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12 results for “struvite stones”
What kind of stone is this, struvite or calcium oxalate?
The photo shows a stone, but its type needs urinalysis and microscopy. Most cat stones are struvite, treated by acidifying urine to dissolve them and reducing phosphorus and magnesium in the diet.
What to Do About Kidney Stones in Cats and Dogs
Kidney stones form inside the kidney, common in older cats and dogs and often found during checkups. A stone can drift into the very narrow ureter and block it, trapping urine in the kidney, causing hydronephrosis or nephritis and rapid decline; it can also strain the kidney's internal structures and lead to failure. Surgery exists but usually does more harm than good. The good news: struvite stones can often be dissolved with diet or medication once the type is identified by a urine test.
Urolithiasis (Urinary Stones) in Dogs and Cats
Urolithiasis is the presence of stones anywhere in the urinary tract - kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra - causing painful, difficult urination and blood in the urine. It is linked to diet, low water intake, mineral imbalance, and infection. Diet change, medication, or surgery removes the stones.
What to Do When Your Dog Has Urinary Stones
Urinary stones — in the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra — show up as strained, painful, or bloody urination. Knowing the stone type and location guides whether dissolution, diet, medicine, or surgery is the right call.
How can I make my dog’s urine more acidic?
Alkaline urine forms struvite stones, so increase water intake via wet food or broth. For worse stones, get a urinalysis and use stone-dissolving and bladder-mucosa drugs with a urinary prescription diet; cranberry powder also helps.
Why Does a Dog Dribble Urine Drop by Drop?
A dog that dribbles urine a drop at a time, with prolonged urination and obvious pain, may have stones or urethritis. This guide covers the symptoms, treatment, and the diet changes that help pass and prevent stones.
Why is my cat’s blood magnesium high, and what should I do?
High blood magnesium usually comes from excess intake or poor kidney excretion. Treatment focuses on flushing out magnesium; mild cases improve with low-magnesium food.
Should You Spay or Neuter Your Cat?
Deciding whether to spay or neuter your cat is a personal choice with real trade-offs. Benefits include fewer diseases—neutering males lowers urinary and prostate problems and stops territorial spraying and aggression, while spaying females prevents ovarian cysts, pyometra, and mammary or ovarian tumors—plus a longer average lifespan and calmer behavior. The main drawback is a higher obesity risk because hormones shift and activity drops, which raises the chances of diabetes, joint, heart, and urinary-stone problems, especially in males. The right call depends on your cat; if you proceed, always use a licensed veterinary clinic.
Why Cats Are Prone to Kidney Disease
Cats evolved in the desert with a weak thirst drive, so they get most of their water from food — dry diets leave them prone to dehydration and urinary crystals. Acute kidney injury usually comes from poisoning or blockages (lilies, chocolate, xylitol, swallowed objects), while chronic kidney disease shows up as extra drinking and weight loss that owners often mistake for improvement. There's no cure for CKD, but early diagnosis keeps it manageable.
How to Treat Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Today's topic: feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), a condition common in both male and female cats.