Introduction
“Bladder stones” are accumulations of minerals and other substances that congregate in the bladder and become problematic when they obstruct the urethra, blocking the outflow of urine. In many cases, dogs with “bladder stones” show no unusual clinical signs. The signs become obvious when one or more of these “stones” block the urethra, causing acute and extreme pain. This condition can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.
Symptoms of “Bladder Stones” in Dogs
One of the first signs of bladder stones is blood in the dog’s urine (called “hematuria”), caused by the physical disruption of the bladder lining. When a blockage occurs, the signs worsen and the dog will urinate (or try to urinate) much more frequently than usual. Males are more commonly affected than females, but a blockage in either gender will cause the dog to strain when trying to urinate and will cause extreme pain.
Bladder stones can be detected, before they cause a physical blockage of the urinary tract, by abdominal radiographs (x-rays) and/or ultrasonography. In most cases, these diagnostic procedures are not done until the dog shows clinical signs that suggest bladder stones or a urinary tract infection – frequent urination in small amounts, with straining. If your dog exhibits these signs, please take him to your veterinarian as soon as possible.