Preface

Bladder stones are also a common disease in daily life, commonly seen in mature or elderly dogs, and rarely seen in puppies. The causes of bladder stones are not very clear, usually related to urinary tract infections, mineral metabolism disorders, and daily diet and other related factors. Mild stones can be improved through catheterization, but if the stones are more severe, surgery is necessary to resolve them.

1、 Cause of illness

In canine bladder stones, small stones are mainly present. The cause of bladder stones is not fully understood, and it is generally believed to be related to urinary tract infections, lesions, mineral metabolism disorders, and changes in urine pH. The center of the stone may be related to the inflammatory response, with bacteria and inflammatory products accumulating in the urine, which can become the core of salt crystal precipitation. Later, if the calcium content in the urine is too high, or if there is insufficient water in summer, the salt concentration in the urine may be too high, leading to the enlargement of the stone. At the same time, if the urine pH value is slightly alkaline, it will promote the form of stones. If the urine retention time is too long, the urea in the urine will be decomposed into ammonia, making the urine alkaline, so that some salts that are difficult to dissolve under alkaline conditions will be precipitated, and salt crystals will precipitate to promote the formation of stones. 

2、 Symptoms

Dogs with urinary stones usually exhibit mental depression, loss of appetite or food cessation, and unwillingness to exercise; The body temperature is generally normal in the early stage, and then increases when symptoms appear. In the later stage, uremia occurs, and the body temperature drops to decease; When the urethra is not completely blocked, sometimes vomiting, unwilling to drink water but having a desire to drink, difficulty, pain, and prolonged urination, frequent but small amount of urine, dripping or linear urine, sometimes hematuria, unconscious urination at night when sleeping, and wet urine in the nest during the day, with a strong ammonia smell in the urine; When the urethra is blocked, vomiting and loss of appetite occur; The abdominal circumference generally does not increase significantly, and there is a feeling of pain when touched. Upon careful examination, a full bladder can be felt. Failure to seek timely treatment can lead to decease due to uremia.

3、 Diagnosis

Usually, a urinary catheter is used for catheterization. If the urine contains white crystals, it indicates the presence of stones.

4、 Treatment

1. Dogs that have not experienced urethral obstruction can be given foods rich in vitamin A, as well as traditional Chinese medicine for stone removal, and plenty of clean water and diuretics. At the same time, attention should be paid to observing urination and clinical symptoms.

Dogs with urethral obstruction or large bladder stones should undergo surgery as soon as possible to remove the stones. However, most surgeries will be performed at the hospital. After the surgery is completed, it is still important to pay attention to daily diet, as stones are a disease that is highly likely to recur and difficult to cure.

5、 Prevention

1. Dog stones are more common in clinical practice. To reduce the occurrence of urinary stones, it is necessary to keep pets without being picky eaters, try to provide them with a place to urinate and defecate indoors, avoid holding urine, and have sufficient clean and hygienic water sources.

2. Early diagnosis should be made in clinical practice, and targeted treatment should be given for suspected cases of stones. Large amounts of intravenous Anti-inflammatories should not be administered, otherwise bladder rupture may occur, leading to the decease of the affected dog.

3. Try to eat dog food as much as possible in daily life, and occasionally feed snacks. Try not to feed the food we eat.

4. Pay attention to moderate exercise in daily life, as dogs are more likely to urinate when going out, which can effectively improve their urinary retention.