Mineral deposits found in urine harden into kidney and bladder stones. Common minerals involved include struvite, calcium oxalate, and urate. Stones can appear anywhere in the urinary tract in canines and felines. Stones can form in many different shapes and sizes.
Some types of stones may form more frequently in certain breeds of animals. Dalmatians, for example, are more likely to develop urate stones.
Stones can have sharp edges. They may irritate or embed themselves in the bladder’s lining, thickening and inflaming the tissue. They can also form inside the kidneys.
When stones get stuck in the ureters (the skinny tubes that connect each kidney to the bladder) or the urethra (the tiny tube that allows urine to exit the bladder), they can be very problematic. Urine (and pressure) can accumulate in the kidney when the normal flow of urine from the kidney to the bladder is obstructed, which could lead to kidney infections or kidney failure.
The pet is unable to urinate if a stone blocks the urethra, which causes the urine to accumulate inside the urinary tract. Due to their longer and much narrower urethras compared to female pets, male pets experience this condition more frequently. Pet owners should seek immediate medical attention from a veterinarian when their animals are unable to urinate.
Stones are frequently brought on by diseases that disrupt the body’s mineral balance or by changes in the urine’s normal pH, making it too basic (high pH) or too acidic (low pH). Factors that can lead to the formation of stones include:
Most stones are found in the bladder. Pets with bladder stones may not display any symptoms at all or they may display symptoms like these:
Pets with kidney stones may not exhibit any symptoms or may continue to have blood in their urine. The pet may experience pain near the middle of the spine, which is where the kidneys are located, or they may drink and urinate more if the kidneys are affected by a blockage.
Some veterinarians may be able to detect bladder stones by gently pressing the patient’s bladder with their hands. In most cases, an abdominal radiograph (x-ray) is required. Contrast medium, a sterile solution that appears bright on radiographs, may need to be injected into the urinary tract in order to help make the stones more visible because some stones do not appear on standard radiographs. An abdominal ultrasound may also be helpful to visualize stones.
The pet may exhibit signs of pain and the veterinarian can typically feel a firm bladder if the urethra is blocked by a stone.
Finding out if there is a urinary tract infection and whether the urinary pH is normal can be done by testing the urine. When crystals are discovered in the urine, it may be possible to identify the type of stone that is present. However, sending sample stones to a laboratory for analysis is the only reliable way to determine the type of stone. This is significant because the type of stone will affect the treatment.
In pets with blockages, emergency surgery is usually required. If the animal is not obstructed, feeding it a special diet may help some stones dissolve. This food, which can only be obtained from veterinarians, will help change the pH of the urine and dissolve the stones.
Some types of bladder stones cannot be removed using diet alone and must instead be removed using other procedures, such as:
Surgery may be used to remove kidney stones, but this procedure may have an impact on kidney function. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an additional option, which is typically only accessible at universities. In this procedure, shock waves are used to fracture kidney and ureter stones into smaller pieces so they can pass through the urine.
After stones are removed, they are typically sent to a diagnostic lab to determine their type and composition. Pets may require a special diet and/or medication for the rest of their lives once the stone composition has been identified by lab analysis in order to help prevent recurrence.
Some types of stones may form more frequently in certain breeds of animals. Dalmatians, for example, are more likely to develop urate stones.
Surgery may be used to remove kidney stones, but this procedure may have an impact on kidney function. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an additional option, which is typically only accessible at universities. In this procedure, shock waves are used to fracture kidney and ureter stones into smaller pieces so they can pass through the urine.
Some veterinarians may be able to detect bladder stones by gently pressing the patient’s bladder with their hands. In most cases, an abdominal radiograph (x-ray) is required. Contrast medium, a sterile solution that appears bright on radiographs, may need to be injected into the urinary tract in order to help make the stones more visible because some stones do not appear on standard radiographs. An abdominal ultrasound may also be helpful to visualize stones.
Stones are frequently brought on by diseases that disrupt the body’s mineral balance or by changes in the urine’s normal pH, making it too basic (high pH) or too acidic (low pH). Factors that can lead to the formation of stones include:
Finding out if there is a urinary tract infection and whether the urinary pH is normal can be done by testing the urine. When crystals are discovered in the urine, it may be possible to identify the type of stone that is present. However, sending sample stones to a laboratory for analysis is the only reliable way to determine the type of stone. This is significant because the type of stone will affect the treatment.
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.
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.
FAQ
How do you tell if your dog is passing a kidney stone?
Hematuria, vomiting, recurrent UTIs, painful, difficult urination (dysuria), and frequent urination with little urine production (polyuria) are a few symptoms that may appear. Other signs and symptoms could emerge, but they would depend on the location and kind of stones.
How can I help my dog pass a kidney stone?
Typically, Tracey says, your dog’s vet can recommend medication or kidney-friendly food to help the stones dissolve. According to Clements, if the stone isn’t hurting and isn’t preventing normal urine flow, your veterinarian may choose to simply keep an eye on it.
How do I know if my dog has urinary stones?
- Blood in the urine.
- Straining to urinate.
- Abdominal pain.
- Frequent urination, but only urinating a small amount each time.
- Urinating in odd places.
- Urinating in the house (dogs)
- Urinating outside the litterbox (cats)
- Licking the urinary opening.