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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Bladder stone in my dog, anyone else's dog had this?

12 replies

MintyChops · 25/04/2016 23:02

My sweet little miniature poodle has a big bladder stone, has been peeing blood and is due back to the vet tomorrow for further investigation. They are going to sedate her then take a urine sample directly from her bladder and also will be able to work out what type of stone she has. This result will dictate what special food she goes on to dissolve the stone.

Apparently it will take about 3 months. The other option is surgery to remove it then a special diet anyway. Anyone any experience of either approach?

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 26/04/2016 07:40

Only some stones can be dissolved others have to be removed by surgery. Sometimes the crystals in the urine do not reflect what is at the centre of the stone and started the problem. The gold standard approach would be to remove the stone surgically and send it to the university of Minnesota ( hills provide this service to vets for free) so the stone can be sliced to identify the source of the problem.
Recently all of the bladder stones I have dealt with in dogs ( there have been a lot this year for some reason) have been the non dissolving type.

Mnettyhugs · 26/04/2016 07:47

Yes my dog had this. Massive stone removed with surgery. She was on Royal can in struvite diet for about 6 weeks after then gradually switched back to normal food. I've had no problems with her since but I yell you it was a difficult time. I posted about it at the time, I'll see if I can find the link

MewlingQuim · 26/04/2016 07:49

My dog had lots of smaller stones caused by a chronic urinary infection but they wouldn't dissolve and she needed surgery to remove them. Now she's on special food to prevent reoccurrence.

She recovered really well from the surgery and I felt terrible that I didn't get it done sooner as she must have been quite uncomfortable. I had put some of her symptoms down to old age (she is 11) but she was like a pup again once she recovered.

DDog was insured though, it would have cost a fortune otherwise.

Mnettyhugs · 26/04/2016 07:50

Oh I can't find it but I've got pics if you want to see? She's a pug btw

Original poster
MintyChops · 26/04/2016 23:21

Hi again, thanks for your replies. She has to have surgery in the morning, apparently it is a massive stone and causing her a lot of pain. Sad She is asleep beside me on the bed, they gave her some sedation today to examine her and pain relief.

MNetty, pics of a cute pug would be lovely, or did you mean the stones (not sure I could face that with her lying here with me.....)

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyChops · 26/04/2016 23:26

LoneCat would a dog in Ireland have its stone sent to Minnesota?

OP posts:
villainousbroodmare · 26/04/2016 23:37

Minty, I'm sure it certainly can be if you request it. The clinic have to post it so of course it will take some time. Whereabouts are you?
I had a patient recently whose bladder stone had mostly torn its way through the bladder wall. The dog made an excellent recovery and your little lady will too, I'm sure. Poodles are such cracking little dogs, and tough as boots.
Let us know how she goes. Smile

Original poster
MintyChops · 26/04/2016 23:53

Thanks villanous, she is a wonderful little dog. She was run over when she was 1, crushed chest, shattered pelvis, torn diaphragm - she nearly died, had several operations, a metal plate put in and 9 weeks in a cage. I was hoping nothing bad would ever happen to her again. She was so tolerant and upbeat about it all but she is miserable now.

I am in Dublin so I assume the stone will be analysed locally or is there any reason to request otherwise?

OP posts:
villainousbroodmare · 27/04/2016 22:25

Ask them at the practice. I suppose the Minnesota service is the top of the pops but there will be other options.

Lonecatwithkitten · 27/04/2016 22:36

Away Minnesota the stones are ground up and you get a percentage analysis. The way Minnesota do it slicing through stone means you identify the Nidus/root cause of the problem. I believe hills offer the same service not just in the UK, but worldwide to the veterinary profession.
We log on to Minnesota's website fill in all the details and download a form, we then post to somewhere in the UK that then couriers job lots to Minnesota. Takes about a month to get the results. We don't charge our clients for this Grin.

Original poster
MintyChops · 27/04/2016 22:56

Update on my dog: she had her surgery this morning. They removed a stone the size of a large Malteaser and she is doing really well. She is sitting up watching everything going on around her (she is the nosiest dog ever, always has been!) and they are just keeping her in until they are happy she is peeing ok. Hurrah! I am so relieved....

I asked where the stone goes and it goes via Cork to Minnesota as a matter of course 🙂 Thank you all for your advice.....

OP posts:
villainousbroodmare · 28/04/2016 11:41

Great news, Minty, well done and the best of luck to her.

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