These Adorable Small Dogs Are Just the Right Size for Your Family
What To Do If Your Dog Has Bladder StonesAsk Dr. Kait
Recently, my brother's six-year-old pug, Ellie, began having accidents in the house. After a few weeks of the onset of what was believed to be behavioral, blood was noticed in one of the puddles on the floor. Ellie was immediately brought in to be evaluated and a bladder stone was the diagnosis. My family had lots of questions regarding Ellie's condition, so since bladder stones are relatively common in dogs, I thought it would be a great topic to cover.
A bladder stone (medically known as Uroliths) forms when minerals in the bladder clump together forming crystals which can range in size from what appears to be grains of sand, gravel, or even golf ball sized stones. In many cases, the bladder is filled with a combination of both stones of various sizes and sand-looking mineral deposits. Owners often want to know what caused this to occur.
The stones can be caused by diets high in certain minerals like calcium, phosphorus, or magnesium. They can also be caused by bacteria from frequent UTI (urinary tract infections). Some bacteria produce enzymes which can contribute to the formation of bladder stones. Dehydration or other medical conditions, such as metabolic disorders can increase the risk of bladder stones. Additionally, certain breeds are predisposed, which includes dalmatians, miniature schnauzers, bulldogs, and Yorkshire terriers. This means these breeds are at a higher risk of developing bladder stones.
Once sharp crystals are present in the bladder, they cause irritation to the bladder wall. In the beginning, when stones are forming, most owners are completely unaware. In this stage, most dogs eat and act normally and do not show any change in behavior other than what appears to be rebellion regarding house training. The sharp crystals can cause frequency in urination and spasms in the bladder which can cause lack of bladder control. Because the pet is acting otherwise normal, owners are frustrated and are not considering a medical cause for the incontinence. As the problem progresses, owners may notice excessive licking at genital area, abdominal pain, blood in urine, a reduced urine stream or even an inability to urinate. It is at this point that most owners bring their pet to see a veterinarian.
Once a physical examination is performed. The veterinarian will perform a urinalysis to check for abnormalities in the urine, blood work to assess the overall health of the pet, an x-ray to see if a stone is present, and in some cases an ultrasound for further imaging of the bladder and urinary tract.
If there are no stones and only crystals are present, the problem has been caught early. In these cases, a prescription dog food will be recommended. The prescription dog food has ingredients to alter the PH of the urine and help to dissolve crystals so they do not form into stones. The prescription diet will be recommended for life because the presence of these crystals will make the pet predisposed to develop larger stones which will require surgical intervention.
In many cases, the problem goes undetected until a stone has developed. In this case, a cystotomy is needed. A cystotomy is when an incision is made in the bladder so that stones can be removed. This is the fastest and most effective way to resolve the problem.
In cases that a pet cannot safely be put under general anesthesia, some specialists may be able to perform a cystoscopy where a camera is placed into the bladder and a catheter may be used to flush out sand-grain sized stones. This can sometimes be done under heavy sedation, but it is much less effective. Another option is laser lithotripsy. In this procedure, a laser is used with the cystoscopy camera to break the stone into tiny pieces. These treatments are not usually successful in male dogs due to the small size of the urethra. They are also not readily available, since it involves specialized equipment and training which most veterinarians do not possess.
Regardless of the technique to remove the stones, the next step is evaluating what type of stone your dog has. This is done by sending a piece of the stone off to the lab to be tested. There are several types of stones which include: struvite, urate, xanthine, cystine, and calcium oxalate. The chemical make up of your dog's stone will determine what type of prescription dog food will be recommended.
The most used foods are Hills C/D, Purina UR/StOX, or Royal Canine Urinary SO. I cannot stress enough the importance of prescription dog food when it comes to preventing future problems. Many owners are non-compliant when it comes to this recommendation because they do not understand the importance of this recommendation. Feeding dogs with a history of bladder stones anything other than prescription dog food greatly increases the risk of future bladder stones developing. This means that dogs with a history of bladder stones should only eat their prescription diet and dog treats that are specifically formulated for urinary issues.
