Preventing Bladder and Kidney Stones in Dogs
Diagnosing, treating, and preventing calcium oxalate stones in dogs.
Bladder and kidney stones are serious problems in dogs as well as people. These conditions – which are also known as uroliths or urinary calculi – can be excruciatingly painful as well as potentially fatal. Fortunately, informed caregivers can do much to prevent the formation of stones and in some cases actually help treat stones that develop. Last month, we described struvite stones (see “Canine Kidney Stone and Bladder Stone Prevention” Whole Dog Journal April 2010). Struvites contain magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. They almost always occur in the bladder in combination with a bacterial infection and are most frequently found in small-breed females. This month, we examine calcium oxalate or “CaOx” stones.