Bladder stones are one of the most common diseases that can occur in the urinary tract of dogs. They can have various causes and, in the worst case, can even be life-threatening for the affected animals.
Below you will find out how bladder stones develop in dogs, what symptoms they cause and how they can be treated.
Key facts at a glance
- Bladder stones are mineral crystals that lodge in the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
- Triggers can be infections, poor diet and insufficient fluid intake.
- There are breeds that are very prone to bladder stones.
- If bladder stones are detected early, the chances of recovery are good. In advanced stages, kidney failure can occur.
What are bladder stones?
Urinary stones (Latin: uroliths) are deposits of mineral-containing crystals that can settle in the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Since urinary stones in dogs accumulate in the bladder in particular, they are often referred to as bladder stones.
Urinary stones can come in different sizes and are differentiated based on their composition. If a dog suffers from bladder stones, these are often so-called struvite or calcium oxalate stones. In some cases, however, they can also be ammonium urate or cystine stones, with ammonium urate stones occurring mainly in Dalmatians due to a genetic defect.
Bladder stones in dogs: possible causes
Various factors can contribute to the formation of bladder stones in dogs. They often arise from a combination of several causes. In particular, the following reasons can lead to bladder stones in your dog:
- Too high, unbalanced mineral content in dog food
- Insufficient fluid intake and associated insufficient urine output
- urinary tract infections
- Various diseases, such as liver dysfunction
In addition, there is a genetic predisposition to the formation of urinary stones in some dog breeds. These include the following breeds:
- pug
- basset hound
- dachshund
- Miniature Schnauzer
- bulldog
Symptoms of urinary stones in dogs
Whether the bladder stones in your dog make themselves felt through symptoms depends essentially on their size. Because as long as the urinary stones are still very small, they can usually be excreted with the urine without any problems.
The situation is different, however, when larger bladder stones or several small stones are passed at once. This often leads to a blockage in the urethra, which means your dog can only pass very small amounts of urine. In addition, the urine of affected dogs is often bloody in this case.
For your dog, a urethra blocked by bladder stones is not only associated with severe pain when urinating. Hypersensitivity when palpating his abdomen may indicate that his bladder has a large amount of urine that he cannot pass out.
Bladder stones in dogs: diagnosis and treatment
If your dog’s urethra is blocked by bladder stones, this is life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary treatment. To diagnose urinary stones and determine their size, the veterinarian will examine the urine, take x-rays, and perform an ultrasound scan.
In the case of smaller stones, medication can be used to try to dissolve them. Surgery is always required to remove larger urinary stones. In order to be able to remove the stones, the dog’s bladder must be opened under general anesthesia.
A final X-ray is used to check whether all bladder stones have been removed. In the days after the operation, the dog will be treated with antibiotics and painkillers. In addition, sufficient fluid intake is important, which must be ensured in part with the help of infusions.
Proper nutrition for dogs with bladder stones
In order to avoid the formation of new bladder stones, your dog must in future eat a special diet that has a reduced content of the minerals responsible for the urinary stones. The veterinarian checks which food is the right one based on a laboratory examination of the removed stones. Because depending on what these are composed of, the feed must meet different requirements and, for example, have a low proportion of calcium or magnesium.
The prognosis for urinary stones is not always favorable
Your dog’s chances of recovery after bladder stone removal depend to a large extent on the animal’s general condition. In dogs in particular, where the functionality of the kidneys was already limited in advance, there is a relatively high risk of dying of kidney failure after the operation.
In otherwise healthy dogs, the chances that the procedure will remain without further consequences are usually quite good. For this, however, it is necessary that you adhere to the feed specifications of the veterinarian and have regular check-ups carried out.
Treating dogs with bladder stones is expensive
Treating a dog with bladder stones is expensive. This is especially true if the stones are so large that they cannot be dissolved by administering suitable medication, but must be surgically removed.
In this case, the veterinary costs can add up to a high three-digit or even four-digit amount. And even if no surgery is necessary, you can expect to pay a few hundred euros for the treatment.
covers the treatment costs
You don’t want to worry about the financial consequences of bladder stones or other illnesses in your dog in the future? Then you need dog health insurance that covers most of the treatment costs for you.