- Bladder stones are mineral buildups within the kidney, ureters, urethra or bladder. Common symptoms include frequent urination, blood in the urine or painful or strained urination, although some animals show few signs. Diagnosis usually results from palpating the abdomen during routine physical examination or abdominal X-rays. The kind of buildup determines the type of stone. Struvite stones are composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Other mineral buildups include calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, cystine, ammonium urate and many others.
A dog's urine pH influences which minerals build up and which are dissolved within the body. Struvite stones, for instance, form in alkaline urine, while other, such as oxalate stones, are more likely to form from acidic urine. Urine pH is largely influenced by diet and, as such, is the factor most natural treatments attempt to control. - Special, vet-approved diets are usually the best treatment option for canine bladder stones
Struvite, ammonium urate, cystine and similar stones may be dissolved through special diets. Note that urinary tract infections must also be treated with an antibiotics in order to prevent recurrence. Special diets can take anywhere from 60 to 150 days to completely dissolve a stone; thus, this option is only for dogs without discomfort. There are specially formulated foods that achieve this end, usually through lower than normal levels of long proteins, magnesium and phosphorous. Vitamin C or dl-methionine are used to lower overall urine pH, although unlike formulated diets, these acidifiers are not as effective against the stone-forming constituents. Other alkalizing foods include ripe apples, bananas, pumpkin, raw honey, alfalfa sprouts and non-distilled vinegar (organic apple cider vinegar). Higher water consumption, achieved through canned dog food or broths, help dilute urine and thus lower pH levels. It is important to provide plenty of clean water for a dog with bladder stones. While most dogs take to specialized diets easily, stubborn dogs can be swayed by warming canned food to body temperature, hand feeding or mixing half and half with the current diet.
Some herbs have been suggested to aid in the treatment of canine bladder, although their full effects have not been studied in detail. Marshmallow and couchgrass root are thought to soothe inflamed tissue and reduce inflammation; uva ursi is thought to act as an astringent in cases of significant bleeding but no inflammation; dandelion and juniper berry is thought to act as a diuretic and help pass the stones; goldenseal, Echinacea and Oregon grape are thought to fight bacteria and prevent infection.
Some stones, such as calcium oxalate, cannot be dissolved easily and may need to be removed through surgery or urohydropropulsion. - Because treatment options vary by the type of stone, it is important to have a veterinarian diagnose the type of stone before beginning any treatment plan. This is especially important when administering urinary acidifiers, as dosage is difficult to determine.
Unlike cats, dogs are not obligate carnivores. A home-prepared vegetarian diet may be a strong preventive method for dealing with bladder stones, although consultation with a veterinarian about nutritional requirements is advised.
Genetic physiology may cause some animals to be prone to the buildup of bladder stone precursors, although no tests exist to determine which animals are at higher risk.
Male and female dogs contract bladder stones at roughly the same rate, although urethral obstruction is more common in males. Most stones occur in dogs over age two, especially in smaller breeds.
Bacterial infections increase urine alkalinity, thus facilitating the formation of struvite stones. Moreover, bacterial infections tend to metabolize compounds that can lead to stone formation.
In general, excessive amounts of protein in a dog's diet can lead to the buildup of minerals and formation of bladder stones.
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