What is Bladder Stones in Dogs?
Bladder Stones in pets is an illness that needs to be carefully observed and treated in order to offer your furry pal as many healthful years as possible.
Bladder stones are stone-like formations of minerals that grow in a dog's urinary bladder. The size and amount of bladder stones may vary - they could be big, a single stone or a cluster of stones that fluctuate in size from sand-like grains to gravel. FOr dogs with bladder stones, it is common for them to have a combination of both small sized stones and big size stones.
More info about the early signs of bladder stones and what are the causes of bladder stones and treatments for bladder stones in dogs can be found on this post.
Symptoms of Bladder Stones in Dogs
Bladder Stones can cause visible changes in your dog’s wellbeing and behaviour. There are several early signs and symptoms of bladder stones which you can see in your pet. We have listed some of the common bladder stones symptoms in dogs, below.
- Straining to Urinate
- Bloody Urine
- Abdominal Pain
- Frequent Urination
- Accidents Inside your Home
Disclaimer: The information presented in this web page is designed to help inform you regarding bladder stones. It is not meant to replace the veterinary diagnosis or treatment for bladder stones. If you have any concerns or questions about your pet’s health or possible symptoms, be sure to get in touch with and consult with your veterinarian right away.
The Main Causes of Bladder Stones in Dogs
To recognize and treat bladder stones in dogs, we need to understand the underlying causes of bladder stones in dogs. This can help a pet owner prevent bladder stones happening in the first place or again.
There are various causes of bladder stones in dogs:
- Increased or higher levels of minerals in the urine that enable precipitation and supersaturation of crystals
- Bacterial infections that develop in the bladder
- Abnormal metabolism of minerals
Diagnosing Bladder Stones in Dogs
Nobody understands your pup better than you do and hence it is important that your pet be checked properly by a veterinarian at least once a year.
Bladder stones can be detected by a radiographic contrast study (special X-ray technique) or an ultrasound examination. If your dog is showing signs of abdominal pain and bladder stone symptoms, you should take them to your local vet to get these diagnostic imaging techniques done.
Contact your local vet to find out more about the treatments for bladder stones in dogs.
Preventing Bladder Stones in Dogs
Stopping bladder stones in dogs is always better than treating it, therefore let’s explore ways to prevent bladder stones in dogs rather than treating it.
To not to look weak or susceptible to predators, the natural survival impulses make dogs hide illnesses. This implies extensive physical examinations by a certified veterinarian are important to keep your family pets healthy. Typically, blood and urine tests performed by your veterinarian are required to get the complete understanding of your pet’s health. These preventive checks actions will identify any illness sooner making treatment more effective and less expensive and, more notably, will help your dog live a longer, much healthier life.
If you want to reduce the risks or prevent recurrence of bladder stones in your dog, your vet must know why or how the bladder stones have formed and the what the mineral content is.
Generally, a prescription diet is the first step in preventing recurrence. After the stones have dissolved or been surgically removed, then most bladder stones can be prevented with a prescription diet from a professional vet.
If your dog has ever had bladder stone issues, you should be taking the, to your vet for regular examinations to make sure they are not developing again. This will usually consist of urine analysis and persistent ultrasounds or radiographs.
Treatment for Bladder Stones in Dogs
Generally, there are 3 ways to treat dog baldder stones, surgical removal, non-surgical removal through urohydropropulsion, and dietary dissolution.
Surgical removal: This is usually the fastest way to treat bladder stones. Although, it can be an issue for dogs that have other health problems or dogs who may be at risk when under general anesthesia.
Urohydropropulsion: This treatment can be used when the bladder stones are very small where the vet is able to pass a special catherta into the bladder to help flush out the stones.
Surgical removal: This is a great choice if you want to avoid surgery, where a special diet can help dissolve the bladder stones. However, it has a few disadvantages - it can be hard to follow, it is not successful for all types of stones, and it is a slow process that may take upto several weeks or a couple months.
Contact your veterinarian to understand more about the treatments for bladder stones in dogs.