Most pet owners aren't aware that dog food for bladder stones can be quite effective as long as you know how to select the best possible kibble. In this article, you'll learn what to look for and how following three simple steps (one of which is a healthy diet) can help prevent bladder crystals and infections and boost your dog's immunity as part of the process.
The reason that special dog food for dogs with bladder stones is important is that the ingredients in most commercial brands can alter the pH of the bladder, encouraging the formation of bladder crystals and urinary tract infections. What most pet owners do not realize is that the kibble that they buy in grocery stores is nothing more than junk food for dogs. It does not provide good nutrition and can set the stage for infection, disease and even cancer.
This junk food kibble contains pesticides, additives and other chemicals as well as fillers that provide no nutrients and byproducts instead of the meat that dogs need. When considering what to feed your pet, remember that food is our medicine and our first line of defense against disease. The same holds true for our pets, which is why you should feed your dog food for bladder stones that is organic and has been specifically formulated with lean meat and nutrients.
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For vets: Treats for a dog with bladder stones?
I have a dog who had bladder surgery three months ago for struvite bladder stones. (Vet described her bladder as a little beanbag–full of small stones.) In the three months since surgery she was on a dry S/O diet. In those three months, she has developed 10-12 more stones, visible on a radiograph. She is now on a prescription S/D diet to try to dissolve the newly formed stones.
My question is this: Are there any treats she is allowed? And is she allowed bones? (As in rawhide bones?) This is a dog that’s used to treats and a bone a day, and she’s looking at me with the saddest begging eyes. I know that S/D is temporary and low protein, so I’m wondering if bones are off limits. If you’re a vet and can give me YOUR opinion on this, I’d truly appreciate it. The tech at my vet’s office tells me NOTHING but S/D, but I didn’t get a chance to ask my vet about it as well and I’d like another opinion.
She is a 7 year old, 20 lb, Jack Russell Terrier.
Yes, that’s the plan, but I can’t do that at 11:00 at night. Wondered if anyone out there knows the answer now….
my dog actually has the same thing and on the same food!
we took her back to the vet because her stones were back and we asked about treats as well.
stones are caused by protein buildup, so anything with very low amounts of protein i found the dried sweet potatoes are good. other then that we dont give any treats to our dog!
i hope i helped you its nice to know someone is going through the same thing!
how can you tell if a dog has kidney stones or bladder stones?
i took my dog to the vet and he said he has a kidney infection and has taken medican for 5 days now and he shakes like hes cold. somebody said he could have bladder stones. he has not eaten for dayes
Anyone have a dog with bladder stones that after surgery didn’t have a recurrence?
I adopted a dog from the humane society and found out later it is a sick doggie. We had the bladder stones removed but just two weeks after surgery she had another uti and crystals in her urine. She’s on a special diet but i’m not feeling hopeful. Anyone have advice or a success story?
Most cases wont develop stones again, but it depends laregly on what sort of stones they are.
Aside from special diets, some vets will recomend putting the dog on diuretics so that it drinks and pees more. This means that the urine is more dilute and flushed from the bladder more frequently, reducing the chance for stones to develop.
Has anyone had a dog with Bladder Stones, after changing the dogs diet did they ever come back?
My dog just had surgury for Bladder Stones, the Doctor said that dogs that get them tend to get them more than once. I was wondering if anyone has had a dog and has gotten the surgury and then the stones didn’t come back after changing the diet of the dog. I am just worried she will have to go through this agian. I don’t like my little girl having to get surgury again.
Dietary alterations can be very helpful in preventing the recurrence of most types of bladder stones. There are three main types and the management depends on which type of stone you have.
The most common type of stone is called “struvite” and is composed of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate. These stones form in an alkaline urine and bacterial urinary tract infections are commonly the cause. These infections lead to an alkaline urine and unless they are treated properly and for a long enough period of time they may return and lead to more stone development.
In addition to the right type of diet, one that encourages an acid urine, it is imperative that urinary tract infections be prevented. Make sure you discuss this with your Vet.
What is the name of the surgery to remove bladder stones from dogs?
Was curious what the name of the surgery is called and/or how the surgery works and what is done to the dog?
If it’s an open surgery, it’s a cystotomy. That is an open procedure with an open incision.
There are several other options that can be tried, but the open cystotomy is the most common and cost effective.
A cholecystectomy is gall bladder removal.
My dog has bladder stones, and the surgery is quoted to be around 3,000?
does anyone know if this is an accurate price, or is this quote really high?? We want to do everything we can for our doggie, but don’t have that kind of money… any suggestions??
Whether or not the price is accurate depends on a lot of things. The type of stone, the breed of dog, the type of surgery, where you’re located, and even the individual vet/practice. I’d recommend you call other vets, tell them what type of surgery is recommended, and find out what they would charge.
As far as paying for it – check out http://www.carecredit.com. They specialize in helping people find funding for various medical, dental, and veterinary bills.
My parents dog was diagnosed with3 large bladder stones. She is 14 pnds. Is surgery our only option?
She is a little Bichapoo. ( Bichon & mini poodle) The vet we used said she would need surgery and then the stones would be sent for analysis to see exactly what caused them and the vet would prescribe a diet according to the findings from the analysis. Any vets out there have any input or many someone else who has dealt with large bladder stones with their dogs. Thanks Steph
I have not come up with this problem yet, but I belong to a Pets 4 Homeopathy, a Yahoo group. This subject has come up before and it was recommended that the person use Hydrangea Tincture.
I think that it would be worth a try. It’s a lot cheaper than surgery.
How would you cure bladder stones in a dog?
My mother’s small dog has bladder stones & we noticed it when there was blood in his urine. The vet said the only way to cure them is through surgery however my mother is nervous to put her dog through this. He is otherwise a happy & healthy dog & it doesn’t seem to be bothering him. Does anyone know of any cures other than surgery for this?
The dog is 10 years old.
