The kidneys remove waste products from the body in liquid form. However, sometimes this liquid crystallizes and stones form. Kidney stone disease It is quite rare in dogs.
There are many reasons for the formation of kidney stones in dogs:
Most often, stones are found in the kidneys of middle-aged bitches. Dogs of such breeds as: miniature poodle, miniature schnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, cocker spaniel, bichon.
The very first and alarming symptom is the appearance of blood in the urine and pain when urinating. The dog becomes restless because its kidneys hurt; it arches its back and walks slightly crouched. There may also be diarrhea, vomiting, upset stomach, and frequent urination.
If similar symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a veterinarian and get everything checked. necessary tests. The location of the stones can be detected by X-ray studies. Stones can be located both in the renal pelvis and near the opening of the ureters. The most dangerous situation is when stones block the ureters.
The best method of dealing with kidney stones is to remove them. It can happen different ways. If there is a small stone or sand in the ureter, it is washed out under general anesthesia antiseptic solution using a catheter. In advanced cases, urethrostomy is done - an artificial outlet channel is created.
Cystotomy is even more difficult - abdominal surgery, in which large stones are completely removed. After the outflow of urine has been restored, infusion therapy to relieve intoxication and restore water-electrolyte balance. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out for up to two weeks.
If the disease is detected on initial stage renal colic, then the animal must be given rest and warmth in the kidney area. To prevent the continued formation of stones, the dog's diet is limited in the amount of meat (especially raw) and transferred to a varied dairy diet.
You can give your animal medicinal water mineral water"Essentuki" or "Borjomi". If a lot of sand is found in the urine sediment, magnesium salts are prescribed. Once the dog’s condition has been stabilized, lifelong prevention is mandatory.
For this purpose, a diet () and diuretic herbal mixtures are selected. At natural feeding you need to avoid monotonous products highly enriched with salts (milk, fish, various seafood, mineral supplements, etc.).
Urolithiasis (urolithiasis)– a disease associated with the formation of urinary stones in the kidneys (nephrolitas) or urinary tract (urolitis). Urinary stones can form in both the upper urinary tract (kidneys and ureters) and the lower tract (bladder, urethra). Bladder stones are the most common; kidney stones are quite rare, averaging 5-10%.
Urinary stones vary in their composition and frequency of occurrence. The most common stones consisting of ammonium magnesium phosphate (struvite) - up to 60-70% of all stones, the second most common are calcium oxalate stones (up to 10-20%), more rare are urate stones (consisting of uric acid, sodium urate or ammonium urate), cystine, xanthine and mixed stones. However, for cystine and urate stones, the prevalence is very breed dependent.
The factors that contribute to the crystallization and formation of urolith are diverse and can be divided into external (exogenous) and internal (endogenous). TO external factors may include the feeding conditions of the animal, mineral composition water and its saturation mineral salts. TO internal factors include the animal’s own diseases that contribute to the cause of urolithiasis. For example, hyperparathyroidism, porto-caval shunts, inflammatory processes in genitourinary system, genetically determined metabolic abnormalities. Thus, reliable factors predisposing to the development of urolithiasis include: following reasons– oversaturation of urine with minerals at a certain urine pH; deficiency in the urine of certain factors that stabilize the composition of urine; stagnation of urine and long intervals between bladder emptyings; increased crystalloid loss caused by increased intestinal absorption; an increase in the formation of crystalloids due to the activity of bacteria capable of breaking down urea, which leads to alkalinization of urine.
Struvite urolithiasis- crystals of this composition can form in dogs at any age (usually the average age is 4-6 years). A breed predisposition has been identified in miniature schnauzers; this is believed to be due to a violation of local defense mechanisms in the urinary tract. The risk group also includes breeds such as,. Struvite is much more common in females than in males. These stones are often accompanied by a urinary tract infection and are radiopaque. Urine pH is usually alkaline.
Oxalate urolithiasis– the average age of dogs with this type of stone is 7-8 years, but can occur at any age. Mainly males are affected. A breed predisposition has been noted in miniature schnauzers. Oxalates form in acidic urine and are radiopaque. Promotes of calcium oxalate stone formation include hypercalciuria (eg, due to hyperparathyroidism), hyperoxaluria, hypocitraturia, and defects in crystal growth inhibitors (nephrocalcin). Role bacterial infection in the formation of this type of uroliths is not great.
