Dogs are very prone to developing bladder stones. This disease in dogs is very similar to bladder stones in humans. In dogs, certain minerals block the flow of urine into the urethra, causing painful straining of liquid waste. These solidified minerals are alternately called uroliths, stones, or calculi.
Dogs with bladder stones can develop cystitis, a condition in which the urinary bladder becomes inflamed, all due to the small stones present in the dog’s urinary tract. These small stones may be made up of calcium oxalate, struvite, cystine stones, and ammonium urate.
Once these small stones form in your dog’s urinary tract, your pet will display the symptoms of the disease. Such symptoms are frequent urination, decreased amount of urine, and straining. You may also see blood in your pet’s urine from time to time. Male dogs are more likely to be affected by bladder stones due to their narrowed urethras.
There are different ways to treat bladder stones in dogs. However, proper treatment takes place only after the vet has found out what kind of stones have formed in your dog’s urinary tract. As previously stated, there are many types of stones that could possibly form. And each of those calculations requires a different set of treatment strategy.
Bladder stones can be treated with the right diet. Veterinarians may prescribe an acidic diet so that the dog’s urine has a higher pH level. In that state, the bladder stones would dissolve and the dog would eventually heal.
There are also certain dog foods that are specially created to treat bladder stones in dogs. Your vet will know if these foods will be useful for your pet or not. It is very difficult to give dogs acidic juices or fresh fruit juices. But if the food is scientifically prepared to contain the necessary acids, it will be much easier to feed it to your pet. Of course, it’s also important to give your dog the protein and nutrients he needs to sustain life.
However, treatment of bladder stones through diet is only effective for struvite uroliths. These are the type of stones that can be easily dissolved with acids. But even so, it would take anywhere from several weeks to over two months before the diet would prove effective and potentially treat your dog. Surgery remains the best way to treat bladder stones in dogs. Seek the help of a qualified veterinarian to determine if this treatment process is best for your pet. If not, you should put your pet through other treatment procedures that would remove the stones in his bladder in the shortest possible time.
Dogs with bladder stones tend to be irritable, urinate less but frequently, and have painful urination. If you notice your dog suffering from these symptoms, it is best to take your pet to the vet immediately for a proper diagnosis.