There are a few ways to deal with this:
1) Surgery (opening the bladder and scooping out the stones). It is a very common surgery, and perfectly safe to do.
2) Diet change. Different foods change the pH in the urine. There are different types of stones that develop- one when there is too much acid, and one that is too much alkaline. Changing the pH to the opposite helps dissolve stones. Stones that are too large can sometimes not be removed this way.
3) There is a new procedure that uses a urethroscope and a laser. The laser makes the stones “explode” and then they are extracted. This is done under anesthesia, but there is NO incision, therefore no surgery. I saw this procedure done while i was in school and it was very cool.
Why is your mother opposed to surgery? If it is the anesthesia, know that if your dog is healthy, there is no reason why anesthesia will harm her. There are risks, but anesthesia is safe when the technicians know what they are doing. Surgery in general is safe when the people who do it know what they are doing. There is always the chance for infection, but that comes with any surgery. Bladder stone surgery is one that I see a lot, and complications are low. Ask your vet if diet change alone can help her, otherwise look into the laser. I’d be happy to give you information if you are interested.
So what happens if you dont do anything? The stones can block his/her urethra, and he will be unable to urinate (then it becomes an emergency situation). The stones can also bounce around (they are actually sharp and pointy) and create irritation and pain to the bladder, causing bloody urine, and an uncomfortable pooch. If they are small, they may also pass through the urethra and get stuck which again, can stop his urination. To make the dog happy and comfortable, she needs to do something, soon.
What is the treatment for bladder stones in a dog?
cystoscopy, as in people?
Well, sinic, that is one treatment! =)
If he’s blocked up, this is serious – obviously. If the stones are small (only gravel) you may get away with having him back-flushed, but if they are big, and have really blocked him (and with males this is more likely to happen as the penis has a bone in it – bitches will quite often flush out) they will have to open him up and clean him out, poor boy. There are two sorts of stones, and some will dissolve with the correct diet, again, if you/he are lucky.
I’ve had two cases in my hounds, both survived okay, with the correct diet after surgery. Apart from bloat (gastric torsion) this is one of the two conditions that cannot wait.
ps I have a small bottle, still, with stones from my first case – he’s long gone (born 1973) but his stones remain.
How much should surgery to remove bladder stones for my dog cost?
My dog has been recently diagnosed with bladder stones. We noticed that there was blood in his urine and around his crotch area when he went to the bathroom.
We took him to the vet for a uroanalysis which came back positive for calcium oxylate crystals along with blood and a white blood cell count in his urine.
We also recently had x-rays done which confirmed a number of small stones. It’s been caught early, but since we’ve never been to another vet, we’re not sure if the price tag of $1,200 – $1,500 (CND) is accurate.
Anyone experience with this and its cost? How about preventing something like this from happening again? Thanks for the help!
The Mar Vista Vet site has a good overview of calcium oxalate stones at: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/canine_oxalate_bladder_stones.html
The quote you were given is comparable to what we were given for our large breed dog. The quote included additional blood work, IV fluids, post-op pain medication, etc. and was very inclusive.
The surgery and subsequent diet change made a big difference in the comfort of our dog and also offered us relief knowing there was not an eminent chance of an emergency blockage.
Good luck with your boy.
how to help prevent bladder stones in my dog?
my 12 year old corgi mix was recently diagnosed with bladder stones and had to undergo surgery to remove it. i saw the stone post-op, and it was large, oval, rust-colored (perhaps from the blood), and covered in crystals. it was causing incontinence and bloody urination in my dog. the vet told me that tests showed it was caused by meat protein, which is why the s/d food he gave me to try to dissolve the stone without surgery wasn’t working. so my dog is now on a high-quality vegetarian kibble. i’d like to know what else i can give him to help with his condition and to prevent future stones. any supplements or natural remedies out there that you’ve tried?
Depending on what the stone was composed if depends on what the dog can and can not eat.
The stones are either struvite stones from the urin ph being to high or clacium oxylate stones from the ph being to low.
What you feed can affect the ph of the urine and cause stones to form.
It is VERY important to the health of you pet not to feed anything else other thean the prescription diet as it may cause more stones to form again. You need to be very careful with animals that form stones so it does not happen again.
dog and kidney/bladder stones?
my grandmother has a chihuahua mix dog.she feeds him beneful original dog food. the vet said its good dog food and that it should help with the kidney/bladder stones but he still gets them. i know there is dog food out there that helps break them down and keeps them from forming but every time i do a search for the special dog food i cant find any.can any one tell me some of the dog foods name or give me a list please thank you cause these vet bills are killing my grandma
I seriously doubt any vet would say that Beneful is good dog food. It’s one of the worst quality foods you can feed a dog. Full of food dye, useless fillers and grains. If the vet did actually say that (I think your grandma is telling you stories) find a new vew who knows what they’re talking about.
If the dog has stones then there are prescription diets that any half decent vet would prescribe. Go to the vet with your grandmother to make sure she’s listening and understands what the vet is telling her. When you go back to the vet they will prescribe a presctiption diet. This needs to be purchased from the vet because it is a prescription item.
Please answer:My dog just had bladder stones taken out. She urinates frequently. Is it okay to remove water?
So she had her bladder stones taken out. My parents want to without having to take her out constantly. She had a lot of water today, is it all right to let her sleep through the night without access to water and give her water in the morning?
It is fine to take up water at night, provided she has access to fresh water during the day.
What dog foods are available for dogs with kidney and bladder stones?
I have a Great Dane with Addison’s Disease and who now has been diagnosed with bladder and kidney stones. I pay $200 a month for the injection to keep him functioning with Addison’s and now I have to feed him a prescription diet. I love my dog but I have to eat too. Is there anything out there that is cheaper than $59 for a 40# bag.
Join Yahoo’s K9KidneyDiet group. You’ll need to know what type of stones.
I had wonderful success using the Fuzzer Diet for calcium oxylate stones… and have found raw feeding to be less expensive than premium brands of food.
http://www.eastwooddanes.com/Getting-Started-101.htm
Good luck!
