KIDNEY STONES IN DOGS

Kidney stones in dogs can be very painful and can lead to serious health problems if not treated. Kidney stones – Dogs naturally have minerals in their bodies like calcium, magnesium, ammonia or phosphorus. When there is excessive mineral salts in the urine in humans, they are filtered out through the kidneys. But it can be difficult for these minerals to be soluble in the naturally acidic urine of dogs, these minerals can form stones. While they may not pose a health risk while in the kidneys, they may grow very large and be quite painful if they pass through the rest of the urinary tract, even blocking the tract in the worst cases.
Stones may consist of different types of minerals, general causes of kidney stones can include kidney or urinary tract infections, dietary factors, medications, or geriatric affects. There are some breeds that are naturally predisposed to develop kidney stones, such as Dalmatians, Yorkshire terriers and English Bulldogs. Kidney stones tend to appear more in female dogs and also older male dogs.The most obvious symptoms will occur if the stones pass into the bladder, or the ureters. This will cause severe pain, straining until the stone passes or is surgically removed.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Most stones are visible on an x-ray. Some stones are made up of more organic matter than mineral and may be more difficult to find on an x-ray, so an ultrasound could be used to locate them. There are diets available commercially to dissolve the stones. Dogs that show no changes in five or six months will probably have the stones removed surgically. The stones are removed from the kidney, then the kidney is flushed and sewn up.In order to control reformation of kidney stones, dogs should have a urine test twice a year to prevent urinary tract infections, have access to urinate frequently and plenty of water to keep them hydrated and the urine well diluted.