As happens in people, dogs can also suffer from kidney stones and, as in the human case, it is a situation that will require he alth care. The presence of stones can be very painful, in addition to producing a picture that can be truly dangerous for the he alth of our dog. It is, therefore, essential to know how to act before its appearance. In this article on our site we are going to explain what kidney stones in dogs consist of, pausing to detail their symptoms, as well as their treatment. Keep reading!
What are kidney stones in dogs?
Kidney stones in dogs, humans, cats or any other species that suffer from them are simply "stones". They can be of very different sizes and located in different parts of the urinary system. Their composition may also be different. All these factors will influence the damage they cause to the body, since it is not the same that the dog has "grit" than a stone of several centimeters. Similarly, its location is relevant. A stone in the bladder can go unnoticed, however, in the narrow space of the urethra, it is more likely to cause, at least, pain.
Calculus are deposits of different minerals that accumulate in the body. Food, urine pH and hydration will play an important role in its formation. The first because a balanced diet will prevent and avoid excesses of minerals with precipitation capacity to form stones. On the other hand, good hydration, a correct water supply, will be essential to eliminate waste through urine, preventing it from accumulating in the form of stones.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones in Dogs
Kidney stones in dogs will produce a series of symptoms that will serve as a signal to go to the vet. And we must do it without delay, since these are processes that are usually very painful, but in addition, kidney stones can lead to perforations, obstructions and even kidney failure. The characteristic symptoms will be the following:
- Pain on urination that will manifest itself in effortful urination. We will see that the dog tries to pee on numerous occasions but does not always succeed.
- Urinary incontinence caused by the distension that the bladder sometimes suffers.
- Sprayed urine in cases where partial obstruction occurs. The image would be that of a hose to which we hinder the flow of water with a finger.
- Hematuria (blood in the urine), as it is normal for stones to cause microlesions in the urinary system. Sometimes we will see drops of blood but it is also possible that hematuria is only detected on a strip or an analysis.
Diagnosis
As soon as we notice that our dog may be suffering from the presence of a kidney stone, we must take him to the vet. The first thing is going to be getting a urine sample The vet usually provides us with a sterile cup for collection, just like the one used in human medicine. We must put the glass under the stream of urine to take the sample and take it to the clinic as soon as possible (it could be kept refrigerated for a few hours). Sometimes we can't pick it up and it will be the vet who has to extract it, either by pressing on the bladder or by pricking it directly.
Be that as it may, a strip will be made from the obtained sample that will allow us to know important data such as its density, its pH, the presence of blood or infection. When determining the existence of kidney stones in our dog, the most important diagnostic technique is going to be abdominal ultrasound or X-ray It is done after waxing the area and will allow us to observe the urinary system. Kidney stones will look like white spots.
Types of kidney stones in dogs
The types of kidney stones that we will be able to distinguish in dogs will be the following:
- Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate): are formed in alkaline urine and are usually preceded by a urine infection. They can be dissolved with a specific diet.
- Uric acid: appear in acid urine and are normally associated with hereditary disorders of urate metabolism. It is typical of Dalmatians. These crystals can be dissolved by feeding the dog a specific diet and medication.
- Calcium oxalate, cystine and silica (the latter are rarer): they do not usually depend on previous urine infection. Those of cystine can be dissolved with diet and medication, but not those of oxalate and silica.
Treatment for kidney stones in dogs
The treatment of kidney stones in dogs will depend on the symptoms they trigger, where, as we saw, both their size and their location in the urinary system must be taken into account. Basically it is possible to treat calculations in the following ways:
- Diet and, generally, antibiotics The aim is to break up the stones, favor their expulsion and prevent infections. Feed and cans specifically formulated for this purpose can now be found on the market. A few weeks or a few months of feeding with these feeds is usually enough to solve the problem.
- Surgery for the most serious cases with large stones that will not be easily expelled or that are causing great damage, such as an obstruction. Also for those that cannot be dissolved or must be extracted immediately.
Be aware that calculations may reoccur.
