Bladder Kidney Stones in Dogs Cats Types Symptoms Diet Treatment

In this article…

1. Threat Rating to the Health of Your Dog or Cat
2. Common Signs, Symptoms of Bladder and Kidney Stones
3. Bladder Crystals and Stones vs. Kidney Crystals and Stones
4. Understanding Crystals and Stones by Type; Cause and Treatment – a Synopsis
5. Understanding PH Levels
6. Inflammatory Diets - Crystal and Stone Forming and Aggravating
7. Prescription Dog and Cat Food for Bladder and Kidney Stones – Health Supporting or Health Threatening?
8. What a Bladder or Kidney Crystal or Stone Diet Should Be Comprised Of and Example Recipes
9. Preventing Renal Issues Including the Formation of Bladder and Kidney Stones

Bladder and Kidney stones are a serious threat to a dog’s and cat’s health and if not treated and resolved can be life threatening...

1.0 Threat Rating to the Health of Your Dog
       or Cat

1.1 When is This Not an Immediate Emergency 
If your dog or cat has either crystals or stones that are not completely blocking the uretha preventing or completely stopping the flow of urine (your dog or cat is still able to urinate) then the condition can normally be treated and remedied with the use of medicines and/or diet. You need to make an appointment to see your veterinarian.

1.2 Make an Appointment As Soon As Possible
 
A dog or cat that strains to urinate (no flow) and then passes a heavy flow of urine may have just passed a stone. You should have you dog or cat examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If you can find the stone keep it and bring it to the veterinarian for analysis.

1.3 This IS an Immediate Emergency – No Time to Wait!
 
If your dog or cat is not able to urinate at all – blockage is complete, this indicates that the urethra is completely plugged. This is a life threatening emergency! You need to get your dog or cat to a veterinary clinic/hospital right away.

• Complete obstruction of the urethra can:
• Cause the urine to back-up into the urinary tract and cause kidney failure;
• Back-up can also cause the bladder to:
• Stretch to the point of rupturing;
• Or damage the bladder’s muscle tone thus creating incontinence.

2.0 Common Signs, Symptoms of Bladder
      and Kidney Stones

2.1 Bladder Stones

2.1.1 Visible Symptoms
Some dogs and cats will not exhibit any outward signs, others may exhibit one or more of the following:

• Blood in the urine also called hematuria (caused by crystals inflaming the lining of the bladder);
• Cloudy or foul smelling urine;
• Frequent urination;
• Increased thirst;
• Excessive licking of the genital area;
• Fever;
• Lethargy;
• Pain when urinating – may cause your dog to cry, yelp;
• Pain in the lower back or bladder area;
• Passing only a few drops of urine at a time;
• Puss in the urine;
• Restlessness;
• Straining to urinate, but often not passing any urine;
• Urinating in places that are not his/her normal place to urinate – noticeable in house-trained dogs;
• Urine may be tinged red or burgundy in colour;
• Urine smells like rotting eggs (sulphur) – may indicate a cystine stone;
• Walking with loins in crouched position.
• As bacteria often resides with the stones, urinary tract infections can also ensue.
• If a stone plugs the ureters – agitation, severe pain and straining – this is an emergency, you need to get to a veterinary clinic right away;
• If blockage occurs depression, vomiting and uremia (kidney also known as renal failure result).

2.2 Kidney Stones

• Kidney stones are less common than bladder stones;
• May cause sudden onset of colic (whimpering, crying);
• Intermittent blood in the urine;
• If a stone plugs the ureters – agitation, severe pain and straining – this is an emergency, you need to get to a veterinary clinic right away.
• If blockage occurs depression, vomiting and uremia (kidney also known as renal failure result).

2.3 Symptoms That Require Testing to be ‘Seen’

• Hypercalcemia – excessive calcium in the blood;
• Hypercalciuria – excessive calcium in the urine;
• Hyperozaluria – excessive oxalate in the urine.

3.0 Bladder Crystals and Stones vs.
      Kidney Crystals and Stones

Bladder crystals and eventually stones usually form when a dog’s or cat’s bladder is not able to empty properly. An inflammatory diet promotes the formation of bladder stones as inflammation can lead to issues with the proper emptying of the bladder. Bladder stones are also known as:

• Urinary tract stone disease;
• Urinary calculus disease (calculis – stone, is the plural of calculi – stones);
• Ureteral stones,
• Ureteral calculi;
• Urinary calculi;
• Urinary stones;
• Urolithiasis, and;
• Struvite.

The type of stone your companion animal has can only be 100% determined upon surgically removing the stone. However your veterinarian may make an educated guess based on:

• Abnormalities revealed by blood test;
• Age;
• Breed;
• Crystal type as seen in urine,
• Presence of infection;
• Sex;
• Urinary pH levels (normal healthy range is: 6 to 6.5, 7 at most);
• And if available, x-ray which may show stones as a white circle. Some stones cannot be seen unless dye is injected into the bladder.

Different stones require different treatments which is why it is important that your veterinarian identify which type of stone your dog or cat has.

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