People who really know about dog foods and bladder stones?
With a recent problem with dog food, it poisoned one dog making her really sick and lightly sickened another it made me start considering all dog foods.
The third dog is a pomeranian and doesn’t eat the same food the other dogs eat, so she didn’t get sick, thank goodness.
She, the pom, is a rescue and her previous owners didn’t pay enough attention to her and missed the fact that her bladder was completely filled with bladder stones so the vets put her on royal canin s/o for urinary problems. Wondering if there is a healthier and better food for her? I’m unable to stand for more than a few minutes at a time so it’s hard enough trying to cook for myself and there are days i cannot even do that. So cooking would be really hard, but i’m still considering it. But if there is a great dog food out there that would work better than this it would make my life better.
Hope someone can help. Thanks!
Our pom has access to water all during the day, when we go to sleep water gets picked up or the boxer pees everywhere. They get to go out every 3 hours max, our boxer male has to go out often.
Boxers are on Taste of the Wild, bison forumula, and wondering if pom might do ok on it and not get anymore stones.
As for past owners, they were a huge problem in this dogs life. NO shots, No care, Teeth were in horrible condition, Major heart issues they didn’t even know if and if you held her you would instantly feel something was wrong with her. Feels like a zipper!
You want a dog food that is going to be limited ingredient, No grain, and be LOW in proteins, magnezium and phosphorous, and a HIGHER level of salt to increase drinking. Making sure your dogs have access to water 24/7 and encourage drinking. Also, make sure they have frequent potty breaks. This helps reduce the production of stones. You should also keep your dogs on cranberry tablets for life because these help prevent and reduce the UTIs and KIs.
I would suggest looking into Natural Balance. It is a limited ingredient dog food that has different formulas for different needs. The bison and sweet potato formula is excellent because Bison is one of the leanest forms of protein. They sell cranberry treats, etc. Here is the link to their site for you to do your research, and see if you’d like to try this. It is excellent for dogs with allergies and certain health requirements like yours.
I have an American Pit Bull Terrier mix who is also prone to UTIs and KIs and also stones. I feed my boys the N.B. Bison or Venison formula, and my Pit mix hasn’t had any problems since. Thank God! Knowing what causes the problem is necessary in order to find a food that won’t exacerbate the problem. Proper management of diet will drastically reduce your dog’s likelihood of contracting these.
The only problem with the foods that vets recommend is… THEY’RE CRAP! The vet doesn’t know what is in the foods, and if you look on your bag/can at the ingredients, you’ll see a ton of stuff that you are actually needing to have less of, and not enough of what you need more of.
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/allergy.html
where can I find a special diet for my dog that may have bladder stones?
My bishon is on antibotics for a bladder infection and the vet said he thought he felt a stone…I feel that he is anxious to do surgery on her, but I have heard these stones can be disolved with a special diet
Did this vet take x-rays? Stones show up very nicely on x-rays because they are mineral just like bone. I don’t trust anyone who says they ‘felt’ a stone. Get another opinion.
Also, only your vet will have the diet for dissolving stones. First, the stones need to be identified. There are stones that flourish in acid urine and stones that flourish in alkali urine. When that is known, then the type of food can be started.
A urinalysis should be run. There are crystals that show up in the urine, BUT at times there won’t be any crystals – just stones. And the urinalysis also checks the pH of the urine.
My dog just had surgery to remove bladder stones.?
The doctor told me that he removed 70 stones from her bladder. Is this normal? It sounds outrageous to me, has anyone ever heard of this many before?
Just remember that when you hear “stones” it’s not exactly like gravel rocks or anything. They’re very very small and that’s why there can be so many. 70 does seem like a lot but I’m sure there’s been cases of worse. Hopefully your vet also discussed medications and dietary changes to help prevent this in the future–ouch! Hope your dog’s up and running again soon.
Bladder Stones! Need info on good prescription dog food for dog with bladder stone’s except ScienceDiet?
My brothers dog recently had to have surgery for bladder stones and the vet says that she has got to be on Hills Science Diet C/D for the rest of her life. I do not like the ingredients in this food. It’s full of meat by-products, corn and BHA, and BHT and a host of other ingredients not even fit for human consumption. The dog food analysis web site even goes as far to give it 1 star out of 5. I don’t understand why the vets all recommend this food to people so often when it is so unhealthy. I feed better food to even the stray cats I feed outside. Does anyone know of any other dog food prescription for bladder stones or even the ingredient that she should avoid so as not to get bladder stones in the future? I will ask my own vet next time I go for the ingredients she should avoid but wondered if anyone had any input on the dog food or if they have experience with a dog and bladder stones. If he ends up cooking for her at home every day, which I know might be the only other option than the Science Diet, does anyone know of any good web sites on the food a dog with bladder stones should eat, (I know try searching the internet but the internet is like a mash up of tid bits of info on this subject, and yes I will continue to search but just wanted input from all avenues including vets and vet techs or anyone that has gone through this with their own dog). I really don’t want her to have to go through life eating this crappy food, since all the stuff in Science Diet has been known to cause a whole laundry list of other health problems, and I don’t think she needs any more.
By the way she is a rottweiler.
My dog is sweet- I did not know they made a 40% profit! That is outrageous! I kept thinking there must be a reason for them to push it so much, now I know, it’s the same reason all the commercial dog food brands put such horrible and harmful ingredients in the food- MONEY!MONEY!MONEY!
Doggy want to go for a walk- Yes, I do not understand how a dog food with by-product and corn and all of the other awful ingredients could be healthy and balanced. I have read sooo many horrible things about by-products, the dog food companies disgust me. I mean diseased animals and euthanized pets is not something I think this dog should be ingesting. Let alone the preservatives which are a proven carcinogen and are banned from human food. There is just so much crap in the Science Diet. Funny thing is I was justing looking into Orijen for my own dogs. I am feeding Blue Buffalo right now but want to upgrade even further. I recently took in a stray kitten with seizures which my sister bought a bag of Orijen for, since his medical condition I want him to have the best food possible so we don’t have any other issues. So I defintely like the way Orijen sounds and was unaware it could be used for this issue with the stones. I will talk it over with my vet(and his vet)and see what he thinks.
