Your dog has been diagnosed with
urolithiasis, more
commonly known as bladder stones, a
painful condition
that occurs in the urinary bladder. This
information is
provided by your veterinarian to help
you understand
the condition and give your dog the best
home care. With proper nutrition and
treatment, your dog can
live without the discomfort of bladder
stones.
HOW
ARE BLADDER STONES FORMED?
Bladder stones are formed in the urinary
bladder, in
part due to changes in the pH of the
urine, typically
caused by urinary tract infection, and
also from the
presence of excess protein, calcium,
phosphorus or
magnesium.
The most common types of bladder stones
in dogs
are Struvite, Calcium Oxalate and Urate.
Urolithiasis may be related to the type
of food your dog
currently eats, but some dogs are simply
more prone to
stone formation than others because of
their individual
chemistry and/or breed,
i.e., small breeds. Drinking
plenty of fresh water daily or eating
canned food can
help decrease the likelihood of stone
formation.
SIGNS OF UROLITHIASIS
-
Inability to urinate, sometimes confused
with constipation
(Contact your veterinarian if
you are unsure)
-
Difficult, slow urination
-
Pain when urinating or inappropriate
urination
-
Frequent attempts to urinate
-
Abdominal discomfort or vomiting
-
Incontinence
-
Blood in the urine
COURSE OF ACTION
Depending on the type and number of
stones,
your veterinarian may recommend a
combination
of several options.
If your pet has Struvite bladder stones,
your
veterinarian may decide to dissolve them
with
a therapeutic food, such as Prescription
Diet®
s/d®. Once
the stones have been dissolved, the next
step
is a food designed to prevent recurrence
by
reducing excess minerals in the urine
and creating a more
acidic urine.
Antibiotics are often recommended to
combat
urinary tract infection, and in cases of
Calcium
Oxalate or Urate stones, surgical
removal may
be necessary. Your veterinarian will
discuss the
best course of action with you.
HOME CARE
·
Watch for signs of recurrence. If they
appear, contact your veterinarian.
·
Follow your veterinarian's instructions
carefully for feeding and medicating
your pet.
·
Speak to your veterinarian before
changing your pet's medication or feeding
regimen.
·
Provide free access to fresh,
clean water.
KINDS OF BLADDER STONES
High amounts of stone-forming substances
accumulate
within the bladder (or urine) and form
crystals or stones
which cause irritation, pain and possibly
blockage.
FEEDING
RECOMMENDATIONS
Your
veterinarian may recommend feeding your dog
a product with restricted amounts of certain
nutrients, such as magnesium, phosphorus,
protein or calcium to help dissolve and
prevent the recurrence of stones.
Prescription Diet® Canine
s/d® is specifically
formulated as a nutritional aid for dogs
with
Struvite bladder stones. Reduced levels of
protein, magnesium and phosphorus help
dissolve crystals
and promote the formation of acidic urine.
(For temporary use only.)
Prescription
Diet® Canine
c/d®
helps minimize the
risk of recurrence of Struvite stone or
crystal formation
by encouraging production of
an acidic urine pH.
Prescription Diet® Canine w/d®
helps prevent the
recurrence of Struvite stones in obese prone
dogs
by producing an acidic urine.
Prescription Diet®
Canine
u/d®
helps prevent the
recurrence of Calcium Oxalate and Urate
stones with reduced
levels of calcium, protein, and nucleic
acids, and by promoting the formation of an alkaline urine.
Prescription Diet® Canine
Treats
complement
Prescription Diet® Canine c/d® and
Prescription Diet®
Canine w/d®
.
FEEDING TIPS
