Stones in the urethra - Page 1

A friends dog has stones in his urethra. The vet is trying to push them back through the bladder. Will this work? Options to surgery?

Chances are the dog will still require surgery if the vet can successfully get the stones back up into the bladder, but removing them from the bladder is a LOT less invasive than trying to surgically remove them from the urethra, as the latter carries more risk of resulting in permanant urinary issues...but if the stones stay where they are, the latter surgery will likely be the only option. Given that it's already been established that these stones are small enough to enter the urethra, it's doubtful that there is any chance of a non-surgical solution to the present situation.  In instances where the dog has larger stones that are too large to leave the bladder, it is sometimes possible to break down the stones via dissolution by the use of a specific prescription diet, with or without medication, depending on the composition of the stones.

Once the stones are removed, the next step will be to determine what type they are, and address why the dog's system is creating them.  Typically this will end up with the dog needing to have some type of dietary changes, and possibly medication as well.

THANKS SO MUCH. I was hoping that you would reply. So dogs do not have the ability to pass them like people? Any diet you would recommend that is NOT a vet diet? This rescue is a raw diet group and they have already asked for suggestions on what to feed. The rescuer, when I talked to her, had mentioned the difference of stones, but she was waiting for the vet to confirm which ones they were dealing with. Any idea how expensive the procedure is to remove them if she has to go this route?

Barb

I just talked to my friend and I guess the vet didnt drain the bladder and it actually tore so the dog needed emergency surgery ($1200) How common is this before I speal that I hate vets?

Nope, a 'I hate vets' rant is not warranted here--unfortunately, this was an emergency surgery situation no matter what, and given the circumstances, a tear in the bladder was one of the potential risks involved in backing the stones up, yet still less of a complication than having the surgically open the urethra.

As is the case with people, dogs CAN pass some stones, providing they are small enough to clear the urethra--there's no difference between the species in that regard.  These stones, unfortunately, clearly were NOT small enough to do so, and thus became lodged there, and obviously causing the dog a problem that led him to have to be taken to the vet.

Regarding diet, it's a tough call on that one--depends entirely on the composition of the stones, which will determine if the diet has to be restricted in ash, for example, or magnesium...it's not impossible to manage stone formation with a raw or home-prepared diet, but it will probably take some researching.

Here's a good veterinary paper on canine uroliths [the technical term for bladder stones] that, despite the center [University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine's Urolith Center] being sponsored by Hills, does NOT insist that there's no way to manage the dietary role without using a commercial prescription diet:  Canine Uroliths

It's written for both veterinary professionals AND laypeople, too, which is why I like it as a reference.

Ok I take back the vet comment.

AND THANKS

Well my stone fighting dog is home.... probably the biggest mastiff I've had to date.  Thanks Hexe for helping me! 191lbs (and will be losing some weight)

Beautiful dog...and you're welcome! 

What was the outcome of the analysis of the stones in this dog?