Kidney Stones in Dogs

Can dogs get kidney stones? Absolutely they can. Nephrolithiasis is the medical term for kidney stones (the millions of microscopic structures within the kidneys are called nephrons).

Though dogs aren’t as likely to suffer the condition as they are likely to suffer bladder stones, it’s still a relatively common condition, but more common in toy breeds like Miniature Schnauzers and Shih Tzus than in larger dogs. 

The stones themselves are crystal formations caused by the concentration — and calcification — of mineral salts in the urine. It’s a condition sufficiently serious that you should call your vet if you’re worried that your dog has it.

In this comprehensive guide to kidney stones in dogs, you’ll learn:

• How to spot the signs of kidney stones
• The importance of giving your dog regular water
• When kidney stones require surgery
•  Why you should pay attention when your dog licks its genitals more often than normal
  
  
  

The symptoms of kidney stones in dogs will, like the symptoms of many conditions, vary from dog to dog, and your pet displaying one of these symptoms certainly doesn’t mean that it definitely has kidney stones. Sometimes vets only notice kidney stones when they’re examining the dog for an unrelated issue.

The two most common characteristics of kidney stones are blood in the urine and pain during urinating. But if your dog is experiencing any of the following, it’s also worth being on high alert for kidney stones:

• Frequent attempts to urinate with dribbling
• Less or more urine than normal
• Fever
• Weight loss and lack of appetite
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Urinating in strange places
• Licking at genitals
  
  

If your dog is displaying some of these symptoms and you’re worried, book an appointment with your vet. 

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The normal urine of a dog is slightly acidic and contains dissolved mineral products. As long as the urine remains dilute and at the correct pH, mineral salts remain in solution. If the pH of the urine becomes too acidic or alkaline or the urine becomes too concentrated, crystals of salt will precipitate out and form stones.

The causes of kidney stone formation can include one or more of the following:

• Increased mineral salt concentration in the urine (can result from diet or urinary tract infection).
• Increased water reabsorption by the kidneys
• Changes in urine pH (can result from diet or urinary tract infection)
• Urinary tract infection – bacteria produce urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea in dog urine resulting in a more alkaline urine pH.
• Long term use of diuretics
• Dehydration
• Genetic predisposition - breeds include (but are not limited to) the bichon fries, lhasa apso, miniature schnauzer, and Yorkshire terrier.
  
  

If you’re wondering what causes kidney stones in dogs, you’ve come to the right place. 

As in the human body, a dog’s kidneys help balance its nutrients, removing waste products from the blood. Imbalances in a dog’s urine or blood can lead to a build-up of crystalline structures, which later become stones.

The causes for this can include:

• Your dog might be reabsorbing too much water in its kidneys
• Dehydration
• Urine may have more than the normal concentration of salt
• Recovery from a bacterial infection in the bladder or kidneys;
• A urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Food with too much calcium in it
• Your dog may have been using diuretics for a substantial period of time
• A genetic predisposition to kidney stones 

Your dog’s diet is by far the most important factor in whether or not it’s unfortunate enough to get kidney stones. You can’t go wrong if you’re giving your dog a diet that includes:

• Lean protein
• Natural fats
• Carbohydrates
• Access to lots of water to drink

Preventing Kidney Stones in Dogs

Probiotics will help both your dog’s digestion and fight against bacteria in the urinary tract system. While eating cranberries won’t help once you’ve got a urinary problem, they act as a preventative measure, and they keep bacteria down to a minimum.

It’s a great idea to consider a vitamin C supplement as well, as it will boost your dog’s immune system and act as both an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. 

In order to give your dog the healthiest possible diet and do your utmost to prevent it from getting any kidney stones, we recommend heading over to our trusty friends at Dog Food Advisor, where you can make use of tons of advice and guidance about your pet’s nutrition and research the best dog food for dogs with kidney stones.

It’s always wise to call your vet if you’re worried about anything regarding your dog’s health. Nine times out of ten, dogs can pass kidney stones on their own and the problem doesn’t become serious.

On the day of the appointment with your vet, if you can, do your best to collect a urine sample directly from the stream of your dog’s urine. The longer the sample has been around, the less useful the sample is — samples over 24 hours old may not be useful for analysis, so try to collect a sample first thing in the morning.

A history of symptoms will be noted. A complete physical examination can detect an obstructed bladder and/or abdominal pain. The definitive diagnosis of kidney stones is made using abdominal x-ray or ultrasound.

If you are not able to collect a sample of urine from home, the veterinarian can collect one at the clinic. A urinalysis can detect the presence of blood in the urine, abnormal pH and the presence of crystals.

A guess as to the type of stone can be made based on microscopic observation of urine, however detecting the true makeup is through submission of a stone or stone fragment to the laboratory for analysis.

You’ll be pleased to hear that there are a fairly wide range of options when it comes to trying to tackle your dog’s kidney stones. 

Diet change

As we’ve established, your dog’s diet is completely crucial when it comes to kidney stones and their causes. It’s therefore almost as important when it comes to their treatment. Depending on your dog’s individual circumstances, a vet may prescribe a new diet that dilutes, or raises the pH in, your dog’s urine. 

In terms of the best dog food for kidney stones, a vet will probably be looking to prescribe something that is low in magnesium, phosphorus and protein. After this, and if it’s gone well, your vet may tell you that your dog ought to change its diet permanently.

Urohydropulsion

If your vet is sure your dog can pass the kidney stones through its urethra, they may opt for something called urohydropropulsion: this involves inserting a catheter and filling your dog’s bladder with saline (a mixture of salt and water), which flushes out the smallest stones. 

ESWL

Another way to get rid of the stones is through a technique called ESWL, or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. ESWL involves high-energy sound waves breaking up the stones into pieces that become small enough to be flushed out of the dog’s urinary tract with no fuss.

Drugs

Various medications may also help your dog. These can acidify the animal’s urine, helping to dissolve the stones. If your furry friend is dehydrated, water intake can be increased with the help of medication. This will dilute the mineral salts in your dog’s urine. If your dog has (or risks getting) a urinary tract infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. Last but not least, if your dog is clearly in pain, a vet is quite likely to prescribe some pain medication.

Surgery

At their most serious, unfortunately, kidney stones can risk blocking your dog’s urethra. In these potentially life-threatening cases, a vet will have no option but to perform surgery to remove the stones. 

You need to look after your dog so that the chances of them ever contracting kidney stones is as low as possible. Feed them well, stay on the alert, and call a vet if you have any concerns.

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If your dog has undergone surgery to remove kidney stones, your vet will probably advise restricted exercise for a couple of weeks to allow the wound to heal.

You should schedule follow up appointments for urinalysis and/or abdominal x-rays every 4-6 weeks after treatment starts to ensure stones are dissolving and new ones aren’t forming. Pets with recurrent kidney stone issues may need to be examined by x-ray or urinalysis every 3-6 months long-term.

You can also introduce measures to try to prevent kidney stones developing again. That includes reviewing your dog’s diet — a therapeutic diet may need to be fed for life depending on the stone type and predisposition to urinary tract infections and stone formation. 

Ensuring your dog has access to plenty of fresh drinking water is another simple but effective step. Water helps to keep your dog’s kidneys functioning smoothly.

Why not consider signing up for a wellness plan, which will cover the cost of routine vet treatment and checks? You can also compare pet insurance plans from leading providers here.