Urate urolithiasis– crystals of this type are most often formed in Dalmatians, which is caused by a genetic disorder in the metabolism of purines in the body. Average age diseases in this breed are 3.5 years old, but can manifest themselves much earlier. Also, breeds with impaired portal blood flow (congenital porto-systemic shunts) are susceptible to this type of urolithiasis. These are primarily the Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Irish Wolfhound, Australian Shepherd, Maltese, Cairn Terrier. With this pathology, urolithiasis manifests itself mainly before 1 year. It is more common in males with acidic and neutral urine. X-ray contrast is not stable.
Cystine urolithiasis– associated with cystinuria, caused by a genetically determined disorder in the reabsorption of cystine in the renal tubules. Not all dogs with cystinuria form stones. They mainly form in males at the age of 3-5 years (but the first episode can occur between 1, 5 and 3 years). They are practically never found in females. Breeds at risk - dachshund, English bulldog, Yorkshire Terrier, Irish Terrier, Chihuahua. Uroliths usually form in acidic urine. These uroliths are radiopaque.
Clinical manifestations of urolithiasis in dogs depend on the location, size and number of stones. The main symptoms are pollakiuria (frequent urination), dysuria (painful, difficult and frequent urination), hematuria (blood in the urine). Stones displaced into the urethra can cause partial or complete obstruction with the development of postrenal renal failure. Animals with portocaval shunts may have symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy. Stones in upper sections urinary tract can for a long time remain asymptomatic (if there is no ureteral obstruction) further leading to the development.
Diagnosis placed using plain radiography(for radiopaque stones), . In unclear cases, double contrast cystography or excretory urography. General and biochemical tests blood, general analysis urine and tank. urine culture. Unfortunately, a urine test cannot accurately indicate a specific type of stone, since the crystals found in the urine may not correspond to the type of urolith in bladder or kidneys. Also, in the presence of stones, crystalluria may be absent, and vice versa, crystalluria does not yet provide grounds for diagnosing urolithiasis and does not indicate the obligatory presence of stones in the urinary tract. After removing the stones, it is necessary to examine them to make a final diagnosis.
Treatment of urolithiasis in dogs depends on the presence or absence of urethral or ureteral obstruction, and general condition animal. Urethral obstruction is relieved with following methods– retrograde urohydropropulsion (pushing stones from the urethra into the bladder), catheterization of the bladder with a thin catheter, urethrotomy or urethrostomy. Next, the stones are removed from the bladder using a cystotomy. In animals with struvite, urate, and cystine stones, conservative therapy aimed at dissolving the stones may be recommended. The main disadvantage is the duration of treatment (from several weeks to several months). Used to dissolve struvite special diets, formulated to limit protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and maintain urine pH at a certain level, as well as antibiotic therapy (in the presence of a urinary tract infection). In the presence of urates, special diets are also used (with limited proteins and purines), which contribute to the alkalization of urine, xanthine oxidase inhibitors (allopurinol) are used, and in case of porto-caval shunts, their ligation is carried out. For cystine stones, therapeutic diets are also necessary, with protein restrictions affecting urine pH, penicillamine D or alpha-mercapto-propionyl-glycine are used. Oxalate stones are insoluble and must be surgically removed. In order to further prevent oxalate stones, it is also necessary to eliminate the cause of hypercalcemia (if hypercalcemia has been identified). To prevent recurrence of stone formation (both after surgical removal and after conservative therapy) it is necessary to adhere to a therapeutic diet and conduct control examinations of the animal (X-rays, ultrasound, urine tests) at certain intervals.
Unfortunately, few breeders will closely look at how the act of urination occurs in their pet. By the course of the act of urination in an animal, you can tell a lot about its health. For example, this way you can identify stones in a dog’s bladder in a timely manner, without waiting until the uroliths do something serious to the genitourinary system. And the consequences of this pathology, by the way, can be extremely serious. Even cases of death are not so rare.
