How To Treat Urinary Stones In Dogs And Cats Getting Your Pet To "Pass" A Stone

BY | May 08 | COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY
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Urinary stones are mineral deposits that form along the urinary track, causing blocking and irritation. If they do not resolve on their own, a treatment plan or even surgery may need to be put into place. Learn more about what these treatment options more here.

Urinary stones, or uroliths, can be incredibly painful for a dog or cat. These stones -- formed by deposits of mineral salts -- can appear anywhere along your petโ€™s urinary tract and cause irritation as well as obstruction. Some urinary stones may dissolve with the help of supplements, medications, or dietary changes, but others will require surgical removal.

Here we will review the causes, symptoms, and treatment of urinary stones in dogs and cats.

Causes of Urinary Stones in Dogs and Cats

Urinary stones are formed from urine crystals composed of mineral salts. There are different types of urinary stones, including calcium oxalate, cystine, struvite, calcium phosphate, silicate, and urate.

Many factors can contribute to the formation of stones, but the most common is a high concentration of crystals in the urine. The high concentration can result from changes in the urineโ€™s pH which lead to crystal formation, increased crystal secretion by the kidneys, and increased reabsorption of water by the kidneys. Genetics, diet, medications, frequency of urination, and urinary tract infections can also contribute to stone formation.

Any pet can develop urinary stones, but some breeds are predisposed to certain types.

Struvite stones are the most common type in any dog or cat, and they form from ammonia magnesium and phosphorus in the urine. They are commonly associated with urinary tract infections. The most commonly affected breeds include:

Calcium oxalate stones are about as common as struvite stones and are thought to be associated with a genetic predisposition. The most commonly affected breeds include:

Cystine stones, which may form as a result of a defect that produces excessive amounts of the amino acid cystine, are most common in the following breeds:

Silicate stones may be related to dietary intake of silica acid, silicates, and magnesium silicate, which can be found in soybeans, corn gluten, and other ingredients. Commonly affected breeds include:

Urate stones often occur in animals who have trouble metabolizing uric acid in the liver.
The Dalmatian is the breed most affected by this type of stone.

Symptoms of Urinary Stones in Dogs and Cats

The symptoms exhibited by your pet will depend on the location of the stones in the urinary tract. Most pets have stones in the bladder or urethra, and a small percentage may have stones in the kidney or ureters. Regardless of the location, all urinary stones can damage the lining of the urinary tract and cause irritation, often resulting in a urinary tract infection.

Symptoms of stones in the bladder may include:

  • Straining to urinate
  • Urinating small amounts often
  • Blood in the urine
  • Urine accidents
  • Abdominal pain

Symptoms of stones in the urethra may include:

  • Attempting to urine with nothing coming out
  • Dribbling urine

Stones in the urethra can cause an obstruction and block up the urinary flow. This can cause serious problems for your pet, including kidney failure. If you notice that your pet is unable to urinate, you should seek veterinary attention immediately.

Symptoms of stones in the ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) may include:

Stones in the ureters can also cause obstruction and severe kidney damage.

Treatment for Urinary Stones in Dogs and Cats

Urinary stones can only be definitively diagnosed once they are removed from the pet and analyzed. However, your veterinarian may perform certain tests beforehand to search for stones in the urinary tract and evaluate the urine. These tests may include x-rays, ultrasounds, contrast urography (which can reveal the structure of the urinary tract), urine culture, and urinalysis.

Treatment for urinary stones will depend on the size, location, and nature of the stones.

  • Surgery will almost always be necessary if the stones are causing an obstruction or are likely to do so. Most stones are removed with a cystotomy, a procedure in which the bladder is opened. Stones located in the urethra are often flushed into the bladder so that they can be removed there. In some pets this may not be possible, and a urethrostomy -- a procedure in which the urethra is opened -- will be required.

  • Some urinary stones can be resolved without the need for surgery. Supplements, diet changes, and increased water intake can all help to dissolve urinary stones. Urinary stone medications such as Ursodiol may also be recommended to dissolve certain types of stones. Increased water intake -- either through more drinking or through wet food -- helps to dilute the urine. Low protein diets help to reduce the production of certain minerals that tend to form stones.

