Bladder Stones

Occasionally, bladder stones (rock-like collections of minerals that form in the bladder) may occur in dogs and cats. They can be a large, single stone or dozens of small stones the size of sand or pea gravel. Depending upon the type of stone, various risk factors may contribute to bladder stone formation. Diet, water intake, urinary tract infections, and urinary pH are all-important considerations. It is important to determine the mineral composition of the stones, when possible. The two most common signs of bladder stones are blood in the urine and difficulty urinating. Blood in the urine occurs because the stones irritate the bladder wall, causing bleeding from its surface. Difficulty urinating occurs when stones block the passage of urine out of the bladder. When a blockage occurs, urine cannot pass out of the body and the abdomen becomes very painful. Your pet may cry in pain, especially if pressure is applied to the abdomen. Your pet may also make frequent attempts to urinate. Even if there is no blockage occurring, blood in the urine and difficulty urinating may be significant; the irritated bladder is quite painful.

There are two options for treatment. The fastest solution is to remove them surgically. Following two to four days of recovery, your pet is relieved of pain and difficulty urinating. The blood in the urine will often continue for a few more days, and then it stops. Surgery is not the best option for all patients; however, those with a blockage and those with an infection associated with the stones should be operated on unless there are other health conditions that prohibit surgery. The second option is to dissolve the stone with a special diet. This avoids surgery and can be a very good choice for some pets. However, it has three disadvantages: it is not successful for all types of stones, it is slow, and not all pets will eat the special diet. If your pet is urinating small amounts frequently, straining to urinate, or you see blood in the urine, contact your vet immediately. Timely treatment will not only ease your pet’s discomfort but may prevent costly complications from occurring.