By the way, where from? After all, anatomically, the presence of these neoplasms in a dog’s body is not provided for in any way! It's simple. Today it is believed that leads to the formation of uroliths increased concentration in the urine of substances that can precipitate due to a combination of some special factors. As a rule, this happens when basic norms and animals are violated: for example, in dogs that have spent their entire lives on a diet of dry food, the development of uroliths is a very likely outcome.
It all starts with the loss of large quantity crystalline sediment directly in the cavity of the organs of the urinary system. Over time, these crystals combine, mixing with the catarrhal secretion synthesized by the walls of the organ, as a result of which larger conglomerates are formed.
There are known cases when real cobblestones, the size of which exceeded eight centimeters in girth, were taken out of the bladder of unfortunate dogs! Considering that these stones do not have rounded edges, one can only imagine how painful this animal was during life...
By the way, the term “bladder stones” is not entirely correct, since Uroliths can form in any part of the urinary system. And, by the way, in many cases their presence in the tubules is much more dangerous. Such neoplasms develop in the kidneys, ureters, urethra and, of course, in the bladder. It is believed that in approximately 85% of cases they end up in the latter. You need to understand that stones in the bladder can be formed from various compounds, and both the clinical picture and the treatment methods used depend on the characteristics of the latter.
So, veterinarians distinguish the following varieties: struvites formed by ammonium phosphorus salts, as well as oxolates and urates. The latter two may include: calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, cystine, ammonium urate and others chemical compounds. In fairness, we note that in “ wildlife“Canonical examples are rare. More often than not, it is difficult to classify a stone as one type, since it is, in fact, a combination of all of the above salts. Because of this, it can be difficult to prescribe treatment, and difficulties arise in identifying “residents” in the bladder.
It is officially believed that predisposition, as such, does not exist. can be detected in dogs of any gender, age, breed. And it’s true: unlike cats, the Himalayan and Burmese breeds of which are noticeably more likely to suffer from stones in the urinary system, no such picture was found in any of the dog varieties.
But still Males, and especially old ones, get sick more often. In addition, in males, the disease in many cases is noticeably more severe. This is due to anatomical features: in females, small stones and sand often come out through the urethra on their own, but in males, due to the presence of an S-shaped curve of the penis, this “garbage” almost always gets stuck in the lumen of the organ. This leads to blockage of the urethra, dysuria (no urine is released), and severe intoxication. Death is possible either due to severe uremia, or due to internal uremia resulting from rupture of the walls of the organ. By the way, even the natural passage of stones from the bladder is fraught with such consequences: along the way, they damage the mucous membranes and tear blood vessels.
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It all starts with a sharp change in the pH level of urine and the level of its saturation with soluble (relatively) salts of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, etc. In the case when both of these factors act simultaneously, deposition of a crystalline precipitate begins. It is important to note here that this process is not chain reaction. If at this moment the diet and feeding conditions are normalized, the dog stops taking any medications(tetracycline, for example, can provoke urolithiasis), then the development of the pathology stops. In many cases, the small amount of sand produced is simply discharged into the external environment with urine.
But, unfortunately, this is not always the case. When a lot of sand accumulates in the cavity of an organ, it begins to greatly irritate and injure its mucous membrane. As a result, the latter secretes an increased volume of mucous secretion. Connecting with it, the sand “rolls” into conglomerates, from which the stones already known to us are formed.
Reasons influencing the appearance of uroliths include: genetic predisposition(not by breed, but by specific breeding line), the concentration of mineral components in the urine, urine pH and the presence of bacterial infections of the genitourinary system. Separately, I would like to dwell on genetics. French veterinarians proved several years ago that some dogs, regardless of their breed and gender, always have increased level mineral components. It is quite natural that the dogs themselves and all their offspring are the logical “lucky ones” who are at risk. It is for this reason that you should be careful when purchasing purebred puppies and check their entire pedigree very carefully.
Bacterial bladder infections (that is, cystitis) play an important role in the process of urolith formation, and there are several explanations for this. Firstly, such diseases lead to an increase in the pH level and its movement into the alkaline zone. This can already cause abundant precipitation of salts, called, in the case when the animal consumes food with low level pH. Normally, urine should have a neutral reaction when the likelihood of developing chemical reaction comes down to zero.
