He was nutered as a puppy. He has trouble passing (crapping) and stands in a bowed position for a long time: I assume trying to urinate or deficate. For the last two days he is reluctant to eat.
He does have a bulge on the left side just past his rib cage.
We went to a local vet who x-rayed him and said that he could see nothing definite.
He is a mix of lab/border collie and his weight is approx. 70 lb.
Sometimes when he urinates (dribbles) there is blood in the urine.

Was a urinalysis done to check for infection?

Yes. No infection!
I should also point out that he is completely house trained. We love him very much and just hate to think what this might be or losing him!!

And with the X-ray can we assume that he did not see any bladder stones or stones in the urethra?
A second opinion is certainly a valid option, I know it can get expensive to diagnose things when the patient can't tell you how he is feeling, you should be able to take copies of your X-rays with you, if digital they could make you a copy for a small fee. If on film though they may prefer to mail them to another clinic and have them returned or they may let you take them and return them to them.
Bloody urine certainly suggests that something is amiss.

Lady Sam,
That is about the only thing we have been able to come up with also.
We like our vet; however, he is primarily a large animal vet. So we are arranging to see another who specializes in pets.
Thanks for the assistance.

I wish you both the best of luck, and hope you get him sorted out. Report back and let us know how it goes.

Yes. No infection. Vet did prescribe antibiotics on a just in case basis. No change during or after the antibiotics.

An X ray at a vets office isn't always adequate. If you are willing to pay additional costs I'd see a specialist who can do a cat scan or MRI. My vet spent a week and $2500 in tests to say nothing was definite with my 11 year old lab mix. One $700 trip to a specialist found her terminally ill with cancer and internal bleeding.

Did check for infection and no indication of any; however, to be "safe" our vet prescribed some antibiotics. Gave them and no change.

Your vet has no clue and is trying the shot gun approach which apparently is not working. Ask him for a referral to a diagnostic clinic if you want answers.

So have you gone to a small animal vet yet?

The blood in the urine... is it bright red? Or brownish? Bright red would indicate infection of something... possibly kidneys or UTI.. brown blood indicates dead blood cells.

If you live in a rural area, I would suggest to make a visit to a city vet. Although I put more faith into "country" vets than city vets... I just have a feeling that your country vets aren't doing your dog any good.

Lg animal vets don't have x-ray machines that can go low enough to x-ray a dog. You need to go to a vet with the right equipment to help your dog.

Arching of the back to go potty sounds like your dog is in pain. Does he pass full stools? Or just parts of stool? Is it solid? Soft? Runny? Is it painful to feel around on his abdomen? Does he feel solid? Or squishy?

Please stop settling for antibiotics.. You've said twice now that the antibiotics haven't changed anything. Demand more! I would... I'd also go a different vet.

I have personally inspected Bubba. There is unnatural enlargement just behind the rib cage on his left side. It is does not feel solid - it is soft and I have wondered if it is some sort of growth, but our country large animal vet is non-commital. His x-ray did not show anything. I looked at the x-ray and could easily see spaces in the intestions (which I and the vet think is gas between solids).
His stool is semi-solid and appears to be hard to pass for him.
He has always like to sleep on his back, but recently that seems to be more comfort to him than usual.
Sometimes when he lays on his stomach he groans.

Can't address the unnatural growth or x-rays obviousely.
But the groaning does suggest that he is uncomforatable or painful.
A second opinion is in his best interest.

The blood that he passes in his urine is not a constant thing. It is brownish most of the time when he does; however, there have been a few time with bright red.

Take him to the vet! Does he need to be half dead before you consider it? There is something wrong. Urinating blood randomly is not normal

We have been to our local country vet (several times). Have been to a city vet several times. All they have done is scratch their heads, give some antibiotics and say watch him!! Have not found a vet locally who has cat scan equipment or other eq. besides different size x-rays!!

I'm going to assume you are from Texas based on your name. You may need to make a trip to Texas A&M and speak with the Veterinay team. College vet clinics take on, and have th resources, to investigate and possibly cure or at least give an answer to the strange diseases normal vets can't figure out.

Since I went to the University of Texas I sure hate to ask and Aggie; however, that is exactly what I intend to do!

John, please keep us posted.

I agree that the vets are only guessing, and you need to be proactive about this. You need to keep asking until you get an answer, because something is definitely going on.

I wish we could tell you what's happening, but even your vet, who had x-ray equipment, and did blood work (I hope), doesn't know.

We can only guess. You need answers.

Why did I get a reddie? Because you didn't like my answer? You continue to come back saying that no one is helping your dog. Personally, if this were my dog, I'd either get the help needed, which if it meant a trip to the specialty referral center, I'd do it.

I'm sick of sugar coating things for people on this website. Take your animal to the vet. Would you just shrug off your own health if you were in pain every time you had to go to the bathroom? Or if you leaked urine that was sometimes red? I doubt it. You shouldn't deny your pet medical attention.. and if you cannot afford it, either surrender the dog to a rescue/shelter that can.. or be the one to comfort your dog as he is being put to sleep.

That's my advise.. take it how you want to...