Medicine is a wonderful science – it can pick up on problems before they become serious! This was the case with Penny, a 10 year old Pomeranian cross, who visited Dr Albert at PETstock VET in Carrum Downs for a sore leg.
Dr Albert decided to x-ray Penny’s leg to check for signs of cruciate ligament damage and happened to notice another problem brewing…Penny had several large stones in her bladder.
Bladder stones are also known as ‘uroliths’, which form when minerals build up in the urine and stick together to form stones. There are several different types of minerals that can form stones, including Struvite, Calcium Oxalate, Cystine, Ammonium Urate and Silica. The different types of stones have different causes and are treated slightly differently.
Very often the minerals will collect around a ‘nidus’ or core of the bacteria. The stones start off small, but they grow bigger the longer they’re left in the bladder. Urine is normally acidic, preventing the formation of crystals but if it becomes too concentrated, or if a bacterial infection occurs, the urine can become alkaline; which increases the risk of bladder stones forming. Also, some dog breeds aren't able to metabolise certain proteins properly, which increases the risk of urolithiasis.
Initially the owner hadn't noticed any signs that Penny had bladder stones, but when Dr Albert discussed it further, he noticed that Penny had been urinating more often than usual. Luckily, Penny did not have any blood in her urine and did not seem to be in any pain or discomfort. Penny had the stones surgically removed and made a full recovery. She is now on a special Urinary diet to help prevent the stones from reforming and she'll need to have regular urine tests every six months to check that the crystals are not forming again. Penny’s leg is also doing much better!
Penny is now on a special Urinary diet to help prevent the stones from reforming and will need to have regular urine tests every six months to check that the crystals are not forming again. Penny’s leg is also doing much better!
Urolithiasis Faqs
What are the risk factors for Urolithiasis?
- Breeds including Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Miniature/Toy Poodle, Dalmatians, Cocker Spaniels
- Older pets
- Overweight pets
- Pets that are not drinking enough water – the urine becomes too concentrated
- Inactive pets that don’t urinate often enough - the urine settles in the bladder
What are the signs of Urolithiasis?
- Frequent urination
- Blood in the urine
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen
- Straining to urinate
Can I have my dog checked for Urolithiasis?
Yes, a quick visit to the vet for a urine test – the vet will look at the urine under the microscope for signs of crystals forming or bacterial infection and test the pH of the urine. Sometimes the crystals are not visible under the microscope and an x-ray is needed.
How is Urolithiasis treated?
- Large stones often need to be removed surgically
- Dog can be placed on a urinary diet, which helps rectify the urine pH and encourages them to drink more water which dilutes the urine and causes more frequent urination
- Antibiotics may be required if there's a urinary infection
- Urinary acidifiers may be used depending on the type of stone present