Urinary Bladder Stones in Dogs By Kelly Marshall At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Just as humans, dogs are prone to suffer with urinary bladder stones. Bladder stones, or uroliths in dogs is very common and it causes intense pain when your pet attempts to urinate. Fortunately, the symptoms are fairly simple to recognize. More so, the veterinarian has the training to diagnose as well as the experience to implement innovative methods of treatment to treat the disease.

The disease is generally diagnosed after small stones are formed in the urinary tract of your dog. There are several types of bladder stones and the treatment depends on the type as well as the severity of the problem. The stone-like mineral deposits may occur as a single deposit, or consist of many smaller pieces. The uroliths can be extremely large, monopolizing most of the bladder or present as fine particles that pass when the animal urinates. The types of stones include Magnesium, Ammonia, Phosphorus, and urate. However, the most common stone-like mineral deposit is the struvite, while the less common form of stone is the oxalate stone. Because the males have narrow urethras, they are most apt to be affected by this disease.

Basically, these minerals impede the flow of the urine in the urethra; causing extreme pain during urination. When the stone forms in the urinary tract, your dog will show signs of urinary stones. The stones induce symptoms such as frequent urination. The most common symptoms that you may notice, however, are blood in your pet’s urine and decreased amount of urine and straining. The stones in the urethra frequently rub against the bladder wall causing it to bleed. Your dog may strain during urination as a result of an irritated bladder and urethra. Additionally, small stones or sand may pass through the bladder when the dog urinates causing the animal to strain. In the event that the bladder stones get stuck in the urethra, it is painful and may be life-threatening. Eventually, the bladder is ruptured; inflicting death.

Veterinarians may use several methods to treat urinary bladder stones in dogs. The veterinarian must be aware of the type of bladder stone your pet has before treatment. This is important as each type of stone requires a different treatment technique. Urinary bladder stones can be treated with a proper diet. The diet is acidic which is necessary to ensure that the dog’s urine has an elevated pH level. Higher pH levels ensure that the bladder stones are dissolved; allowing for a subsequent cure. Certain dog foods are scientifically prepared to treat these stones, yet they must be used in conjunction with foods containing protein and nutrients. This acid diet, however, is only effective for treating struvite uroliths, which easily dissolve with acids. The quickest way to treat urinary bladder stones in dogs is surgery. The stones are removed surgically by flushing them out of the bladder and urethra.

Generally, bladder stones can be seen by veterinarians on an x-ray or an ultrasound. If you observe any symptoms such as irritation, decreased and frequent excretions of urine, or strained and painful urination, seek professional assistance for your dog immediately to obtain the proper diagnosis. A qualified veterinarian will determine which treatment process best accommodates your dogs condition.

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