinary tract disease. Good sanitation also matters. Keeping the hind end and living area cleaner helps reduce fecal contamination around the urinary opening, which may lower bacterial exposure.

For breeding pigs, careful hygiene during breeding, farrowing, and routine handling is important. In commercial swine medicine, artificial insemination has been associated with lower incidence of Actinobaculum suis urinary disease than natural breeding. Facilities should also support normal movement and regular elimination, because obesity, leg problems, and poor pen design can contribute to urinary stasis.

For miniature pet pigs, routine wellness care can help catch urinary problems earlier. Your vet may recommend periodic urinalysis, especially in pigs with past urinary issues. If your pig has had recurrent cystitis or crystals, your vet may discuss urine-acidifying strategies, diet review, and imaging to look for stones. Water should never be restricted.

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