All of you have had great and helpful answers, except Tammy D- I don’t mean to be rude but no matter how many times you tell me, I’ll never think it’s ok for any pet to eat by-products or carcinogen preservatives,or anything that is toxic, and don’t understand how you could say that is what dogs need for a balanced diet.
Thanks to everyone who recommended Orijen or Innova, Also had recently been looking into Flint River Ranch myself and was unaware their food was PH balanced also. So Thanks so much everyone, it will be hard to decide the best answer!
Good for you to not fall for the self-serving recommendation of the vet. Vets make about 40% profit off the bags of Hills/Science Diet they sell.
Yes Science Diet and Hills will add a whole slew of health problems to your dog’s current health problem.
Try feeding your dog Orijen. Orijen is extremely good and high quality food. The reason it helps with bladder issues (like stones and crystals) is because it has the proper PH level for dogs which keeps their body “acidic”. Other dog foods, especially ones with grains, tend to make the dog’s system alkaline. Alkaline is good for humans but not for dogs. Their systems need to be acidic. An acidic environment is not favorable for stones to form. You should see a difference. A raw diet will also help in this regard.
My dog had a problem with urine stones/crystals and after I switched him to grain free Orijen, there was no more blood in his urine. (no more stones or crystals.)
The reason why the crappy prescription diets may help with urine stones is that the company removes the magnesium in the food. This is very very bad and detrimental to health. Dogs and humans must have magnesium for their brain. It’s horrible that they don’t tell their patients these things just to make a few bucks!
What is the best dog food for a Bichon/Toy poodle that has crystals or bladder stones?
My 9 year old Bichon has been eating Medical preventive since a puppy (to prevent urinary crystals that are prevelent in this breed) and my 5 year old Bichon / Toy Poodle mix has been eating the same since a puppy but recently had surgery to remove a bladder stone. The vet recommended she now eat Medical SO to prevent further stones. Is there any better, more natural food out there that would be healthier for both of them?
Medical is very good for your pets! it is very limited in chemicals, and additives. You can only get medical through you vets office and that is because it has medicinal ingredients that store bought brands can’t. if price isn’t an issue stay with the medical, it is the best for there health, and it is the best brand to further prevent crystals, and bladder stones.
What kind of treats can I give my dog with bladder stones? [READ FIRST]?
My dog has bladder stones and we took her to the vet he was saying we could make treats out of the special food we give her, how would we go about doing that? He’s really busy so we haven’t been able to get ahold of him to ask so if anyone actually knows thatd be awesome. Let me know. Thanks.
What type of food is she on? My lab was on the Hill’s CD for bladder stones. They actually sell corresponding treats that are safe with a few varieties, and it was $3.99 for a decent sized bag. Good Luck!
dog with bladder stones! outcome?
one of my dogs have stones in her bladder. she had this problem for a few years now but we cannot afford surgery. my vet said its about$1000 for the surgery and my dad is not willing to pay for the surgery. she is also VERY old. not sure about her exact age. we got her as a stray off the street. also, even if my dad was willing to do the surgery, im worried she would get really stressed since she is old, and not comfortable AT ALL around strangers (she looks at strangers like they are going to kill her); she is an extremely nervous/anxious dog.
so my question is, what should i expect from her? anything i should really look out for? anything i can do to help (other then surgery)?
for now all she does is try to pee but it doesnt really come out smoothly. it kinda just trickles. she will try to go often but she cant get the urine out at once. other then that she is healthy.
There is a yahoo email Group called K9 Kidney Diet group. A rescued dog I had (owner release due to bladder stones) was saved by the Fuzzer Diet (specifically for calcium oxylate stones) You will need to know what type of stones she has.
Good luck and make sure she always has water available!
Diet for Dog with Bladder Stones and Corn Allergies?
Hi, one of my German Shepherds (85 lbs) recently was diagnosed with few STRUVITE Bladder stones. They vet gave him Science Diet Prescription dog food thats specifically made for dogs with struvite stones. Said I had to keep him on it for the rest of his life.
After a few days of feeding him the new food, he started getting scabs all over and his hair started falling out. So I go back to my vet, and say that I think he’s allergic to the Corn in the food. The vet recommends that I try IVD veternary dog food which has a lotta corn in it also. He doesn’t have any non-corn prescription dog food.
1. What I’d like to know is if my dog is allergic to corn, how bad is it that I continue feeding him that food even along with the antibiotic pills that my vet prescribed.
2. If I switch my dog back to his old food (Nutros Max), how long before his struvite stones come back?
3. If I switch him to some Super Premium dog food like Solid Gold, would this help prevent future stones?
4. If you answer yes to #3, then which specific Solid Gold dog food would be best for my dog?
If your dog has struvite bladder stones, then acidifying the diet, along with treating the infection, can help dissolve the stones. Ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C), and distilled water can help with this. , Acidic foods include chicken, beef, eggs, fish, pork, cottage cheese, yogurt, rice (brown and white), beans, nuts and all seafood. See http://www.herbtime.com/InformationPages/FoodsforAlkalineAcid.htm for more information on acidifying and alkalizing foods. See http://www.marvistavet.com/html/canine_struvite_bladder_stones.html for more information on struvite bladder stones.
When the infection is treated by the correct antibiotic, cranberry juice Capsules (not cranberry juice) can be given to the dog. These help to stop bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall and help prevent future infections. Some people have had success keeping the urine acidic, which helps prevent these crystals from forming, by feeding acidic foods and avoiding alkaline foods. A raw, natural diet is high in acidic foods.
