Symptoms and Treatment of Urinary Stones in Dogs
📝 Summary
Urinary stones (urolithiasis) are mineral crystals that form in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra, causing bleeding and blockage. With no blockage there may be no signs; partial blockage gives straining and bloody dribbling urine, and complete blockage is a life-threatening emergency. Western care flushes with fluids and antibiotics, herbal medicine clears damp-heat, and a retrograde flush under anesthesia can push the stone into the bladder.
1 Clinical Signs
If a stone doesn’t block or irritate the tract, there are no obvious signs. With partial urethral blockage the dog strains, urine comes in drops or a thin stream, sometimes with blood. Complete blockage means no urine at all despite straining and crying, with a full bladder enlarging the belly. Standing, the dog arches its back, draws its abdomen in, and tucks its legs; urine is yellow, cloudy, pH 5.0–6.5, with positive occult blood.
2 Medical Treatment
Western medicine uses heavy fluid therapy to pass urine, adding ampicillin and dexamethasone to control infection, ease pain, and prevent shock. Herbal medicine follows the principle of clearing heat, draining dampness, and expelling stones.
3 Surgery (Retrograde Flush)
Under general anesthesia, a modified probe is passed along the urethra. When the stone is reached, the assistant flushes with saline; once the stone enters the bladder, flush the urethra and squeeze the bladder so the stone passes with the fluid. After it exits, flush 2–3 more times.
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