If so, continue reading if you’re facing a financial bill that might be just out of your price range. This article aims to give comprehensive details on bladder stones in dogs, as well as strategies for lowering surgical costs.
A dog can be susceptible to certain health issues, just like humans. Did you know that dogs can develop urinary bladder stones? Most pet owners are aware of ear infections, allergies, parasites, and dental disease in their animals.
Bladder stones are solid, rock-like mineral formations that form in the bladder. They are also known as cystic calculi or uroliths.
The stones range in size from sand grains to large stones, and it’s common to find a mixture of sizes.
There is no connection between them and other types of stones, such as kidney or gall stones. They are comparable in that each one is brought on by bacteria that cause infection.
Unfortunately for our dogs, bladder stones can be quite painful. They can sometimes be treated with an antibiotic course and prescribed diet. Cases involving large stones usually require surgery.
Bladder stones are caused by internal and external factors. Dogs normally have slightly acidic urine. It has waste materials that the body typically eliminates through urination.
There typically isn’t a problem if the dog’s urine is still acidic. However, bladder stones may form if the urine becomes overly concentrated or alkaline.
The following are some of the most typical ailments or causes of bladder stone development:
Many pet owners are unaware that our furry friends can develop different types of bladder stones. The most typical types and their definitions are listed below.
Dogs frequently develop struvite bladder stones, also known as magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate. This type of stone is, essentially, a hard mineral deposit. In general, they frequently appear as urine crystals without posing any issues.
The exact reason why these kinds of stones develop is not well understood. One theory suggests that an increase in dietary oxalate along with the normal rise in urinary calcium concentration may be the cause of these stones.
It is believed that urate bladder stones are caused by a genetic anomaly. This anomaly interferes with the metabolism of uric acid.
Dogs with liver disease may also develop urea bladder stones. Fortunately, only about 5% of canine bladder stones are urate stones.
The following signs and symptoms may appear in dogs with bladder stones, but not necessarily. Be aware that your dog might not exhibit each sign on the list. In fact, the following list could indicate additional urinary tract issues.
Get your dog to a vet right away if they exhibit any significant bladder stone symptoms or if you suspect they may have bladder stones. If the veterinarian thinks the animal may have bladder stones, he or she may do or ask for the following:
Bladder stones can occasionally be felt with the fingers. It might be challenging or impossible to reliably palpate an overweight dog. Normally, this is performed across the dog’s abdominal wall.
Sometimes the stones are too small or the pain of the dog is too great to carry out this straightforward procedure.
Sometimes bladder stones can be found using an ultrasound (sonography). High-frequency sound waves are used in this painless procedure to take pictures inside the body.
A urine culture or blood test may also be used to identify the presence of bladder stones.
Depending on the size and severity of your dog’s bladder stones, there are various treatment options available.
Dietary dissolution is one of the least invasive procedures for removing bladder stones. To accomplish this, a special diet will assist in the breakdown of bladder stones in your dog.
This procedure can help to avoid surgery. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on every type of stone. In addition, it can be a lengthy process. A strict therapeutic diet must be followed.
Through this procedure, small stones can be removed from the bladder by passing them through a urinary catheter.
General anesthesia is often used in conjunction with heavy sedation. Sadly, this method is ineffective for flushing out large stones from the dog’s body.
Your dog may only have the option of invasive and costly surgery to remove bladder stones. This is especially true if they have large stones.
Most veterinarians are capable of performing bladder stone surgery, which is frequently the quickest method of treating urinary bladder stones. Dogs with underlying health conditions may not be good candidates.
Not every dog is a good candidate for surgery. If that describes your dog, you might be in for a steep bill. Of course, we give our pets the best care possible, but wouldn’t you prefer to reduce that expense if you could?
How much does bladder stone treatment cost for a dog?
The veterinarian will likely conduct a number of tests, such as a urinalysis, radiography, ultrasound, and/or bloodwork, to determine whether your dog has bladder stones. A dog urinalysis may cost between $65 and $175, whereas an x-ray may cost between $50 and $200, depending on the number of shots given. Last but not least, if an ultrasound is done, this can cost an additional $250 to $500. To confirm the dog has bladder stones, the cost of the diagnosis alone can range from $365 to $850. Bloodwork, which is frequently advised for dogs older than seven, can cost an additional $100 or so, but it is only done before surgery to determine whether the dog is healthy enough for it.
