Dog Information - Dog Bladder Stones

One cannot stress the importance of your dog’s diet when it comes to good health. It pays to spend a bit more and buy a really good quality healthy dog food. Poor quality food can allow the onset of poor dog health, one of which is dog’s bladder stones. If left untreated this disease could be fatal to your dog.

Dog Bladder Stones – what are they?

As the name implies they are stones formed from minerals in the dogs urinary system. Also known as “Uroliths” these stones tend to accumulate in the bladder. Occasionally stones also form in the kidneys and then they are referred to as kidney stones. Now, as with humans, a dogs wee has a certain pH level. This pH level can either be acidic or alkaline and has a direct effect on the quantity of mineral crystals that form in the dogs urinary system. Excessive mineral crystals will lead to the formation of bladder or to a lesser extent, kidney stones. Different crystals form in both, acidic or alkaline dog wee.

Dog Bladder Stones – How to see if your dog has Bladder Stones!

Firstly, this condition can be very uncomfortable and sometimes fatal, so if suspected, go and see the doggy doctor right away. Here is what to look for in your dog.

• Your dog is struggling to wee or the stream is very slow


• There is blood in the dogs wee


• Your dog is licking excessively around his private parts


• Your dog is weeing more often than usual


• The dog is showing signs of no control over his weeing or wee’s without realising it


• Your dog is in pain when weeing

Watch your dog, you will certainly see these changes in his behavior. If you spot any of the above dog health symptoms, go see the doggy doctor right away. Blockage of the urinary tract is extremely painful and could lead to your dogs rather painful death. This is something every dog lover will want to avoid, I am sure.

Dog Bladder Stones – My dog has bladder stones, what now? At this stage you should have already been advised by a professional vet. Here are some pointers though, on how to avoid dog bladder stones from developing. If you know the root cause, then you can attempt to prevent instead of cure, which is always the better alternative. A common mineral crystal called Struvite is usually found in alkaline wee which is often as a result of one or other Bacterial infection of the Bladder. Struvite crystal formation can also be due to excessive Magnesium or Phosphate content in the dogs food. The goal is to maintain the correct pH level in your dogs wee, so as to avoid, the crystals from forming.

Clearly it is what your dog puts into his body, or what you provide him to put into his body, that affects the development of crystals and the resultant bladder stones. So ensure that you provide the best possible healthy dog food you can. Compare labels on the dog food packaging, it is not always the most expensive food that is the best. Obviously you would prefer to provide healthy dog food with a lower Magnesium or Phosphate content to avoid the formation of crystals. Also, always make sure your dog has plenty of clean and fresh water and make sure he is actually drinking often. This will help to make his wee less concentrated. Lastly, blood line, has a role to play as well. Certain breeds are just more prone to dog bladder stones than others. Some of these are Dalmations and Bulldogs. Please do not go and abandon your poor Dalmation or Bulldog now. Rather do as Mom said, “Prevention is better than a cure”. Educate yourself with regards to different types of dog foods and how to detect changes in your dogs behavior early before things get out of hand.

Hi all, Derek here. I am a Dog Lover and Enthusiast. I’ve had over a lifetime of experience with dogs and I am learning new things about them each day. Why don’t you join me in this quest for knowledge about “man’s best friend” at my website http://www.besthappydog.com/ where I share my insights as well as many experts advice. I would also recommend visiting http://www.besthappydog.com/dog-digestive-problems/, for some really great training advice and tips.

Cheers for now,

Regards Derek Wurms