But the presence of bacteria is dangerous not only for this. In particular, waste products of microorganisms themselves can precipitate, stimulating the development of uroliths. In addition, some bacteria synthesize an enzyme called urease. This connection, if you don’t go into details organic chemistry, simply breaks urine into its constituent components. Ammonia slowly turns into ammonium ions, while carbon dioxide combines with other components to form phosphates. Then, thanks to a chain of chemical reactions, magnesium, which is always present in the urine, combines with ammonium and phosphates. This is exactly how the same struvites are formed, which we already wrote about above.
Remember! An inflammatory reaction resulting from the action pathogenic microflora, promotes a sharp increase in the volume of mucous secretion. And, as we already know, it is an important “building” element of stones in the genitourinary system of an animal.
How to understand that your pet has some problems with the urinary organs? It's simple. As a rule, in such cases, blood appears in the animal’s urine. This phenomenon is called. This pathology develops because the sharp and uneven edges of uroliths tear and injure the mucous membrane of the organ. But hematuria rarely appears on its own: most often it is accompanied by a severe pain reaction.
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The dog howls, whines, rolls on its back. IN severe cases, when stones completely block the lumen of the urethra, urine accumulating in the cavity of the bladder literally “swells” the organ. Since the volume of an organ in a dog (especially a large one) can be decent, it is quite easy to notice a change in the animal’s figure. Looking at the male with urolithiasis, you can suspect his pregnancy: the dog begins to look like a pear.
When the owner tries to touch his belly, the pet may begin to behave inappropriately, since any touch can cause him severe pain. If you observe this in your dog, take him to the vet immediately. Further delay threatens bladder rupture and death from generalized internal bleeding.
Enough characteristic feature urolithiasis is the dog’s desire to “make a puddle” anywhere and at any time. Such animals constantly strain, trying to squeeze out at least a drop of urine, but they rarely succeed. During a walk, the dog constantly freezes for a long time, strains, wheezes and howls. Often, animals begin to constantly lick the genital area so that the fur in these places completely sticks together from saliva. In rare cases, the symptoms of urolithiasis are blurred or do not appear at all. This only happens when the stones do not have sharp edges, and their presence in the animal’s bladder does not interfere in any way.
As a rule, when making a diagnosis it is used radiographic examination abdominal cavity and directly to the bladder. In most cases, the stones are clearly visible in the photographs. Problems begin if the tumor consists of substances through which X-rays pass freely, as a result of which nothing remains in the photographs. In this case, there are two options: either use contrast radiography, when a contrast solution is injected into the cavity of the bladder before the “filming”, or ultrasonography. After identifying the stones, you need to decide what to do next with the animal.
In most cases, removal of bladder stones is only possible through surgery. The operation is called "cystotomy", which literally means “opening the bladder.” In this case, the animal is given full anesthesia, access to the organ is gained through an incision in the abdominal cavity, it is removed, and the urine is sucked out through a catheter. Afterwards, an incision is made, the stones are removed, and the bladder cavity is washed with sterile solutions to remove the smallest particles of uroliths.
Urine, by the way, with this technique is collected for additional research, including seeding of material on nutrient media. After the intervention, the bladder wall is sutured.
As a rule, the operation is easy, the dog is prescribed antibiotics wide range actions, and after a day in the clinic she is sent home. Stones removed from the organ are subjected to chemical analysis in order to prevent their occurrence later by adjusting the pet’s diet.
Sometimes a method known as "Urohydropropulsion" is used. The title can be translated as "pushing" stones. In this case, the dog is given local anesthesia, and its bladder is filled with sterile fluid through a catheter. saline solution. The animal is fixed in the pen, located in vertical position and the veterinarian, squeezing the bladder, pressing on the pet’s stomach, literally “squeezes out” the stones. But this technique is allowed only in cases where the uroliths are really small and are guaranteed to pass through the lumen of the urethra and/or catheter.
Sometimes none of these methods can be used in their “pure” form. For example, the dog is old (or simply weak), surgery is contraindicated for him, but the stones are too large and it is impossible to remove them through the urethra. In such cases, they can be used ultrasonic crushing. The stones are crushed into sand, and then washed using the method described in the tower. Unfortunately, some types of uroliths do not respond well to ultrasonic crushing, and in such situations it is necessary to find other methods.