FROM THE SOLID GOLD WEBSITE:
Solid Gold pet foods contain either blueberries or cranberries. Extra cranberry juice may be added to the food or drinking water as an additional aid in the prevention of UTI’s and struvite crystals, but care should be taken to avoid those products with added sugar, corn syrup, or other fruit juices that can negate the cranberry’s acidic, beneficial effects. Cranberry extracts, such as our Solid Gold Berry Balance, are also available.
My dog has bladder stones and the vet says that surgery is only answer?
Was just wondering if there were any other ways to cure this that I am not being told about besides prescription food.
Have the stones removed and see what type they are. One type, struvite stones, can be managed with diet. The other type cannot. Don’t leave the stones in the bladder, it can cause so much more damage if left in the bladder. My dog had one stone removed when she was a year, and had over 400 stones removed at 3 years. I chose to not feed the prescription food after the first surgery and she paid for it. She is now on the prescription for the rest of her life. Wish I had other alternative foods to give her, but I will not take the chance of her making more stones.
You could always get another opinion, but I wouldn’t wait too long. Everyday you put off the surgery is another day that those painful stones are damaging your dogs bladder.
What other foods can help a dog with a bladder stone?
My 3 year old chihuahua has a bladder stone and was given a Urinary SO diet dry dog food. He is very picky and won’t eat the food even if its wet. I’ve been making him his own dog food since the big recall, and whatever I do he wont eat it (mixing it with other foods).
Is there anything I can make that can help with his bladder stone?
You need to know what type of stone before a diet can be determined… the treatment for one type of stone is nearly opposite the treatment for another.
Please consider joining Yahoo’s K9KidneyDiet email group. There are a lot of people on it with tons of experience dealing with both bladder and kidney stones.
I rescued a dog with calcium oxylate bladder stones.. the group’s FuzzerFood Diet has worked wonders for him and he’s now doing well in his new (3 years now!) home.
Good luck,
If your dog has had surgery to remove bladder stones, how much did it cost you? How was the recovery?
I have a year and a half old cocker spaniel that was just diagnosed with bladder stones. I know that this probably varies by geography, but how much did your surgery run? Also, what was the age of your dog when it had the surgery? Has anyone had reoccurring stones? Thanks so much!!
At the clinic that I work at the actual surgery varies from $1500-$1900. The majority of our patients that stick to the proper diet don’t have a problem with the stones recurring, but it all depends on the dog.We have had one dog at our clinic that has had several surgeries. Hills S/d food can be used to dissolve struvite crystals and stones, but it won’t help if the dog has calcium oxalate stones.
Looking for a natural fix to Dog’s Bladder Stones?
I need help. My poor dog has bladder stones. I cannot afford the surgury and I can’t afford expensive food/medication, and I don’t fully agree with a lot of chemicals. I am looking for a natural way to disolve her stones. They are small enough that they are passing, but there are many. She has been passing them pretty regularily and it’s really upsetting for the whole family.
I have tried to get into the K9 Kidney Diet group, but I don’t meet their requirements.
I have heard Cranbery juice works, and that cooking my own food works to prevent them.
But I am looking for a way to naturally disolve the stones. There has to be something out there. Herbal, homeopathic, ANYTHING! my puppy is suffering and needs your help!!
K9 kidney diet clearly state they are about kidney stones.I have been on the list for some time and have no dogs with kidney disease,just one who will develop it in the future.I suggest you try there again
bladder stones…my dog is straining to pee and blood in urine again???
My dog was diagnosed with bladder stones. She is on the soft canned food c/d. My parents mix it with pet store brand kibbles for her dinner (canned and hard mixed together in her bowl). I didnt think this was a good idea at the start becuase she needs the c/d kibbles, not random ones.
Well yesterday and today, we have noticed her straining to pee again, and some blood in her urine again. It hasnt been like this since she got diagnosed which was a few months ago.
Our vet said if there is blood, its her passing a stone. Is this true? and will her straining and the blood stop? Does the straining and blood start and stop randomly?
She is a 9yr old female Shih Tzu.
A little panicked, any help advise would be great.
Ouch. Your poor dog. I can empathize them her.
Now, for the facts. You are right, your dog should only be on c/d. These stones are typically a formation from your dog’s diet (pre diagnosis). The c/d is a form of treatment for the stones, so by mixing it in with regular food, you are possibly creating more or altering the treatment plan of your veterinarian.
The blood in the urine could be from passing the stone or from an infection or even if there are enough, the stone’s effect on the bladder wall.
Honestly, the best treatment for bladder stones is removing them. It is a relatively simple surgery that will clear out the stones and return your pet to ‘normal’. Your vet will most likely do some radiographs and/or an ultrasound to confirm the stones and see how much of the bladder is filled with them. Then under anesthesia, cut into the bladder and remove them. They can also send them off for analysis to see what type of stones your dog has and specify post operative care for your dog’s condition. Most likely, very specific perscription diet, but no store food in the mix!
Dog bladder Stones, causes?
Now that I know the causes, what can I do to prevent bladder stones from forming again? I do not want her to have to go through this again!
It is vitally important to treat any urinary infections and prevent further infections from occurring.
Look at the diet as this is often a problem for dogs who get these, you need to keep a low Ph balance, live pro-biotic yogurt and increase water consumption ( can add a little milk to colour the water, which makes dogs drink more, this will help flush the kidneys.
Feed a diet with animal-based protein sources(not cereal,soya or vegetable) low fat cottage cheese, cooked brown rice, brewer’s yeast, baked garlic clove, cranberry juice added to the dogs dinner will stops certain bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, ascorbic acid is also helpful for acidifying urine, and you need to build up the dogs immune system.
If you have to feed kibble then you need to do your research.
Lots of natural herbal medications will help with this, but you can search online for herbal immune builders, accupressue/acupuncture can also help
what is the recovery time for removing bladder stones in a male dog 11 years of age?
He should spend the first night recovering at the Vet Hospital, then likely go home the next day. He will have sutures in place that will be removed in about 10 days time, so his activity will be restricted during that time. You will also need to keep the incision clean and dry, and be sure to check it daily to make sure everything is healing fine.
