Introduction
Bladder stones are, like their name, stones which can form in the bladder of dogs. Although they are more common in older dogs, even pets under a year of age can develop bladder stones. These stones can travel into the urethra and get lodged causing a urinary tract obstruction, and in some rare cases can form in the kidneys. This type of condition is often extremely painful, but fortunately surgery and dietary changes can help a dog to successfully recover from this condition.
There are different types of bladder stones that can form, and they can occur as one stone, many stones, small stones, or very large stones. Surprisingly enough, many dogs with bladder stones do not seem to develop any symptoms. When symptoms do occur they include difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, repeated urinary tract infections, and abdominal pain.
Causes of Bladder Stones in Dogs
Bladder stones are composed of tiny mineral crystals, and overtime these crystals begin to form a stone. Crystals form in urine that has a pH higher than 7.0. This type of urine is called alkaline urine, and urine can become more alkaline due to diet, urinary tract infections, medications, and genetics. The different types of bladder stones that develop are named based upon their mineral composition. Struvite stones and calcium oxalate stones are some of the more common bladder stones which form in dogs.
Implications of Bladder Stones in Dogs
A bladder stone can cause a potentially fatal condition if the stone becomes stuck in the urethra and blocks the flow of urine. In this case life threatening conditions such as kidney failure and blood poisoning can develop within 24-48 hours. Fortunately, bladder stones can easily be diagnosed through x-rays and removed through surgery. If a veterinarian feels that the bladder stones pose no hazard to the dog, a special diet may be used to try to decrease the pH of the urine and attempt to dissolve the stones. Bladder stones can develop again once they are removed, and a special diet can help to decrease future reoccurrences of bladder stones.