Struvite Stones In Older Dogs

Struvite stones are quite unique in their composition.

Struvite stones in older dogs.

Struvite uroliths occur in both dogs and cats but have different causes. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones are hematuria and dysuria. Being composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate struvite stones require a different treatment compared to other types of bladder stones in dogs. Bladder stones are generally defined by the type of minerals that they contain.

Female dogs are at greater risk as they are more likely to develop utis. Symptoms and types. Struvite bladder stones or crystals also known as triple phosphate are the most common type of bladder stones seen in dogs and cats. Adequate water intake helps to dilute the urine and encourages frequent urination which decreases the concentration of potential stone forming minerals in the dog s urine according to a paper dennis j.

The aggregates of crystals represent almost the entire stone and the minimum part is composed of an organic matrix. Struvite stones in dogs sometimes occur without creating symptoms but they usually cause a few symptoms that observant owners should notice quickly. The stones are more common in female dogs than in male dogs and typically in animals that are mid range in years six to seven years of age. Struvite stones are a type of bladder stone commonly diagnosed in dogs.

If struvite is the diagnosis a veterinarian will treat the underlying cause e g dog antibiotics for urinary tract infections and may recommend a therapeutic diet that will dissolve the stones and crystals. Like all bladder stones struvites can irritate the lining of the bladder resulting in pain urinary accidents and sometimes blockage of the urinary tract. One of the more common bladder stones found in dogs is composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate also known as struvite stones. If your dog was diagnosed with struvite stones you may be wondering what dietary foods for dogs with struvite crystals and stones are out there.

Dogs prescribed antibiotics will typically use the drugs while consuming the therapeutic dog food and possibly longer if needed. In dogs struvite stones the most common type seen develop almost exclusively as a result of urinary tract infections utis caused by urease producing bacteria. There are different types of bladder stones in dogs. About half of the diagnosed stones are composed of struvite magnesium ammonium phosphate a third of calcium oxalate and a small part of urate.

Drinking enough water is the single most important factor for avoiding the development of struvite bladder stones. Struvite bladder stones usually form as a complication of a bladder infection caused by bacteria and if the urine becomes exceptionally concentrated and acidic. At least half of all bladder stones in cats are struvite and they re to blame for more than 30 of stones in dogs. Chew delivered at the 2004 small animal proceedings symposium of the.