Because there will be some trauma to the bladder when the stones are removed, he will likely pass some bloody urine for a day or so after the surgery. As long as he is still able to pass urine each time he tries, then there is no cause for concern.
He should also get pain meds while at the hospital, and possibly more to go home with. Being in pain will delay his healing, so discuss pain meds with the Vet prior to surgery.
Finally, because of his age, its important that you get bloodwork done prior to him going under anaesthetic. Your Vet will want to make sure he’s healthy enough to have the procedure done. It’s also wise to have him on intra-op fluids during the procedure.
Bottom line; expect some discomfort for a few days after surgery, but he should be back to his normal self within a week – definately 100% by the time the sutures come out 10-12 days later. Be prepared to put him on a special diet for the rest of his life to help prevent the stones from coming back. Your Vet may wait until the stone analysis comes back before changing his food.
My dog needs bladder stones surgically removed…what is the average cost?
I have a 13 lbs. male shih tzu and he requires surgery to remove bladder stones (2 marble-sized, at least). I was given an estimate of $997 Canadian. Is this a reasonable price? I believe the procedure is called a cystotomy.
I’m getting the surgery either way, i just don’t want to waste time calling other vets if this is a fair price.
I knew about the bladder thing, having been in labour on a full bladder. (The admitting hospital placed the urinary catheter in my uterus by mistake, and it wasn't caught until I got to the hospital with the NICU.) The doctors were amazed both that my bladder hadn't ruptured and by my bladder control, contracting for hours with a full bladder!
However, I'd never heard that as the reason for emptying your bladder before getting in the car before.
(P.S. Thanks for commenting. Your sister has had so many wonderful things to say about you, and it's lovely to finally meet you, even if it is in cyberspace.)
Dog Bladder Stones Treatment, Help!?
My Sheltie was taken to the vet today after urinating several times on our belongings and bedding. I did witness blood in her urine and took her ASAP this morning.
Indeed, she has 3 to four bladder stones and a urinary infection. She was given an antibiotic to clear up the infection and “Hill’s PRESCRIPTION DIET s/d” to be eaten everyday for 2 to 5 months in hope of dissolving the stones.
The other option was surgery-$1,500. She’s 3 years old and the vet explained that this food can cause the stones to disolve to nothing or even be urinated out when small enough.
Has anyone had experience treating dog bladder stones or with this food? Any other suggestions?
Thanks so much!
Hill’s diets are good ones. They are unfortunately expensive. Often the diets for stones work in two ways-1) they change the pH of the urine depending on the stone type. This will help prevent stones (and I guess dissolve them too) in that some stones form at certain pHs. And 2) they often contain large amounts of salt which makes the dog drink more, making them urinate more. Urinating more often prevents urine from sitting around in the bladder letting the minerals that make up stones settle out.
Antibiotics are often called for because bladder stones predispose to infections and often it goes the other way around too.
Surgery often seems drastic and expensive. The price seems reasonable to me if it includes after care and medication for pain. Keeping your pet on a diet to prevent stones may be needed afterwards as well.
You should also keep in mind that the diet may be a lifelong thing though I think I would be willing to try it before surgery and use surgery as a second option. Esp. since your vet seems to think that the diet changes will work.
Good luck!
my dog has bladder stones and is now vomiting! can these be related?
she’s an 8yo Golden Retriever. we’ve recently found out she has some bladder stones. her vet said a change in diet might be enough to make her feel better.
Today she vomited 3 times, and just now i noticed she was vomiting, but nothing came out! she is also urinating very often. once every hour and a half or so.
I WILL take her to the vet tomorrow. but i’m anxious, and i wanted to know if these symptoms could possibly be related. I’m afraid i will lose her soon. please help.
Thank You
These symptoms may be related. Pain can sometimes cause vomiting and changing her diet could also have caused the vomiting.
You’re doing the exact right thing by taking her to the vet.
I hope she’s OK.
What is the Best Dog Food for Dog with Stones in the Bladder?
My dog had stones in the bladder. He had operation 1 year ago. Looks like his start develop stones again. Prescribed dog food does not work. Any suggestions?
Feeding a food that is high in moisture will keep your dog’s bladder flushed out. So make sure to provide plenty of water and if you are feeding a dry food try adding water to it to increase moisture. You can also feed canned foods which are higher in moisture then dry foods. Also make sure your dog always has access to go to the bathroom so he never has to hold it. Here is a video from a vet. She explains why prescription diets sometimes don’t work and she says that a low carbohydrate diet is the best way to go. She recommends a homemade raw diet as it is naturally very low in carbohydrates.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/10/22/these-3-things-may-indicate-your-pet-has-a-bladder-problem.aspx
I need a good dog food for a dog with bladder stones, not science diet ( not a fan)?
not a fan eaither
wellness super5mix is a good brand
natural with no corn or by product
5 star rated brand
i have my dogs on it n they love it n diing great on it n the vet agrees
I think my dog has kidney/bladder stones?
I looked up the symptoms online and they much my dog exactly, she is seven years old. Anyone know of home remedies for treatment of them? She has passed one or two already.
Thanks very much!
P.S I do not need any demeaning comments —-
There is no “home remedy” for kidney or bladder stones. Your dog needs to see a veterinarian. At the very least they need to take x-rays to see if she really does have stones in her bladder or kidney and how many/how big they are. Some stones do not show up on x-rays because of the materials they are made of but stones like struvite or calcium oxalate stones will show up on x-rays. Some stones may be able to be dissolved or their size reduced with special diets available via prescription from your veterinarian but this is not always possible. If she does truly have kidney or bladder stones the best treatment would be surgery to remove them with a special diet to dissolve the crystals in the urine that make the stones form. Some stones may be small enough to pass but you should be aware that if there really are stones present in her bladder there is always the possibility that one may start to pass out of her urethra (the opening between the bladder and outside) but get stuck causing a blockage which is a medical emergency. If she gets blocked she needs to see a veterinarian immediately.
