How Doctors Diagnose Bladder Stones in Dogs

Bladder stones in dogs can eventually become a severe medical concern if not addressed right away.
Owners who suspect that their dogs are suffering from this condition should see their vets
immediately so that ample medication can be provided to their pets.

Veterinarians perform several medical procedures to determine whether or not your dog is suffering
from bladder stones or from something else. Diagnosis is important so that the proper medication
and the right diet will be carried out. Here are the procedures that your veterinarian may perform:

1. Urinalysis.

Urinalysis is the process of extracting a small amount of urine from your pet and studying it under a
microscope. The vet is actually looking for remnants of the stone in the urine. Bladder stones are
formed when excess minerals in the dog's body solidify. Sometimes, a small part of the stone would
go along the dog's urine. The mineral content of the urine will also give your vet an idea as what kind
of medication your pet needs.

2. Urine Culture.

Urine culture is the process of checking the bacteria content of the urine. While bacteria may not be
the direct cause of bladder stones, they could be very much involved in the formation of the stones.
Vets have to look into this matter because they have to eliminate the cause of pain as simple urinary
tract infection and not bladder stones. While these two diseases showing similar symptoms, the
main cause of the problem is different. As such, different methods of treatment are required for
each.

3. Sensitivity Test.

Sensitivity tests pertains to the process of checking which antibiotics your dogs can tolerate and
which one are most effective to dissolve the bladder stone present inside them. If bacteria are
indeed involved, vets should also find out whether or not the antibiotics they will prescribe can
control their proliferation.

4. Radiography.

Radiography means x-ray in layman's terms. A lot of bladder stones appear vividly on the films of an
x-ray. If and when they do, veterinarians are more or less sure that the stones are made of either
calcium oxalate or struvite. Therefore, they can write up the necessary medicines and the diet that
would facilitate the dissolution of these stones.

5. Ultrasound.

Ultrasound is another diagnostic method for bladder stones. Veterinarians use ultrasound if and
when the stone can't be seen through an x-ray. Also, ultrasound gives a more precise vision of the
stone, including its relation to the nearby organs.

How to Prevent Bladder Stones in Dogs

Bladder stones are a common instance with dogs. It is actually a disease that owners should be very
aware of, so that their pets don't have to go through the pain and the discomfort associated with it.
To prevent bladder stones in dogs, here are five good tips to follow:

1. Make sure that your dog follows a healthy diet.

Bladder stones form due to the excess minerals in the blood. It is very important that you don't
over feed your dogs. Let them eat in the right amount and at the right time. Free feeding your dog is
not always a good idea because they tend to either eat too much or to be choosy with the foods that
they eat. Some minerals exceed in quantities if another is deficient. This is the reason why a
balanced diet is very important for your dogs.

2. Increase your dog's calcium intake.

Magnesium and calcium are minerals that could actually prevent the reformation of bladder stones
and not cause them. So it is best that you give your little pet its daily dose of milk for a healthier
system. Just like humans, dogs need a cup of milk before bedtime. Why not toast a glass with your
pet before going to sleep then?

3. Have apple cider vinegar in stock.

If your dog has history of bladder problems, it is best that you keep a steady supply of apple cider
vinegar in your kitchen closet. Apple cider vinegar normalizes the acid levels in the stomach, which
can eventually prevent bladder stones from forming. Apple cider vinegar is a highly recommended
home remedy for dogs that suffer from recurring bladder stone.

4. Provide your dog with adequate amount of water everyday.

The best way to prevent stones from forming in the bladder is to make sure that excess minerals are
flushed out of the body even before they start to solidify. And the only way to do that is through
regular urination. With adequate amount of water, your pet would move out all waste fluids from
its body easily. And that's going to assure you that your pet would at least be free from bladder,
kidney, and urinary related infections.

5. Consider a wet dog food diet.

If your dog isn't into drinking water often, switch to canned dog foods instead. These foods normally
contain 70% water. A wet diet is perfect to dogs that have had bladder stones.
More Complications of Bladder Stones in Dogs

Whenever dog owners suspect that their pets are suffering from bladder stones or any other urinary
related disorders, it is best that they see the veterinarian right away. The formation of bladder
stones is one of the diseases that cause severe complications in both cats and dogs. You don't want
your own pet suffering from this disease if you could have it treated right away in the first place.

Dogs with bladder stones are very likely to acquire the following diseases in their lifetime, especially
if the problem is not addressed right away:

1. Bladder tumors.

Bladder stones, if not treated immediately, would cause tumors in the bladder area. The tumors
would normally start as benign until it becomes malignant and severe enough to cause drastic
changes in the dog's physical abilities. Tumors need surgery to treat. And it would definitely be an
ordeal for your pet to go through.

2. Bladder Cancer.

What started out as a mere bladder stone could eventually become cancerous. This could happen
if the right medications are not administered to your pets for a long period of time. While this is a
very rare case, it could still happen if bacteria and fungi get into the picture, compounding the
complications of the disease.

