Surgery for a Dog With Bladder Stones

Bladder stones in dogs are also known as urinary calculi, and the condition of having bladder stones is known as urolithiasis. Though stones may form anywhere in the dog’s urinary tract, Pet Education states that over 85 percent of stones are found in the bladder itself. Surgery is a common treatment for bladder stones.

Identification

There are a number of signs that may indicate that a dog has bladder stones and requires surgery. Some of the first signs include difficulty with urination, or frequent urination where only a small amount of urine is produced. Bloody urine is another sign. Some dogs do not show any evidence of bladder stones at all and the condition will only be discovered during the course of a normal exam.

Types

There are three major types of bladder stones that appear in dogs. Calcium oxalite bladder stones cannot be dissolved by a change in diet, and surgical removal of the stones is typically necessary. Struvite stones and ammonium urate stones can usually be treated by diet, and surgery is only necessary when a blockage has occurred.

Features

The surgical removal of bladder stones in dogs is known as cystotomy. The dog is placed under anesthesia and laid on its back. An incision is made in the front of the pelvis, going through the abdominal wall. The bladder is brought out of the incision and opened up. The stones are removed and then the bladder and urethra are flushed with a sterile saline solution before the bladder is closed and replaced. The abdominal wall is then closed up with sutures.

Alternatives

Though surgery for bladder stones in dogs is fairly common, it is not the only way to treat bladder stones. Urohydropropulsion involves putting the dog under anesthesia and then filling its bladder with sterile saline solution. The veterinarian will massage the bladder and force the bladder stones out. Struvite bladder stones and ammonium urate stones may also be dissolved through diet management. A combination of food, increased water consumption, and medication can also be effective in dissolving bladder stones.

Recovery

The dog will likely be kept overnight after the bladder stone surgery and then allowed to go home the following day. For the first few days, there might be blood in the urine, but the bladder will heal very quickly. According to the Whitney Animal Hospital, the bladder will be entirely healed within three to five days. During the recovery period, which can range from between 10 and 15 days, the dog should be kept quiet and calm so that the abdominal wall can heal as well. Pain medication and antibiotics will also be prescribed to deal with pain and to prevent infections.