Going herbal for DOG BLADDER STONES, help!?
Hi–
My 3 year old Sheltie, according to her recent Vet visit, has 3 to four bladder stones. She was put on an antibiotic and a prescription s/d food to try to dissolve the stones. (It will take 2 to 5 months!)
I’ve done a lot of research and would like to try something herbal as well. I’m trying Hydrangea Root and Cranberry Extract.
Both claim to be able to dissolve the stones. I have the Cranberry in caps at 500mg each. Should one a day be alright for a 30 pound dog?
As for the Hydrangea Root, in a drop bottle formula called “Chanca Piedra”-translated to Stone Breaker”. I plan on giving her one dropperful a day divided into threes.
Anyone have any experience with these herbs? Any suggestions on dosage?
I have not used those particular herbs, but I did successfully facilitate my dog passing some large undiagnosed clots (only did the urinalysis $$ and checked for infection) using yarrow, marshmallow and nettles…I added Kava to the formula when I noticed him straining. From the time I noticed him urinating blood to the passing of the clots took about 6 days then I started him on fresh comfrey leaf. You may want to consider adding a musilage to help sooth the whole process…check out corn silk (zea mays)
The average human dose is for a 150lb human – divide for your dog’s weight -
My dog has bladder stones?
We just adopted a dog. The problem is she has bladder stones. She is in so much pain. Right now she is on special food and medicine to help pass them. I read on the internet that she could get surgery but not for small stones. Has anyone else had this problem? What did/would you do?
Stons of any size can be removed surgically. The smaller the easier. The surgery is simple and safe in competant hands. I have done many. The key its to first do a culture of the urin collected sterially by needle and get controll of any infection present. Then the surgery. I don’t like the food solution because it can take 6 months of pain to resolve, and you must match the correct food to the stone type… which means you have to identify the stone. This may be accomplished by a sediment analysis of the urin.
The food will help disolve the stones, not PASS the stones.
What does it mean when your dog is crying & in excruciating pain after surgery to remove her bladder stones?
My dog had bladder stones so she had a cystotomy performed to remove the stones. When we got her from the vet, she seemed normal. She was so excited and glad that she was going home.
However, when we got home she started crying like she was literally being crucified or something. We didn’t know what to do so we called her veterinarian who still hasn’t returned our call. We’ve been giving her pain medicine & she has antibiotics.
Also she has these painful experiences suddenly. She’ll be lying down and the next second she gets up and starts crying and hollering. She keeps biting as well, which I believe to be a reaction from the pain. She even bit my brother’s finger and she was biting her leash when we took her outside to try to use the bathroom.
She won’t eat a lot, although she has eaten some chicken. And she won’t drink a lot, although she drank water when she first came home. Every time we take her out to use the bathroom, she won’t go.
I tried to be as detailed as possible.
Does anyone have any idea as to what we should do or what we can try to do ourselves to help alleviate her pain besides her medication?
Thanks,
A worried pet owner
it’s probably pain from surgery – they have pain just as any other living being after being cut open. Keep calling your vet – make sure that you are giving the pain meds on schedule. just make her as comfortable as possible.
Do not attempt to change her pain meds on your own, or take the advise from someone here – only your vet should do that – and like I said – bug the crap out of them until you get a call.
My dog has to have bladder stones removed?
Our dog is going in Wednesday morning to have bladder stones removed. She is almost 9. She went in today for her pre-op blood work and I am getting nervous. Has anyone had an older dog with this type of surgery? How did it go? What was the recovery like?
You’ve done the right thing having the blood work done. This will let the vet understand how your dog will process the anesthesia and flag any underlying problems.
My dog had a cancerous polyp removed, so her surgery was slightly different. The bladder is like a balloon. To remove the stones, the bladder will be opened, the stones removed and then the bladder closed. (Your dog should not lose a section of the bladder like mine did since you aren’t removing cancerous tissue). Even with underlying health issues, my dog recovered well from the surgery. Your dog will have pain medications and will need to have you help her when she goes outside. She may pass blood in the urine for a few days. She may have a few accidents in her sleep (my dog did). By about the 7-10 day point, she should be pretty much back to normal.
One tip I’d like to share: my dog would urinate in her sleep for the first few days. Get some waterproof baby changing pads and cover her bed with one. Then put a soft towel over the pad. This will make it much easier for cleaning. Also, ask your vet how to clean her since she can’t have a bath with her stitches. Wishing your pooch a safe surgery and speedy recovery.
Do dingo dog treats cause bladder stones to form in a dogs bladder?
Are dingo rawhide dog treats dangerous to a dogs bladder, and potentially cause dangerous bladder stones. My dog had several stones removed and she is the only one of my four dogs that ever get this dog treat.
Its more likely to be caused by her food, and/or bacterial infections:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1634&aid=400
What is the best holistic canned dog food for a Yorkie that has had problems with bladder stones?
My Yorkie has had issues with stones, the vet wants to put him on Royal Canin Urinary prescription food, i looked at the can and the food is garbage. Anyone maybe know of a holistic food that would be good for that problem, has to be canned food.
Yes most all of the prescription foods for things are garbage.
However they do exactly what they are supposed to do and that is prevent stones.
Most dogs do fine on the them even though they are not the highest quality.
When a dog has serious health issues you have to look at what will stop the body from forming stones. If it takes a prescription food then that would be better than having to have stones removed over and over.
I have a cat who had them. She has been on one of the prescription food and she does fine. She looks great and has a beautiful coat and has not had any issues for more than 2 years. Before that she was eating a very high quality holistic food and had to have stones removed twice.
How can I get rid of my dog’s bladder stones?
He is already eating some special food, and getting medicine.. Do you know of any other way to get rid of them, besides surgery. Also if my dog gets surgery to remove the stones is there a good chance he will get them again ?
