Leashes to Litterboxes

Yes it’s true, dogs can get urinary stones too.  Some can cause major problems like a complete blockage of the urethra while others can be small enough for a dog to pass but cause painful urination. 

Certain breeds of dogs are more prone to getting stones because of their inability to process certain minerals found in diets.  Dalmations are predisposed to having uric acid stones.  These stones are a result of a dalmation’s inability to transform uric acid into allantoin.  The liver is unable to make the transformation leading to an overabundance of uric acid which is then excreted in their urine and the problem is that the stuff just is not that water soluble and uric acid stones form.  The average age of a dalmation is first found to having these stones is about 4.5 years with the risk declining as the dog ages.

How do you know when your dog may have stones?

Look for the following telltale signs:

• Bloody urine
   
• Straining to urinate
   
• Urinating small amounts frequently
   
• Seeing gritty material in the dog’s urine

Uric acid stones may or may not be visible on plain radiographs. Often ultrasound or contrast radiography (use of special urinary dyes to create a “double contrast cystogram”) are needed to see the stones.  These are tests that can be run at your pet’s veterinary clinic as a day procedure.

Getting rid of the stones:

There are two options to get rid of the stones.  Both options should be discussed with your veterinarian as your dog’s health may warrant one or the other.

Surgery is the first option.  The advantages of surgery are immediate relief and removal of the stones.  The bladder is surgically opened and the stones flushed from the bladder and urethra.  The bladder is then closed, tested for leaks and the pet is usually sent home within a couple of days depending on its ability to urinate and eat.  The disadvantages include anesthesia, costs, the inablilty to remove all of the stones (it is not uncommon to have multiple tiny little stones throughout the urinary tract) and healing time.

Dissolution of the stones is the second option.  First any infection must be controlled as bacterial infections can cause the urine pH to be too basic leading to the formation of a different type of stone called a struvite.  Secondly the dog must be fed a strict diet made by Hill’s Pet Food called u/d diet.  It is only available through your veterinarian.  The dog is then given a medication to dissolve the stones called allopurinol.  After a month of this protocol another round of xrays are done to check for progress in the dissolution of the stones.  The disadvantages of this option are the length of time that takes to dissolve the stones (average time is 3-4 months), the increased incidence of blockage (as the stones get smaller they are more likely to pass into the urethra and get stuck), the protocol may not work and the expense of follow up work like xrays may cost as much as a surgery.

Prevention is key

The diet of the stone-forming Dalmatian is the most important factor in preventing future stones episodes. The goal is to feed a diet low in purines and create an alkaline urine (which is best to keep uric acid in solution). Low salt, low purine diets such as Hill’s u/d or k/d and canned forms of these is best as they contain more water hence dilute urine.  Treats such as whole grain cereals (non yeast containing products), cheese, eggs, fruits can be added to the diet as well.

The inablity of your pet to be able to urinate is an emergency!!!  Take your dog to the vet immediately if this occurs, this goes for any breed of dog or cat!!!

Tags: dalmation, dog, uric acid, anuria

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Did you know that approximately 45% of pets brought to veterinary clinics are overweight?  It’s true.  These are some guidelines that I follow when determining if a pet needs to go on a diet…

1.  Feel your pets rib cage.  You should be able to feel individual ribs.  If not your pet is overweight.

2.  Stand over your pet.  Does it have and hourglass figure?  If not your pet is overweight.

3.  Look at your pet from the side.  Is there a tuck at the abdomen?  If not your pet is overweight.

These are some quick things that you can do to see if your pet is overweight.  Now as for putting your pet on a diet that is another issue.  First switch your pet (slowly over a week or two) to a reduced calorie diet.  Two of my favorites are R/d by Hill’s or Calorie Control by Royal Canin.  Take your pet to your veterinary clinic, talk to the staff there and weigh your pet.  Both of these companies offer pamphlets that help to determine what your pet should be eating to lose weight. 

Some other tips to help lose the weight are exercise, small frequent meals (so your pet feels full all day instead of being a voracious eater at one meal and hungry the rest of the day), feed carrots or low calorie treats and exercise.  Some people ask how can I get my cat to exercise…..sure its easy for the dog people they just have to walk the dog but what about my cat.  I offer the following suggestions……

Put the food bowl up or downstairs so your cat has to do the “stair” workout.  Use enticing toys like laser pointers, feathers on strings or flicking sticks to get your cat to move around.

Just like with humans it is important to lose the weight at a decent rate.  Most will agree that 10% a month in weight loss is a steady rate.  I also encourage people to take their pet into their veterinary clinic once a month to get weighed and talk with the staff with regards to any questions you may have or to adjust the amount of food that your pet will get daily.

Remember, losing weight is never easy for humans or pets but with perseverance and the assistance of a good diet and the help of your veterinary staff you can do it and so can your pet.

Tags: pet, dog, cat, healthy pet, obesity

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