Now, the veterinarian will choose the most appropriate course of action for treatment if the tests reveal that the dog has bladder stones. The price of treating these bladder stones will vary depending on the chosen course of action, your veterinarian, what services are included in the bill, how big your dog is, and your geographic location. A combination of dietary management and medication, an urohydropropulsion, surgery, or laser lithotripsy are all possible treatments. The size and number of bladder stones will determine the exact course of treatment. We divided the averages by different treatment approaches in the table below:
| Treatment Option | When Prescribed | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription Dog Food/Medicine | Prescription dog food will often be the number one option as long as the bladder stones are manageable. This prescription-based dog food will be specially formulated to dissolve the crystals along with antibiotics to treat a urinary infection if present. Even after the bladder stones are gone, your vet may recommend your dog stays on the prescription-based food for life. | $40~ per 8-pound bag + $5~ for 30 Amoxicillin tablets |
| Urohydropropulsion | This technique may be used if the stones are smaller and are dislodged in the urethra. During this procedure, a urinary catheter, while the dog is sedated, will flush the bladder with a sterile saline solution. | $375 to $800 |
| Laser lithotripsy | Not commonly found at many veterinarian offices, this treatment, guided by a laser, breaks up the stones in order for them to be passed naturally. As compared to the other surgical methods listed here, this process is less evasive and has a faster recovery time. | $1,000 to $1,500 |
| Surgery (cystotomy) | Surgery, usually the last resort, will only be recommended if the dog food and/or diet plan is not working according to plan and/or if the stones are too large to pass naturally. Known as a cystotomy, a surgical opening is created in the wall of the urinary bladder while the dog is anesthetized. | $700 to $1,700 total |
A member of this ThePetsForums.com forum thread asked if a total cost of $1,600 to $2,300 is a fair price for bladder stone surgery, and according to one response from a member who did work with a dog rescue, she claimed the bill, at a minimum, will often be in the $1,500 to $2,000 range.
At the PitbullForum.com, one member was quoted $1,100 for a cystotomy, with $500 already invested in the diagnostics, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and ultrasound.
Your veterinarian will ask you to bring your dog in for several visits even after starting any treatment plan so they can perform a urinalysis to make sure crystals are not forming. As previously stated, each urinalysis can add an extra $65 to $175 to the bill, but occasionally your veterinarian will include these follow-up visits in their surgical quote.
As shown in the aforementioned table, there is a good chance that your dog will require a prescription-based dog food for the rest of its life. If so, budget more money for the dog food and extra trips to the veterinarian for the prescription.
Anesthesia and/or sedation may be billed as an additional expense by your veterinarian depending on their billing procedures.
The symptoms of bladder stones in dogs
The biggest red flag is often frequent bladder infections
The dog is straining when urinating
There is blood in the urine
The urine has a unique/foul smell
You notice your dog is producing significantly less urine than usual or significantly more urine than usual.
The dog may vomit, exhibit a lack of appetite, or not seem as energetic as usual if the crystals found their way into the urethra and may have caused an obstruction.
A number of canine complications are treated and diagnosed with cystotomy in dogs. Some dog breeds, particularly Dalmatians with bladder stones, are particularly prone to developing bladder conditions. All Dalmatians are born unable to transform uric acid into urine, or allantoin acid. Bladder stones are calcified formations known as urolithiasis that result from an imbalance in the pH levels between acid and basic caused by the high concentration of acid in the bladder.
A canine cystotomy is a surgical procedure in which a hole is made in the urinary bladder wall. This kind of procedure is used to diagnose issues that other diagnostic tests did not reveal as well as to treat a variety of canine conditions. A dog’s cystotomy may be performed by a veterinarian to obtain a biopsy, carry out an exploratory procedure, or to treat a known issue like a tumor, bladder stones, or urethral obstructions. The entire procedure typically takes 45 to an hour, and the patient will stay in the hospital for two to three days following the procedure.
Hello, my male dachshund mix dog (approximately 8 years old) recently underwent a cystotomy for bladder stones. He has always had struvite crystals and alkaline urine (without infection), and now “many” stones have been found on ultrasound. My dog was completely incontinent and constantly leaking urine when I just went to see him in the hospital 24 hours after surgery. The vet who handled his case today was extremely rude and wouldn’t respond to any questions, so I’m wondering if this is normal and how long I should anticipate this to last when I bring him home.
The dog will spend some time in the hospital following a cystotomy procedure for monitoring and to continue receiving fluids. Canines who have undergone a cystotomy frequently pass blood clots through their urine, so the patient won’t be allowed to go home until the clots have been reduced. Opioids will be used to manage pain immediately after surgery, but NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) should be continued at home for 3-5 days. The patient should drink more water than usual at home to maintain hydration and to regularly flush the bladder.
FAQ
How much does bladder stone surgery cost?
Purchase a Bladder Stone Removal (Litholapaxy) (in office) today on MDsave to learn how much it costs. Costs range from $966 to $1,589. Those who purchase their procedure upfront through MDsave can save money if they have high deductible health plans or don’t have insurance.
How successful is bladder stone surgery on dogs?
Even with medical treatment, calcium oxalate stones can return, and up to 40% of dogs will experience a recurrence within a year. Additionally, studies have revealed that 20% of surgeries to remove all stones fail, and that 9 4% of recurrent stones are suture-induced.
Can a dog live with bladder stones?
If you believe your dog may have a bladder stone, you should call your veterinarian right away. Bladder stones in dogs can result in frequent urinary tract infections, pain, and blockages, which can be fatal if left untreated.
Is surgery necessary for bladder stones in dogs?
The most typical course of treatment for bladder stones in animals is surgery. Surgery may be the best choice, especially if your dog has a lot of bladder stones, is obstructed, or is at risk for an obstruction. Additionally, surgery is among the quickest methods for removing bladder stones, which is essential in emergency situations.