Question:
My veterinarian showed
me an x-ray of my Miniature Schnauzer and it shows he has a bunch of bladder
stones! He's only 2 years old and I had no idea the stones were there.
How do they get there and is surgery the only way to get rid of them?
Even the amount of water
consumed
daily will have an effect on the
development and prevention
of bladder stones.
|
Answer:
dog... bladder stones... what
are... what to do about
 What are
bladder stones... You're not alone!
Bladder stones, also called cystic calculi, occur in many breeds of
dogs and cats and come in a variety of types and sizes. If the
developing stones are small enough they will pass out in the urine and
there's no harm done. If they are too big to pass they can cause
chronic cystitis (long term bladder inflammation). As they
increase in size the calculi harbor bacteria, irritate the bladder lining,
and even can cause a serious obstruction to urine flow which, of course,
warrants emergency medical attention!
What causes
bladder stones...
Some breeds are more likely to have kidneys that
generate urine with high levels of dissolved minerals and protein...
Schnauzers, for example. If the urine concentration, acidity (the pH
of the urine), presence of bacteria and protein are such that dissolved
minerals morph into crystals the crystals eventually coalesce into stones.
The bladder wall suffers from physical irritation of the calculi. Once
bladder stones are present, too, there's nearly 100% chance an infection is
present.
What to do
about...
Depending upon the type, size, and numbers of
calculi... and the patient's overall health status, surgical removal can be
a good choice. Some stones can be dissolved gradually through use of
highly specialized therapeutic diets.
Prevention...
After stone removal, long term control of bladder infection and
avoidance of foods that promote crystal formation are important to prevent
reoccurrence. Periodic urine testing will identify urinary tract
infections before stones can develop. |
Doctor's Notes
Dietary
factors play a huge role in development of bladder stones. And
after stone removal, feeding a special diet for the specific stone
really helps prevent reoccurrence.
Check a urine sample!
If at any time your dog or cat seems to have urinary
tract issues, be sure a urine sample is checked by your veterinarian.
What kind of stone is it?
The recovered stone often can be determined visually.
Otherwise, they are sent to a veterinary pathology lab for positive
determination. |
|
Related Question:
I was told that I shouldn't
get a Pekingese because they develop bladder stones. I didn't
even know dogs got bladder stones!
I want a small breed dog so which breed should I
get because I sure don't want one that's going to develop stones!
View all topics
|
Answer:
bladder
stones... breeds predisposed to...
Pekes are not more likely to develop bladder
stones than other breeds; but, since fate usually throws curves at us, if
you
get a Pekingese yours probably will! If you like the breed
get one and then make it a habit to have your veterinarian check a urine
sample at least every 6 months. If crystals show up or the
degree of acidity or alkalinity (pH) is abnormal or if bacteria
are discovered you can correct some predisposing factors before actual
calculi (stones) form.
Some breeds are predisposed to developing bladder
stones... but that does not mean all individuals of that breed will have
this experience. Schnauzers and Pugs seem more likely to develop
struvite stones, Dalmatians are notorious for developing oxalate stones,
cats usually have struvite stones.
No matter what breed you choose, learn all you
can about what problems seem more prevalent in that breed. Then be
proactive in your vigilance to prevent or correct any problems as they
arise. |
|
