Dealing with Bladder Stones in Dogs

On a visit to the vet with my schnauzer, Misty, I encountered a Shih Tzu which had no choice but to take a little leak on the clinic's floor.

Bloodied urine was, of course, an unpleasant sight. More so was the little dog, trembling in what must have been extreme discomfort.

Bladder stones can be as serious a problem in canines as they are in humans. They have the same causes and painful effects in both, but are treatable, especially if spotted early.

Effects

‌A dog which has developed bladder stones will likely experience painful obstruction in its urinary tract. This leads to the inability to pass urine and the accumulation of toxic chemicals that will potentially damage its kidneys.

Bladder stones are more common in females than in males, and the latter experiences them more painfully. They are more often found in breeds like the miniature schnauzer, llhasa Apso and the Bishon Frise.

How do bladder stones form?

• There is a sudden increase in minerals when urine has become to acidic or alkaline
• Crystals develop, then amalgamate
• Stones eventually form.

Causes

Bladder stones begin with a sudden increase in minerals. These amalgamate into little crystals and eventually, stones, which gradually increase in size.

When urine is too acidic or alkaline, different stones begin to form. The idea is to keep the ph level fairly neutral by feeding a balanced diet to your dog. Bacterial infections in the urinary tract can also alter the Ph balance of urine and cause crystal, then stone formation.

Dogs which have problems metabolizing and breaking down minerals will also develop stones.

Signs of bladder stones include..

• Painful urination
• bloody urination
• can be felt by a vet

Signs

A dog with bladder or struvite stones may find difficulty urinating because of the pain caused by the stones.

In many cases, dogs may not exhibit any signs of bladder stones at all. They can be felt by a vet if they aren't too painful, but a clearer sign is urine the color of read port wine.

Foods according to Ph Level

Bladder stones in pets

You prevent the occurrence of stones with...

• a diet balanced in Ph
• monitoring the Ph levels of your pets
• cranberries and probiotics

Prevention

A host of preventive measures can be put in place to ensure that stones do not develop.

Identifying the type of stone

Recognizing the type of stone the dog suffers from can help in the prevention of its recurrence. Identifying its nature, whether it's a struvite stone or otherwise, can indicate the likelihood of its recurrence.

Diet

As it does with ours, a dog's body functions optimally at a neutral to slightly alkaline Ph level. Foods too acidic and conversely, to alkaline in content lead to the build up of stones. A diet high in phosphorus, magnesium and protein, which usually lead to the build up of uric acid and stones, should be avoided.

A look at the table provided will show which foods have acidic and alkaline content. The aim should be to feed a diet as at neutral a Ph level as possible.

Meats like chicken and turkey can be fed to your dog, when balanced with alkaline vegetables.in addition, they should avoid a list of foods listed on table I have provided.

Monitoring of Ph levels

Testing strips can be used to monitor a dog's Ph level. They can be placed under a dog's urine stream.

Alternatively, a dog's urine can be collected in a cup and sent for testing occasionally to monitor the Ph level of his diet.

Cranberries and probiotics

Cranberries are good for urinary tract infection. They may not remove stones, but can prevent bacteria from entering the urinary tract and forming new ones.

Probiotics introduce good bacteria that is essential in combating urinary tract infection.

Treatment

A few treatment options are available for treating dogs with bladder stones, though maintaining.a healthy, Ph balanced diet is always the best way to beat recurrence or recurrence of these nasty build ups.

Surgical removal

This option is the most recommended, especially if the re are many big stones. This is achieved via a procedure known as cystotomy, which involves a surgeon making an incision in the wall of the urinary bladder. It will allow him to take a closer look via a cystoscope.

Non surgical removal

A surgeon may suggest a non-invasive method of surgical removal known as urihydropulsion. This is a process where stones are excreted under sedation.
This iprocedure is usually recommended for smaller stones.

Dietary dissolution

The stones can be removed by a special diet formulated to dissolve them. This is different from the diet to maintain a healthy Ph balance.

Conclusion

Stones are dangerous and painful for the bladder, but can be removed.

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Comments

Michelle Liew (author) from Singapore on March 23, 2014:

Thanks, Jo!

Michelle Liew (author) from Singapore on March 23, 2014:

Thanks very much !

Michelle Liew (author) from Singapore on March 18, 2014:

Thanks, DDE!

theBAT on March 17, 2014:

Thank you for sharing this. Are commercially packed dog foods safe enough not to cause bladder stones? I can imagine how uncomfortable it is for dogs to have such disease. Nice hub.

Jo Alexis-Hagues from Lincolnshire, U.K on March 17, 2014:

Ouch...those stones must have caused a lot of pain. It's really hard to see your dog struggling to wee but just can't manage it. Our little Corgi-Jack Russell cross suffered terrible with stones, he travelled to the Grenadines a few years ago with us, at that time there wasn't a permanent vet based on the island so I had to improvise. I fashioned a catheter and drained a lot of fine gravel like small stones from the bladder and was rewarded with the biggest smile. A very useful and informative article, well done as always.

Michelle Liew (author) from Singapore on March 17, 2014:

Thanks, Bill!

Michelle Liew (author) from Singapore on March 17, 2014:

Thanks, Eddy!

Michelle Liew (author) from Singapore on March 17, 2014:

She woods her thanks, Rebecca!

Tammy from USA on March 17, 2014:

Very interesting and helpful. I have a La-Chon so this was very helpful. Thanks for sharing it!

Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on March 17, 2014:

Poor things, I had no idea and without an informed owner what trouble they could be in! Thanks for sharing.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on March 17, 2014:

Very important information for dog owners, Michelle. Thank you!

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on March 17, 2014:

An interesting and well shared hub on bladder stones inside our beloved pets who would have even thought of this happening. The helpful facts enlightened me.

Eiddwen from Wales on March 17, 2014:

interesting an very useful as always Michelle.

Eddy.

Rebecca Mealey from Northeastern Georgia, USA on March 17, 2014:

Very informative! I didn't realize dogs could get bladder stones. Cloudy sure is a cutie!

sujaya venkatesh on March 17, 2014:

on cananing off stones mid