Urolithiasis disease in dogs it occurs in fifteen cases out of a hundred, and is a common problem in many breeds. The essence of the disease is simple: the dog’s bladder fills with stones different sizes, which block the urinary canals, causing terrible pain. Symptoms of ICD begin with difficulty urinating and then progress. The treatment is positive and brings significant relief. The most important thing is not to progress the disease to such an extent that the dog painfully tries to survive.
With urolithiasis, stones can form in any part of the excretory system: kidneys, bladder, canals. Stones are formed as a result of accumulation certain substances, subsequent hardening, crystallization. Normally, urine is approximately neutral. The disease displaces pH value to the acidic and alkaline side. Minor chemical displacement results in the formation of fine sand, which is usually discharged to the outside on its own. Sometimes noted discomfort when passing solid particles, but overall the dog’s condition remains satisfactory.
The following types of stones may form:
One animal may have several types of stones. Therapeutic procedures are complicated by the selection of different treatment regimens to eliminate each type of urolith. Urolite – urinary stone. The danger of finding stones inside an organ cavity is as follows. Stones, passing through the urinary canals, scratch the walls of blood vessels, and the animal feels severe pain. Particularly large stones can get stuck and clog the lumen of the canal. Then urine will accumulate in the dog’s body, poisoning the body with toxins. The blockage can result in rupture of the canal walls, leakage of fluid into the abdominal cavity. Remove the formed stones yourself folk remedies unreal. It is permissible to use non-medicinal products for early stages, for the speedy removal of sand. But stones pose too serious a threat to a dog’s health to joke or self-medicate.
A serious disease requires a serious approach; many veterinarians have been studying the causes and factors leading to urolithiasis for years. It was possible to establish the following patterns:
Usually a combination of several reasons leads to urolithiasis. Such a combined effect is especially dangerous in predisposed individuals. Although other breeds also have certain problems, the risk of the disease increases sharply if there are problems with keeping and walking the dog. Minor little things and mistakes of owners inevitably lead to development various ailments. Most of similar diseases lies in wait for pets at the end of their lives.
The initial change in urine structure usually goes unnoticed. The dog changes when stone formation has already occurred. It is possible to prevent the dangerous development of the disease if the owners regularly undergo preventive examinations at a veterinary clinic. An ultrasound will help to identify the beginnings in a timely manner future problem. Do not neglect a visit to the doctor if your dog is at risk!
The following irrefutable evidence of stone formation is observed:
Blockage of the canals poses a threat to the dog's life, so observation similar symptoms a signal to the owner about the need to take urgent action. Primary changes in the urine should alert the attentive owner: the liquid begins to smell unpleasant, and a periodic decrease in the volume of urine excreted is observed. In general, urolithiasis is characterized by a long course. Animals live for years, experiencing temporary difficulties in the excretory sphere; the manifestation of symptoms is secretive.
It is based on three successive steps: urine testing for biochemistry, ultrasound examination abdominal cavity, radiography. Then, based on the available laboratory data, the type of urolithiasis is determined. It is important to establish the nature of the stones in order to prescribe effective treatment. Thoughtless use of medications will cause significant damage to the dog's health. So always try to get, to see full picture ongoing processes.
It is also mandatory to carry out comprehensive examination to exclude the presence of bacterial infections, assess the dog’s condition.
An emergency condition of urinary canal blockage is eliminated by inserting a catheter and removing urine. Then veterinarian uses anti-spasm medications and anti-inflammatory medications. If the x-ray shows too much stone filling of the lumen of the bladder and canals, it may be necessary to surgical removal accumulated stones.
The goal of therapy is to dissolve the formations and remove the crystals naturally.
The first months of treatment regularly urine testing for concentrations of substances is required. This action will allow you to notice the deterioration of your condition in time and avoid possible complications. If classical treatment does not produce results, a method is used to remove part of the dog’s excretory tract. Permanent blockage of the canals is cured by widening part of the urinary canaliculi.