My dog has been to the vet, how else would i know its bladder stones, and he got the food from the vet as well
You would have to discuss treatment with your vet.. I’d heard of some treatments that may be able to dissolve the stones if they are small enough, but it may depend on if your vet has access to these options.. you might want to try a referral to a veterinary school, they would have more access to options.
Im not sure the cost of the treatments either.. surgury may actually be cheaper.
If the stones are too big, or there’s too many, surgury may be the only option.
A dog that gets stones once is likely to get them again.. yes. The vet would have to examine the stones to determine what caused them, and then prescribe a proper diet from there.. typically a low ash/ low residue diet.
What causes bladder stones in dogs?
She is an older lab and the vet insists she needs prescription dog food but I’d like to know what it has over something I can purchase in stores.
Our lab had surgery and removed 200 stones. What is in prescription dog food that isn’t in over the counter dog food?
stones can be caused by an improper urine ph which can be caused by feeding bad food. some breeds are also prone to stones. the prescription food will help dissolve the stones. if they aren’t dissolved your dog will need surgery to remove them.
add- your dog had a previous surgery to remove stones? your vet should have told you about feeding a special diet. the special diet is formulated to change the ph of the urine to either make it more acidic or more basic depending on the type of stones your dog has. otc foods will not do this. you need to put your dog on a special diet before she ends up becoming blocked.
Over the counter Dog Food for dog after bladder stones removed?
Our 19 pound terrier just had surgery to remove bladder stones. They sent us home with a small bag of prescription dog food ($26!!!) that has reduced magnesium, phosphate, and protein. Are there any “over the counter” dog foods that would be more cost effective but still have the same benefits as the prescription food? Thanks in advance for answers!
I don’t mind spending more than average for dog food, but the quantity of the prescription food and the price result in a 75% markup. To me that’s just crazy.
Once your dog is through that bag research dog foods, you may have to call companies directly to get the magnesium phosphae and protein levels of their food. You will not have to remain on that food perminantly, it’s only to flush out the smaller chrystals. My Male Siberian went through this with the food we switched him to after Pro Plan Performance…we now feed Wellness Core without issue…but definatly research your options. Of course your vet will want you to continue to purchase the over priced perscription food so you will most likely be on your “own” for this.
My dog just had surgury for Bladder Stones, is this normal?
Her wound keeps bleeding a little bit, and it looks oozy, but not necisarily red or infected. We have cleaned the blood off, and it is not very much, I just want to make sure. We put some Neosporin on it to help it heal some more. It has only been 3 days and we just picked her up yesterday. Just wondering if this is normal for surgurys.
Natural remedies for dissolving bladder stones in dog?
I have a 7 year old sheltie/schanuzer mix,just found out that she has bladder stones.The vet wants to do surgery right now,but when I took her to the hospital they said that they can be dissolved.I know that she is supposed to be on s/d to dissolve,vet won’t give it because of too much fat in her blood,so she put her on a weight management food,(dog was 5 lbs overweight),until I decide to do surgery. Dog has no trouble utinating,no blood in urinary,none of the syptoms of the stones.There still are a few stones in her from looking at last xray.So,my question,is there any natural remedies for dogs that will dissolve these stones,and are they any vets in maryland that would use natural verses modern medicine?
I don’t know about herbal remedies, but perhaps you could ask your vet about lithotripsy… using soundwaves to shatter the stones into smaller, harmless, and passable peices.
Is your dog have stones in his bladder?
My dog has suffered from stones in his bladder since last 8 months. I want to know, how do i do his treatment?
my border collie had a huge egg sized one in her bladder 2 yrs ago and they removed it right away when it showed up on the xray.she was straining to pee and there was lots of blood clumps mixed in her urine along with bright red pee so i knew she was in trouble.she has been fine since and i watch to make sure there is no more problems when she goes but they can come back.a change in diet and having the urine checked will show the vet if they are starting again.they are very painfull and can block the urinary tract and the pooch will die in misery so take ur dog back in for xrays and a good checkup then u can see what will help to eliminate them. best of luck
Going for herbal for DOG BLADDER STONES, help!?
Hi–
My 3 year old Sheltie, according to her recent Vet visit, has 3 to four bladder stones. She was put on an antibiotic and a prescription s/d food to try to dissolve the stones. (It will take 2 to 5 months!)
I’ve done a lot of research and would like to try something herbal as well. I’m trying Hydrangea Root and Cranberry Extract.
Both claim to be able to dissolve the stones. I have the Cranberry in caps at 500mg each. Should one a day be alright for a 30 pound dog?
As for the Hydrangea Root, in a drop bottle formula called “Chanca Piedra”-translated to Stone Breaker”. I plan on giving her one dropperful a day divided into threes.
Anyone have any experience with these herbs? Any suggestions on dosage?
I’m not a vet, but an MD. We do basically the same thing with human bladder stones, although lithotripsy and surgery tend to be used earlier.
There is no good evidence supporting the use of those herbs to dissolve stones. The theory is that acidifying the urine will dissolve them.
I can’t really comment on the advice Jello F gave you except that it came from Hulda Clark, a notorious cancer quack who recently died of…….wait for it……..untreated cancer.
consider the source.
My dog had bladder stones removed, now she is on the hill prescription, is there a generic brand?
this is the can food c/d hills diet
looking for something cheaper, generic
Check out neo-diet–about half the price of Hills and just as good. Many vets will not recommend it because they don’t sell it.
what is the best food for a dog who has had bladder stones?
My Meesha recently had surgery for bladder stones and I wanted to know what is the best food to feed her so I can cut down on her getting them again?
Bladder stones and diet change
We had a lot of trouble with bladder stones with our Hannah (a Cairn terrier), including an instances of acute retention which could have killed her, but a change of diet to a bland and natural one seem to solve the problem on a life long basis. Most vets seem to favour a change of diet.
For a description of Hannah’s problems and details of her case history please see –
http://sites.google.com/site/health1916/home/dog-bladder-stones
If the link does not work then just copy and paste the address into the http:// address bar at the top of your screen.
I hope that this is of use to you.