Treating Stones in Dogs Bladder With Diet

Dogs are very prone to developing bladder stones. This disease in dogs is very much like the bladder stones that are suffered by humans. In dogs, certain minerals block the flow of urine in the urethra, causing pained exertion of liquid wastes. These solidified minerals are alternatively called uroliths, stones, or calculi.

Dogs with bladder stones may develop cystitis, a condition wherein their urinary bladder gets inflamed, all because of the small stones present in the dog’s urinary tract. These small stones can be made up of calcium oxalate, struvite, cystine calculi, and ammonium urate.

Once these small stones form in the urinary tract of your dog, your pet would show the symptoms of the disease. Such symptoms are frequent urination, decreased amount of urine, and straining. You may also see blood in your pet’s urine every now and then. Male dogs are more likely to be affected by bladder stones because of their narrow urethras.

There are different ways to treat bladder stones in dogs. However, the proper treatment is carried out only after the veterinarian had found out what type of stones had formed in your dog’s urinary tract. As stated earlier, there are many types of stones that could possibly form. And each of those stones requires a different set of treatment strategy.

Bladder stones can be treated with the right diet. Veterinarians may prescribe an acidic diet so that the dog’s urine would have a higher pH level. At that state, the bladder stones would get dissolved and the dog would be cured eventually.

There are also certain dog foods that are especially created to treat bladder stones in dogs. Your veterinarian would know if these foods are going to be helpful to your pet or not. It is very hard to give dogs acidic juices or the fresh juices of fruits. But if the foods are scientifically prepared to contain the needed acids, it becomes much easier to feed them to your pet. Of course, it is also important to give your dog the proteins and the nutrients it needs to sustain life.

However, the treatment of bladder stones through diet is only effective for struvite uroliths. These are the type of stones that can easily be dissolved with acids. But even so, it would take several weeks to more than two months before the diet would prove to be effective and potentially treat your dog. Surgery is still the best way to treat bladder stones in dogs. Ask the help of a qualified veterinarian to determine whether this treatment process is the best one for your pet. Otherwise, you have to submit your pet to other treatment procedures that would remove the stones in its bladder in the shortest time possible.

Dogs with bladder stones tend to become irritated, excrete less amount of urine but do it very frequently, and exhibit pain while urinating. If you observe your dog to be suffering from these symptoms, it is best that you take your pet to the veterinarian right away for proper diagnosis.

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Treating Bladder Stones in Dogs with Diet

Dogs are very prone to developing bladder stones. This disease in dogs is very much like the bladder stones that are suffered by humans. In dogs, certain minerals block the flow of urine in the urethra, causing pained exertion of liquid wastes.

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Treating my dogs urinary tract infection

A significant number of pet parents at one time or another have to deal with their cat or dog experiencing a Urinary Tract Infection. Frequently the infection is also accompanied by the incidence of struvite stones. So common is this disease that up to 1 in 5 dogs or cats can be affected by this in their lifetime.1

The most common signs of a UTI in cats and dogs is straining during urination, blood in the urine, fever, lethargy, unpleasant smell to urine, incontinence and urinating in inappropriate places, particularly for cats. Among the bacteria responsible for UTIs, E. coli was found to be present in most of the cases followed by Stapylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Klebsiella spp. , Proteus spp. and then Pseudomonas spp.

Usually UTIs clear up after antibiotic therapy, but sometimes they recur, either due to reinfection with the same or another bacterial species. The appropriate antibiotic to be used is identified via a urine culture. Modern medicine is, however, plagued by a rising incidence of antibacterial resistance and comes with additional costs, such as adverse effects on gut microflora increasing the risk of infection with Clostridium difficile and this in turn may lead to serious colon infections in dogs. The use of a natural plant based preventative for UTIs and struvite stones would clearly help to reduce the risk of antibacterial resistance and disturbances in gut microflora.

Most struvite stones in dogs are actually infection-induced and female dogs are at the greatest risk for this. The reason for this is likely due to the anatomy of the female urethra, which is short and wide compared with that of the male. When a UTI is caused by Staphylococcus spp. (less commonly Proteus spp. And Ureaplasma) bacteria, a biochemical reaction is put into play which favors the formation of struvite stones in the pets urine/bladder even if the pet is on an acidifying diet.

Dogs typically develop struvite stones (uroliths) in their lower urinary tracts within 2 weeks of contracting a staphylococcal urinary tract infection. There are, however, other conditions that promote crystallization of magnesium ammonium phosphate (i.e. struvite) including an alkaline urine, diet and genetic predisposition. Breeds especially affected by struvite stones include the Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and Yorkshire Terrier.  Even factors associated with inbreeding have been reported to increase the frequency of struvite uroliths in Beagles. An increased risk of struvite stones in both sexes of Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers has also been observed. Specific diets high in fat and salt that are given to dogs to help dissolve struvite stones have their own risks. Pathogenic bacteria trapped within the stones are then constantly released and pose a threat for reinfection and a diet high in fat and salt has its own set of health risks.  Surgical removal is another option for stone removal. Sometimes stones can become bigger than half a kilo (1 lb).