  • Antibiotics may be prescribed if there is a bacterial infection.

Diets for Dog and Cat Urinary Stones

Urinary stones are formed by deposits of minerals within your cat or dogโ€™s bladder and can cause your pet to experience trouble with urination and irritate the bladder lining. Some of the common tip-offs that your pet is struggling with urinary stones are a very frequent need to urinate, difficulty urinating, and licking of the genitals.

Depending on which type of stone your pet has been diagnosed with, find out which type of diet can help to treat and prevent the urinary stones.

Hydration:

With pets that suffer from urinary stones, it is particularly important to always have water available -- dehydration can lead to the a more concentrated urine, and in some dogs or cats this can lead to urinary crystals and stone formation. Allowing pets access to lots of fresh water during and after treatment is helpful. In many cases, vets will recommend a switch from dry food to wet food - or at least to a mix of wet and dry food -- since wet food contains more liquid, and can help keep your pet hydrated. This can be especially helpful for cats. 

Tips: Putting a small amount of low sodium broth in your dogโ€™s water bowl can encourage drinking. For cats, ice cubes in the water, chicken broth, or small amounts of tuna juice can make it more appealing.

Treating and Preventing Stones With Diet:

Before trying out a preventative diet for your pet, it is important to know what kind of stones your cat or dog forms. Some types of stones can be treated with Ursodiol and other meds while others need a different treatment option. Here are the main types of stones, and the diets associated with them for treatment and prevention:

1. Calcium Oxalate:

These stones are common in both dogs and cats. In dogs, theyโ€™re thought to be associated with a genetic predisposition, mostly in small dogs, who do not drink enough water. Dietary trends in cat foods in the 1990โ€™s and early 2000โ€™s to prevent struvite crystals may have actually led to an increase in calcium oxalate.

Unfortunately these stones do not dissolve and surgical removal is often necessary. To prevent these stones from forming, feed pets a diet with lower calcium and oxalate, such as Royal Canin Urinary SO or Purina NF Kidney Function, or IAMs Urinary O-moderate ph/O for cats.

More importantly, watch what snacks and table foods you feed on the side, since some foods like vegetables tend to be high in oxalate.

2. Struvite:

These are stones that form from ammonia magnesium and phosphorus in the urine.Theyโ€™re the most common variety of stones to form in cats and are often associated with urinary tract infections in dogs. They can be treated with a special diet, such as Hills s/d or Urinary SO, which work by dissolving the stones. 

Once your vet confirms that these stones have dissolved, your dog or cat then needs to be on a maintenance diet for the prevention. Common choices are Hill's c/d, Royal Canin Urinary SO, and IAMs Urinary S-Plus low pH/S for cats. Preventative diets work by making sure the urine acidity is approximately 6.5 pH. In addition, these diets tend to be lower in protein (which reduces ammonia production) phosphorous, and magnesium.

If your dog has struvite stones due to a urinary tract infection, then antibiotic and diet therapy will resolve the problem in many cases, and once the stones have been resolved your dog does not necessarily need a special diet. Your veterinarian will be able to help you make these decisions.

3. Urate:

Urate stones can occur because of a genetic conditions or due to portosystemic shunts, a medical condition. This stone is relatively rare in pets. Dogs that are prone to forming urate stones -- like Dalmatians -- might do well to have a moderate to low protein diet. More importantly, the sources of protein should be low in purines, which form urate. Protein sources such as dairy, egg, and soy are preferred. Some possible foods that your vet may recommend are Hillโ€™s u/d or Royal Canin UC Low Purine.

4. Cystine:

The causes of this particular stone are not known, but might relate to genetics, particularly for Mastiffs and Bulldogs. For dogs that have formed cystine stones, a diet that promotes an alkaline urine can be prescribed preventatively, however, diet cannot be used as a treatment method. Surgical removal or certain drugs can be used to get rid of the stones. Currently, diets such as Hillโ€™s u/d or Royal Canin UC Low Purine are used to help manage this disease.

More on Urinary Health

Everything You Need To Know About Cat Urinary Problems
7 Of The Top Dog Cystitis Treatments To Treat UTIS Quickly
Food To Treat Urinary Track Infection

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