Bladder Stones (Urolithiasis)

Overview:

The formation of stones in dogs and cats is very common. There are 5 different types of stones that can develop and many factors determine which stone your pet may have. Microscopic crystals will form first in the urine and become larger until they are visible stones. Stones (uroliths) can block the urinary tract, not allowing your pet to urinate.

Causes:

Many factors can contribute to stone formation, and some of them may be unavoidable. The way your pet metabolizes calcium or phosphorus can encourage crystals to form in the urine. A diet that produces either an acidic or alkaline urine can predispose a pet to form crystals. Chronic bladder infections and even liver shunts have been proven crystal formers. In most cases, a concentrated urine is a major contributor.

Symptoms:

In most cases, a pet will act like he/she has a urinary infection: frequent urination, drinking more, bloody urine, squatting with no urine production, crying in the litter box. If the urinary system has become blocked, the pet will become quite ill: vomiting, lethargy, collapse, even death.

Treatment:

If the pet has indeed become blocked, immediate surgery may be indicated. Sometimes the stone can be flushed back into the bladder, but surgery to remove the stone from the bladder is still indicated.If the doctor detects crystals only (no stone formation yet), antibiotics and a special diet will probably be prescribed. When the urine is rechecked and considered clear, the patient may not need any further treatment. If there are still crystals present, a special diet may be needed long-term, if not for life.If the pet is diagnosed with uroliths, surgery is indicated to remove them. Once they are removed, they can be tested to determine which type of stone they are. This is important since different factors cause different stone formation. These pets are generally on a special diet for life and sometimes require urine acidifiers or alkalinizers.Certain urinary stones can be dissolved using diet only. This can be an option for patients that can not undergo anesthesia or for owners that can not afford the surgery. There is a risk with allowing dissolution and surgery is always recommended. Ask the veterinarian if your pet has the type of stone that can be dissolved; if not, surgery is a must.All pets with a potential to form stones should always have abundant fresh water available. Concentrated urine is a major factor in stone formation. Sometimes adding ice cubes or providing filtered water can encourage the pet to drink more. Remember that diet and how the pet metabolizes certain foods can cause stones to form, so feeding table food or any other diet is contraindicated.