One of the most effective natural remedies for Urinary tract infections and by association, infection induced struvite stones is cranberries. Cranberries contain tannins called (pro)anthocyanidins or PACs, which are stable plant compounds exhibiting potent in vitro anti-adhesion activity against pathogenic urinary tract bacteria such as both antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant strains of Escherichia coli. While preventing bacteria from sticking to the cell lining of the urinary tract is believed to be the primary mechanism, a direct mild antimicrobial activity against other UTI causing bacteria has also been reported. Pure cranberry extract powders are the most effective way to get the multiple health benefits of cranberries into your pet. Not only is the extract effective for preventing urinary tract infections and by implication infection induced struvite stones, but the phytochemicals in the berries are heart healthy and also good for dental health. Administering cranberry extract in powder form eliminates the excessive sugar found in juices and dried cranberries, as well the powder mixed in food coats the teeth and helps to keep the your pets mouth clean in exactly the same way it keeps their urinary tract “clean”. The powder is also much more palatable to your pet than fresh cranberries and delivers a much more concentrated dose of the needed phytochemicals. Look for a cranberry extract that is not adulterated with fillers, preservatives or colorants and one that is food grade and certified organic.

References consulted:
1. Urinary tract infection – a European perspective. B. Gerber,  EJCAP – Vol. 17 – Issue 1 April 2007, 51-54.
2. Canine urolithiasis: A look at over 16 000 urolith submissions to the Canadian Veterinary Urolith Centre from February 1998 to April 2003 Doreen M. Houston, Andrew E.P. Moore, Michael G. Favrin, Brent Hoff. Can Vet J Volume 45, March 2004,  225-230.

3. Recurrent urinary tract infections in older people: the role of cranberry products
DEEPA SUMUKADAS1,∗, PETER DAVEY2, MARION E. T. MCMURDO1
Age and Ageing 2009; 38: 255–257 C _ The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.
All rights doi: 10.1093/ageing/afp034 reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
4. Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health. Basu, Rhone, Lyons. Nutr Rev. 2010 March ; 68(3): 168–177. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00273.x.
5. Potential oral health benefits of cranberry.
Bodet C, Grenier D, Chandad F, Ofek I, Steinberg D, Weiss EI. . Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2008 Aug;48(7):672-80.

Tags: Cranimals Original, My dog has struvite crystals, My dog has UTI, Natural treatment for UTI in dogs and cats, Organic pet supplement, Preventing re-ocurring UTI in pets, Preventing UTI re-occuring in Dogs, Treating my dogs urinary tract infection, Treatment for cats with UTI, treatment preventative for pets with UTIs and struvite stones, Why Cranberries work for UTI

Treating Bladder Stones in Dogs With Diet

Dogs are very prone to developing bladder stones This disease in dogs is very much like the bladder stones that are suffered by humans In dogs, certain minerals block the flow of urine in the urethra, causing pained exertion of liquid wastes…

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Treating Bladder Stones in Dogs Quickly and Effectively

Treating bladder stones in dogs quickly is essential because in addition to being extremely painful, bladder crystals can lead to other more serious complications. In this article, you’ll learn what to do about this painful problem and how to prevent your dog from ever having to suffer from them again.

When you take your pet to a vet to treat bladder stones in dogs, antibiotics will most likely be prescribed, but this is not a good course of action because antibiotics are drugs and all drugs have side effects. Some of these side effects can prolong pain and suffering and actually make your dog worse. Also, since antibiotics do not heal the source of the problem, but only relieve the symptoms (in the hope that the body will heal itself), they can also set the stage for recurring issues.

Obviously, you want to get your dog out of pain as quickly as possible, so what should you do instead? There are three simple steps that you can take that are healthy ways of treating bladder stones in dogs without side effects or complications. First, make sure your dog always has a big bowl of fresh clean water. Filtered water is best because it eliminates the chemicals in tap water. In fact, a tap filter will work fine. Water will keep your dog hydrated and flush toxins from the bladder and kidneys.

Second, feed your dog healthy kibble. Many pet owners aren’t aware that commercial brands contain chemicals, additives, and cheap grains that upset the delicate pH balance in the bladder. When the pH balance is out of the normal range, bladder crystals form and bacteria proliferate. Feeding your dog a healthy, organic kibble made from real meat, healthy oils, whole grains and vegetables will help your dog’s pH level return to normal.

Most importantly, give your dog a supplement to dissolve bladder crystals quickly without side effects. It pays to do your research here because not all supplements are created equal. Look for one that contains proven herbs like Uva Ursi, Staphysagris and Cantharis. These herbs taken together in a quality formulation are the best, safest and most effective means of treating bladder stones in dogs and dissolving them completely. In addition to restoring the pH, they will also soothe and heal inflamed tissues, quickly reducing pain and swelling. Although they are highly effective, they are gentle enough to use every day for dogs that tend to have bladder-related issues or for older dogs.

In addition to the steps outlined above to quickly treat bladder stones in dogs, make sure your dog gets regular exercise and plenty of love and affection. Taking these simple, practical steps will dissolve bladder crystals fast, boost your dog’s immunity and ensure that your dog has a long, happy, disease-free life.