Mineralized substances that accumulate in your dog’s bladder or urethra are known as bladder stones (or cystic calculi). They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a piece of gravel and have the appearance of rocks or crystals. Fortunately, bladder stones in dogs are very treatable, but they cause your dog great pain. They may cause a blockage in your dog’s urethra if untreated. This could develop into a life-threatening situation.
The causes of bladder stones, warning signs, and available treatments will all be covered in this article. Learn how to prevent bladder stones in your dog by reading on.
How quickly can bladder stones form?
Bladder stones can form in a matter of weeks or take months to do so. The amount of crystalline material present and the level of infection present will typically determine the rate of growth. Some substantial stones have been observed to form in as little as two weeks, even though it may take months for a large stone to grow.
What other kinds of stones are there?
Bile salts are present in gall stones, which develop in the gall bladder. Kidney stones are mineralized formations that develop in the kidney. Neither of these are directly related to bladder stones. Although the urinary system includes both the kidneys and the bladder, the development of kidney stones is typically unrelated to the development of bladder stones. Every disease or inflammatory condition in the affected structure leads to the development of stones.
What are the clinical signs of bladder stones?
The most typical symptoms of bladder stones in dogs are hematuria (blood in the urine) and dysuria (difficulty urinating). Hematuria develops when the stones rub against the bladder wall, causing pain, tissue damage, and bleeding. Dysuria can be brought on by muscle spasms, a physical obstruction of urine flow, or inflammation and swelling of the bladder wall or urethra (the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body). Because bladder stones cause pain in those who have them and because many clients comment on how much better and more active their dog is after having bladder stones surgically removed, veterinarians assume that the condition is painful.
Large stones could function almost like a valve or stopcock, obstructing the urethra or bladder intermittently or partially at the bladder’s neck. Small stones may enter the urethra with the urine and lodge there, obstructing the passageway. A partial obstruction prevents the bladder from being completely emptied; a complete obstruction prevents the dog from urinating at all. If the obstruction is not relieved, the bladder may rupture.
Complete obstructions pose a risk to one’s life and necessitate immediate emergency care. A dog who is struggling to urinate but isn’t producing any urine or is only producing tiny squirts of urine will typically be diagnosed with a urinary obstruction.
FAQ
How long can a dog last with bladder stones?
Some dogs’ struvite stones may dissolve in two weeks, while others may need up to 12 weeks.
What happens if bladder stones are not removed in dogs?
A partial obstruction prevents the bladder from being completely emptied; a complete obstruction prevents the dog from urinating at all. If the obstruction is not relieved, the bladder may rupture. Complete obstructions pose a risk to one’s life and necessitate immediate emergency care.
Are bladder stones in dogs an emergency?
Bladder stones hurt, especially if they have blocked the urethra, which prevents your pet from being able to urinate and blocks the bladder. Urinary obstruction is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention from a veterinarian.
Can bladder stones be fatal?
Bladder stones are hardened, rock-like deposits that develop from naturally occurring mineral salts in urine. If left untreated, kidney and bladder damage, uremic poisoning, and even death could result from stones obstructing the urine’s flow.