What should I do if my dog has urinary stones

When you discover that your dog frequently licks the urethral opening, has difficulty urinating, and even has blood streaks in its urine, your worries and anxiety are instantly ignited. Unfortunately, your dog may have urinary stones. Dog urinary stones are a common but heart wrenching disease that not only causes physical pain to dogs, but also causes psychological distress to owners. So, what should dogs do if they have urinary stones? This is a question that every dog lover urgently needs to understand.

The formation of canine urinary stones is not accidental, but the result of multiple factors working together. Unreasonable dietary structure is an important reason. Nowadays, many owners feed their dogs a single dog food for a long time for convenience. If the mineral content in the dog food is too high, especially the imbalance of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other components, it can easily lead to an increase in mineral concentration in urine, forming crystals and ultimately developing into stones. In addition, insufficient water intake for dogs is also a key factor. Water is crucial for maintaining the normal function of a dog's urinary system. Drinking less water can cause urine to concentrate, and various harmful substances and minerals cannot be excreted from the body in a timely manner, thereby increasing the risk of stone formation. Imagine that a dog's body is like a sophisticated machine, and urine is the lubricant that runs the machine. Insufficient water intake is like the machine lacking lubricant, which naturally leads to malfunctions.

In addition to diet and drinking water, the breed, age, and gender of dogs are also related to the occurrence of urinary stones. Small dogs, such as Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, are more prone to urinary stones compared to large dogs. In terms of age, middle-aged and elderly dogs have a relatively higher risk of developing diseases due to the decline in physical function and the weakened metabolic function of the urinary system. In terms of gender, male dogs are more likely to develop urinary stones than female dogs, because the urethra of male dogs is slender and curved, and once stones form, they are more difficult to excrete from the body.

When dogs suffer from urinary stones, a series of obvious symptoms will appear. Difficulty urinating is the most common symptom, as dogs frequently make urination postures but can only excrete a small amount of urine, or even no urine at all. They may squat for a long time in the urinal or corner, with painful expressions and low moans. One of the common symptoms is the presence of blood in urine, which is caused by stones moving in the urethra or bladder, scratching the mucosa and leading to bleeding. Observant owners may also notice that dogs may frequently lick the urethral opening due to stones stimulating the urethra, causing itching and discomfort. If a dog shows these symptoms, the owner must take them seriously and take them to a pet hospital for examination in a timely manner.

At a pet hospital, doctors will conduct a series of professional examinations to diagnose whether dogs have urinary stones, as well as the location, size, and quantity of the stones. X-ray examination is one of the most commonly used methods, which can clearly display the outline and location of stones. B-ultrasound examination can more accurately determine the size and quantity of stones, as well as other lesions in the urinary system. In addition, doctors may also analyze the urine of dogs to detect indicators such as acidity, protein, and red blood cells, in order to further understand the condition.

Once diagnosed with urinary stones in dogs, appropriate treatment methods should be chosen based on the specific condition of the stones. For smaller stones, doctors may recommend medication to promote stone expulsion. Medications can regulate the pH of urine, dissolve or reduce stones, and alleviate pain and inflammation in dogs. During medication treatment, the owner should strictly follow the doctor's instructions to give the dog medication and increase the dog's water intake to help remove stones.

If the stone is too large to be expelled through medication, surgical treatment is a necessary option. There are various surgical methods, such as bladder incision and urethral incision. Doctors will choose the most suitable surgical plan based on the location and size of the stones. Although surgery can directly remove stones, there are also certain risks involved, and postoperative care is crucial. Owners should take good care of their dogs, prevent wound infections, feed and take medication according to the doctor's requirements, and help them recover their health as soon as possible.

Prevention of urinary stones in dogs is more important than treatment. In terms of diet, it is important to provide dogs with balanced nutrition, choose high-quality dog food, and adjust their diet according to their age, weight, and health condition. Encourage dogs to drink more water by adding some pet specific nutritional supplements to the water to increase its attractiveness. Regularly take your dog to a pet hospital for physical examinations to promptly identify and address potential health issues. In addition, keeping dogs engaged in appropriate exercise can also help promote urine excretion and reduce the risk of stone formation.

The dog has urinary stones, as owners, don't panic. Understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment methods of urinary stones, and accompany dogs through this difficult period with love and patience. Starting from the little things in daily life, do a good job in prevention, so that our dogs can stay away from the troubles of urinary stones, stay healthy and happy by our side, and create more beautiful memories together.