We all know that bladder stones are quite painful in humans, but did you know that dogs and cats can get bladder stones too? So what are the warning signs to look out for and how are bladder stones treated?
What are bladder stones?
Bladder stones (uroliths or urinary calculi) are hard lumps of minerals that can form anywhere in the urinary tract of your pet. They can consist of one large, single stone or multiple smaller stones.
There are several types of bladder stones including struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, calcium phosphate and silicate. The most common stones are struvite and calcium oxalate. Different stones can sometimes require different treatment methods so an evaluation by your veterinarian is necessary to ensure a long-term treatment program.
Common signs of bladder stones in pets
Bladder stones may not cause any symptoms if they are small enough to be naturally passed out of the bladder when your dog or cat urinates. However, more serious and painful signs include:
Blood in the urine
Difficulty or pain during urination
Urinating in small amounts frequently
Urinary accidents
Abdominal discomfort
If your pet is showing any of the above symptoms, please get in touch with us on 03 8784 4444.
Urinary stones can block the flow of urine causing a urinary obstruction. This blocks the bladder and prevents your pet from urinating. This can be extremely painful for your pet. Urinary obstruction is an emergency situation and requires immediate treatment by your vet.
How do bladder stones form?
The over saturation of the urine with crystals is the main reason bladder stones form in dogs and cats. This can occur for a number of reasons. Urinary tract infections are a major reason. Other causes can include dietary influences, current medications and genetics.
How are they diagnosed?
There are several ways to diagnose bladder stones. Some can be felt through the abdominal wall via a physical examination, providing it is not too painful for your pet. However, most bladder stones are visible only through x-rays (radiography) or an ultrasound. In some cases, a special dye will be used to help outline the stones in the bladder before an x-ray is taken.
How are bladder stones treated?
Your vet may recommend a special diet and/or medications to help dissolve the stones. These diets should only be given with direct instruction from a vet and are not intended for long-term use.
If the stones cannot be dissolved, they will need to be surgically removed. Surgery is one of the fastest ways to remove bladder stones, which is critical in emergency situations such as a urinary blockage.
Urohydropropulsion is a non-surgical way to get rid of bladder stones. In such cases a special catheter is inserted into the bladder and used to flush the stones out. This can be performed under sedation, but most often under general anaesthesia.
Can bladder stones be prevented?
Bladder stones that are removed from surgery or passed through urine should be analysed for possible prevention in the future. If your pet is prone to bladder stones, your vet may recommend a special diet to prevent their return. These diets can be formulated for long-term use, unlike the diets used to dissolve stones.
Regular urine tests can also be performed to monitor for signs of reoccurrence.
If you would like more information about bladder stones and your pet please call us on 03 8784 4444.