Effective Treatments for Dog Urinary Stones: What to Do
Section 1: Composition of Canine Urinary Stones
The primary components of canine urinary stones include struvite (phosphatoammonium magnesium), calcium oxalate, urates (such as ammonium urate), and cystine salts, among others.
Section 2: Causes of Canine Urolithiasis
Normal urine contains a variety of dissolved crystals (like phosphates, urates, and oxalates) and certain amounts of colloidal substances (like mucoproteins, nucleic acids, and mucopolysaccharides, and cystine) that maintain a delicate balance.
When this balance is disrupted, salts begin to precipitate and colloids to settle, eventually leading to the formation of stones.
1. Metabolic Disorders:
Hyperparathyroidism (high blood calcium leading to high urinary calcium), decreased secretion (which reduces the reabsorption of calcium by the renal tubules), or excessive estrogen levels can all contribute to stone formation.
2. Urinary Tract Abnormalities:
Urinary tract infections, obstructions, and the presence of foreign bodies in the urinary tract can all lead to canine urolithiasis.
3. Mechanism of Urolith Formation:
Urine pH elevation is often due to infections with ureaseproducing bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and Proteus. These bacteria break down urea into ammonia and bicarbonate ions, raising the urine pH and promoting the formation of struvite crystals.
4. Simultaneous Increase in Phosphorus and Magnesium Concentrations:
Simultaneous elevation of magnesium and phosphorus levels in canine urine can increase the likelihood of stone formation, or a decrease in the solubility of struvite can also lead to stone formation.
5. Female Reproductive Tract Infections:
Most canine struvite stones are caused by Staphylococcus infections, with a higher risk in females due to their shorter and wider urethra compared to males.
6. Presence of Foreign Bodies in the Urinary Tract:
Foreign bodies in the urinary tract can act as a nucleus for stone formation, with crystals gradually accumulating to form stones. Chronic inflammation or surgical sutures are common causes in individuals with a history of urinary tract surgery.
7. Genetics and Inbreeding:
Related theories have confirmed that the higher incidence of struvite urinary stones in Poodles is due to a hereditary urethral abnormality in miniature Poodles, which increases the urethra's susceptibility to bacteria.
8. Symptoms of Canine Urolithiasis:
Research indicates that the clinical symptoms of canine urinary stones are related to the location of the stones.
9. Renal Stones:
Initially, there may be no symptoms, but later stages can include renal pain, slow movement, stiff gait, anxiety, hematuria, and eventually hydronephrosis.
10. Ureteral Stones:
Acute abdominal pain, vomiting, hunched posture, and abdominal pain can be seen, along with hematuria, pyuria, and proteinuria. In cases of bilateral ureteral stones, no urine enters the bladder.
11. Bladder Stones:
Difficulty urinating, hematuria, frequent urination with small amounts, and increased bladder sensitivity. Palpation of the bladder can detect the presence of stones.
12. Urethral Stones:
More common in male dogs and cats, they can cause painful dribbling and intermittent incontinence.
Section 3: Treatment of Canine Urolithiasis
1. Dissolution Therapy:
This method is effective for small stones and is used to treat struvite, urates, and cystine stones.
2. Diet Therapy:
Increase water intake to enhance urine output and dilute urinary solutes. Feed a diet low in protein and high in vitamin A. For alkaline urine stones, provide acidic foods or acidifiers (such as ammonium chloride). For acidic stones, use sodium bicarbonate to alkalinize the urine.
3. Medication Therapy:
Traditional Chinese medicine for stone expulsion, diuretics, or urinary acidification ointments.
4. Surgical Removal:
Surgery is used for male animals at risk of urinary tract obstruction, particularly for stones located in the penile stricture of dogs. However, surgery is only a palliative treatment and does not eliminate the cause. After the removal of multiple small stones, stone dissolution agents should be used within the following 30 days to eliminate any residual small crystals that may act as new stone cores.
Section 4: Prevention of Canine Urolithiasis
1. Ensure adequate daily water intake.
2. Reduce the consumption of highanimalprotein foods.
3. Feed specialized prescription diets or urinary acidification ointments.
4. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms such as frequent urination, dysuria, cloudy urine, or hematuria occur.