It is important to follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor. Believe me, short-term improvement in your condition will return a hundredfold if you follow these recommendations. Preventive medicines should be used if there is a risk of urolithiasis. It is also important to comply general rules keeping dogs to avoid even a possible hint of the development of the disease.
Includes compliance simple rules healthy dog:
Compliance with these rules will help maintain your dog’s health for a long time. long years. Health to your pets!
Bladder stones in dogs are a fairly common pathology diagnosed in pets. Identify it yourself initial stage The dog owner will not be able to form stones. As a rule, the appearance of typical symptoms, provoking changes in the behavior of the animal, is characteristic of the later stages. But the disease, subject to treatment veterinary clinic, is treated quite successfully.
Most often, stones form in the cavity of the bladder, somewhat less often in the kidneys.
The photo shows stones that have formed in a dog's bladder.
The main reasons for the development of the disease include:
ICD can also be caused by improper feeding of the dog. The dog's diet must be balanced; when preparing the diet, the characteristics of the breed should be taken into account.
Different types of stones, differing in composition, can form in a dog's bladder. In most cases, the composition of stones is represented by crystals of ammonia and magnesium phosphate. They are called struvites and are formed as a result of a previous bladder infection.
The next type of stones is urates. Their composition is represented by crystals of uric acid. Such stones are formed as a result of metabolic disorders. They are most often found in bulldogs and, since these breeds are predisposed to them at the genetic level.
With urolithiasis, urate, struvite or silicon stones can form in the dog's bladder. The third type of stones contains cystine (or calcium oxalate). Next on the list are silicon stones. They are typical for.
The presence of stones can be confirmed/refuted using radiology, ultrasound or intravenous pyelography.
Veterinarians are of the opinion that there is no predisposition to the disease as such. The pathology is diagnosed in dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages. But still, older males get sick somewhat more often than young dogs.
At the same time, the disease itself is much more severe than in females. This is explained by differences in anatomical structure urinary tract. In bitches, small stones and sand pass freely through the lumen of the urethra. But in males they can be delayed, which is due to the presence of an S-shaped curve of the penis. This causes blockage of the lumen of the urethra and the inability to remove urine, as well as significant intoxication of the body.
Important. Against the background of this condition, the dog may die as a result of the development of internal bleeding due to a ruptured bladder.
If you take action early in the development of the disease, the formation of stones can be prevented. The impetus for the development of the disease is a change in the pH level of urine and its saturation with conditionally soluble salts. And when these two provoking factors “meet”, the reaction of precipitation of salt crystals begins.
But it is worth noting that this process is reversible. If at this moment we exclude provoking factors - normalize the dog’s diet, stop taking certain medications - then the development of the disease can be stopped. The resulting sand will be removed naturally.
But this is an ideal development. In reality, everything looks a little different. Sand accumulated in the cavity of the bladder begins to injure and irritate the mucous surface. To which the bladder “responds” with the active production of mucus, which acts as glue: grains gather together, forming a stone of a certain size.
Plays an important role in the development of pathology. The reasons are the peculiarities of the course of the disease, in particular, an increase in the pH level of urine and its mixing with alkaline index. This provokes the precipitation of large amounts of ammonia salts and magnesium phosphate, the basis of struvite.
Important. Normally, the pH level of urine in dogs is neutral, which almost completely eliminates the development of a chemical reaction and the deposition of salt crystals.
It is important to remember that existing inflammation causes increased production of mucous secretion. It is he who collects salt crystals into a single formation.
Signs of illness when the animal’s condition worsens cannot be missed. First of all, the animal owner notices blood impurities in the urine. The reason for this is the presence of sharp edges in the stones, which injure the walls of the bladder until it completely ruptures.
With urolithiasis, blood appears in the dog’s urine due to injury to the bladder mucosa. The condition is accompanied by severe pain syndrome: The dog howls pitifully, whines, and can roll on the floor in pain.
When complete blockade urethra, urine accumulating in the bladder causes a significant enlargement of the bladder, which cannot be missed. The dog literally becomes bloated, and when trying to touch the stomach, the dog begins to react inappropriately. The reason for this is severe pain. If you don’t provide the dog with qualified medical care, then the animal may die from organ rupture and accompanying severe internal bleeding.