Having your dog diagnosed with bladder stones can be stressful, especially if surgical intervention was needed. By following your veterinarian's recommendation for diet and regular follow-ups, you reduce the risk of future recurrence.
Bladder stones are a condition that can be successfully medically managed. With the correct diet, hydration, and veterinary checkups, your canine companion can live a long and healthy life.
Dr. Kaitlen Lawton-Betchel grew up in Lemoore and is an alumni of West Hills College and Fresno Pacific University. She received her doctoral degree from Midwestern University in Arizona. She practices at Karing for Kreatures Veterinary Hospital in Lemoore.
DiagnosisUrolithiasis
Kahn, C.M. & Line, S. In The Merck Veterinary Manual (Online book). (2003). Http://www.Merckvetmanual.Com/mvm/index.Jsp?Cfile=htm/bc/130412.Htm.
Klurfeld, D.M. Kidney and bladder stones in rodents fed purified diets. J. Nutr. 132(12), 3784 (2002).
Kuhlmann, E.T. & Longnecker, D.S. Urinary calculi in Lewis and Wistar rats. Lab. Anim. Sci. 34(3), 299–302 (1984).
Kunstyr, I., Naumann, S. & Werner, S. Urinary bladder stones in some inbred and hybrid strains of "SPF" rats. Z. Versuchstierkd. 23(3), 181 (1981).
Kunstyr, I., Naumann, S. & Werner, J. Urolithiasis in female inbred SPF rats. Possible predisposition of DA and ACI strains. Z. Versuchstierkd. 24(4), 214–218 (1982).
Paterson, M. Urolithiasis in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Lab. Anim. 13(1), 17–20 (1979).
Bushinsky, D.A. Genetic hypercalciuric stone-forming rats. Curr. Opin. Nephrol. Hypertens. 8(4), 479–488 (1999).
Khan, S.R. & Hackett, R.L. Calcium oxalate urolithiasis in the rat: is it a model for human stone disease? A review of recent literature. Scan. Electron Microsc. Pt 2,: 759–774 (1985).
Linnemann, U., Kuch, P. & Schwille, P.O. Ammonium urate urolithiasis in the rat with portocaval shunt--some aspects of mineral metabolism and urine composition. Urol. Res. 14(6), 319–322 (1986).
Khan, S.R. Animal models of kidney stone formation: an analysis. World J. Urol. 15(4), 236–243 (1997).
Wallach, S.J. & Hart, B.L. The role of the striated penile muscles of the male rat in seminal plug dislodgement and deposition. Physiol. Behav. 31(6), 815–821 (1983).
Ruutu, M. & Lehtonen, T. Urinary tract complications in spinal cord injury patients. Ann. Chir. Gynaecol. 73(6), 325–330 (1984).
Morrisey, J.K. Urinary tract disorders in rabbits and guinea pigs. Exotic Pet Pract. 2(1), 1–2 (1997).
Osborne, C.A. & Lulich, J.P. Risk and protective factors for urolithiasis. What do they mean? Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 29(1), 39–43 (1999).
Linsenmeyer, T.A. & Ottenweller, J. Bladder stones following SCI in the Sprague-Dawley rat. J. Spinal Cord Med. 26(1), 65–68 (2003).
Lee, Y.H. Et al. Determinant role of testosterone in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis in rats. J. Urol. 147(4), 1134–1138 (1992).
Terada, S., Suzuki, N., Uchide, K., Akasofu, K. & Nishida, E. Effect of testosterone on the development of bladder tumors and calculi in female rats. Gyneco. Obstet. Invest. 34(2), 105–110 (1992).
Fan, J., Chandhoke, P.S. & Grampsas, S.A. Role of sex hormones in experimental calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 10 (Suppl 14), S376–S380 (1999).
Iguchi, M., Takamura, C., Umekawa, T., Kurita, T. & Kohri, K. Inhibitory effects of female sex hormones on urinary stone formation in rats. Kidney Int. 56(2), 479–485 (1999).
Matsushita, K. Effect of estrogen on the formation of struvite calculi in female rats. Urol. Int. 39(5), 303–307 (1984).
Comments
Post a Comment