3. Failing body processes.

The ultimate effect of bladder stones to your pet would be the inability to urinate normally. And if
the wastes of the body get stuck inside, then the body would be defeated by the germs and
bacteria that keep on propagating. The dog's immune system would be helpless the moment
bacteria exceeds their number. You'll see that your dog would be more tiresome, less energetic, and
very poignant.

4. Eventual death.

This is the worse case scenario. Bladder stones growing as big as pebbles are enough to kill a small
dog. A pea-sized bladder stone could still be dissolved and pass off through the urine. However, that
is not always the case. Owners who keep on ignoring the health issues of their dogs would come
face to face with a bladder stone problem that is too big even for surgery to remove. And when
the disease becomes untreatable, there would be no other solution but to let your dog sleep
permanently.
When you really think about it, bladder stones are simple health concerns with simple solutions. A
regular check up with the veterinarian would relieve you and your pet of all the discomforts listed
here. Give your pets all the love, care, and medical attention it deserves. Only then you can forget
about these bladder stone complications.

The Proper Treatments for Bladder Stones in Dogs

With the advanced medical processes today, dogs are a lot more likely to recover from their diseases
than before. During the olden times, there were no medicines, medical equipments, or experienced
veterinarians that could possibly treat the severe diseases of your beloved pets. Today, even dogs
have medical insurances.

Pet owners whose dogs have bladder stones need not worry about their conditions because the
following treatment procedure can definitely help them solve the problem:

1. Catheterization.

Catheterization is the process of putting a long tube into the dog's urinary tract and into the bladder
in an attempt to remove both the urine and the stone in one go. The catheter would act like a
suction tube that would flush out the cause of the pain and urine obstruction. This method is used
when emergency care is required by your pet.

2. Surgery.

If the bladder stones are rather large and it is impossible to take them out with the use of a
catheter, surgery may be required. The procedure of taking out the stones surgically on dogs is very
similar to removing bladder stones on humans. It is very important that you take your dog to an
experienced veterinarian for surgery. The clinic with the best equipment should also be your primary
choice.

3. Antibiotics.

If the bladder stone of your dog has is relatively small, then antibiotics and other speciaized
medications should be able to the trick. These medicines are designed to dissolve the stones and
your dog need not undergo surgery. And it is the cheaper route to go too. But then again, it's the
vet's call and not yours. If the vet says surgery is required, it is best that you let the vet do it.

4. Preventive diet.

Bladder stones may recur at any time. Even if they were removed before, there's no guarantee that
it would ever come back. Therefore, dogs that have had bladder stones are advised to follow a
strict diet given by the vet. The vet might prescribe a new diet every so often. All you really have to
do is to follow them.

Taking your dog to the vet for regular checkups is your best defense against severe cases of diseases
that could require big amount of money, effort, and time to treat. Spare your dog of all these. Your
dog need not undergo surgery if you the stones are diagnosed on its early stages.

Home Remedies for Bladder Stones

If your dog is suffering or had suffered from bladder stones before, there are medications that you
can find right from the comforts of your home to keep the episode from happening again. These
home remedies however, should not be in any way used to substitute the medications prescribed
by the veterinarian.

The home remedy you are to give your dog should be in reference to the type of stone that your dog
acquired. Here is a list of good herb suggestions to give your dog. However, you have to clear these
home medications with the vet prior to administering them to your pet:

1. Barberry Root.

Generally speaking, barberry root is good for kidney problems. Dogs with bladder stones tend to
demonstrate pain while urinating. For this issue, barberry root is the best home remedy. To use it,
just add a teaspoon of barberry root in one cup of hot water. Let it steep for five minutes or so and
then strain. It should be administered three times a day. For small dogs, give it in doses of one
tablespoon each. Larger dogs require two tablespoons and three tablespoons for even bigger dogs.

2. Sarsaparilla root.

Sarsaparilla root is great for dogs with smaller bladder stones. If you see that there's gravel in your
dog's urine, then just prepare sarsaparilla root in the same way the barberry root is prepared. Just
double the amount of herbs to be added to the cup of water.

3. Goldenseal.

Goldenseal is a popular herbal antibiotic that you can also give your pet. However, this one is only
prescribed for dogs that are suffering from bladder infection rather than those that have mineral
crystals present in the urine. Other than goldenseal, other herbal antiseptics such as Echinacea and
pau d'arco are helpful as well.

4. Thalaspi Bursa Pastoris .

Thalaspi Bursa Pastoris is the best first aid for dog suffering from urinary obstructions. Give one
dose to your pet every 30 minutes or so until it can urinate again. This remedy is perfect for
instances wherein you can't bring your dog to the vet given the circumstances.

5. Aconite.

Other than the ones listed above, you can also give aconite to your pet. Not only would it relieve the
pain caused by the stones - it could also address the fear and distress that your dog suffers. Just a
few doses of aconite could put your whining pet at bat.

Covered By.

Kamlesh B.Chauhan