A typical sign of ICD is the dog's desire to constantly pee. The explanation for this is simple: an irritated bladder requires release. When trying to urinate, the dog may even howl due to severe pain, but at the same time he cannot squeeze out a single drop.
Important. IN in rare cases the disease is asymptomatic, since the stones do not have sharp edges.
When making a diagnosis, the main role is played by radiography of the abdominal cavity and the bladder itself. As a rule, stones are visible quite clearly in the photographs.
On x-ray stones formed in the bladder cavity are clearly visible. Difficulties in diagnosis are stones consisting of salts that transmit x-rays. In this case, the stones are not reflected in the photographs. To determine the type and size of the stone, either an X-ray using contrast or an ultrasound examination is performed.
Treatment of pathology in most cases initially involves surgical intervention, since it is rarely possible to dissolve stones by taking medications.
To remove stones from the bladder cavity, the dog is prescribed a cystotomy procedure. The animal is completely immobilized and pain-free. Then an incision is made in his abdomen and, after gaining access to the bladder, urine is pumped out of it. Next step– removal of stones directly from the organ. After this, the walls of the bladder are sutured.
After surgery, the dog is prescribed antibiotics. The caudate patient is allowed to go home after 24 hours if the intervention is not accompanied by complications.
Important. The extracted stones are subjected to chemical analysis, which allows the dog owner to adjust the pet’s diet.
Expulsion of stones from the bladder is carried out only if the stones are small. The second technique is Urohydropropulsion, translated as “pushing out stones”:
The technique is practiced when stones are small in size - they can definitely pass through the lumen of the urethral canal.
If the animal is already old and may not undergo surgery, it is prescribed ultrasonic crushing of stones. Then the resulting sand is washed out artificially by injecting saline into the bladder.
Diet is one of the ways to treat pathology. But it is practiced only if the stones are small in size and do not interfere with the dog’s normal lifestyle.
Specialized nutrition is aimed at dissolving already formed stones. Diets prepared by veterinarians can help completely eliminate stones of any size, but this will take quite a lot of time: 60 – 150 days.
Important. Therapeutic diets cannot be used to prevent stone formation as it contains a minimal amount nutrients and microelements.
The technique will be contraindicated in the presence of the following diseases:
Following a diet can provoke an exacerbation of chronic conditions.
After finishing the diet, the animal is prescribed a repeat x-ray or ultrasound examination to evaluate the results of the diet therapy.
If the bladder stones are very small, the dog is prescribed the Urinary diet. If the stones have been dissolved, then the dog can be transferred to its usual diet. But it is best to use specialized or Purina for feeding. Manufacturers offer a huge selection of fully balanced therapeutic nutrition for dogs, which allows you to feed your pet with them for quite a long time.
If the dog owner does not have the opportunity to switch to specialized food, then the dog’s diet must be enriched with vitamin C and dl-methionine. This promotes the dissolution of formed struvites and other types of stones.
It is also necessary to consult with a veterinarian so that he can help create an appropriate menu. And throughout the entire period of treatment for ICD, the dog should receive only these dishes, without exception. Otherwise, it is impossible to obtain the expected therapeutic result.
The dog must have free access to clean water. It must be boiled and settled. But animals are extremely reluctant to drink, and to increase fluid intake, it is recommended to give chicken broth.
A dog suffering from urolithiasis must drink enough. The main types of stones and methods of treatment:
| Types of stones | pH level of urine | Initial treatment | Diet therapy | Prevention of relapse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Struvite | Alkaline | The bacterial infection is being treated. If large stones are present, surgery is prescribed. | Nutrition medicinal feeds Royal Canin and Purina. | Royal Canin Control Royal Canin Urinary |
| Oxalates | Sour | Surgical removal | Royal Canin or Purina | |
| Urats | Sour | Surgical removal | Feeds that help alkalize urine |
It is important to remember the following: dogs that receive only dry food almost always suffer from bladder stones by the eighth year of life.
Bladder stones are a very dangerous disease for dogs. Treatment with folk remedies is completely unacceptable, since it can lead to deterioration and death of the pet. If symptoms typical of ICD appear, the dog should be shown to a veterinarian, who will select therapy appropriate to the current condition.
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