To further complicate the issue, something as seemingly harmless as large doses of this water soluble vitamin are one of the potential causes
of bladder stones in animals.
Another study in children found that pumpkin seeds may help lower the
risk of bladder stones by reducing the amount of calcium in urine (40).
Conditions that favor the formation
of bladder stones include decreased intake of water combined with decreased elimination outside, leading to a high number of salts that stay in the urine.
It was determined immediately upon viewing x-rays that this dog had a chronic
case of bladder stones that could only be corrected by surgery.
The left image shows a bladder stone that was removed from a rabbit; the right image is an
X-ray of a bladder stone in a rabbit.
The
occurrence of bladder stones is not uncommon in our feline friends and can lead to serious discomfort and even secondary problems if not treated.
In addition to digestive discomfort, excessive consumption of oranges can lead to central nervous system problems in canines and has been shown to increase the
likelihood of bladder stones.
Even though the kidneys and urinary bladder are both part of the urinary system, the development of kidney stones is not usually linked to the
development of bladder stones.
Others may need increased calories, reduced carbohydrates, specific reductions or supplements of various minerals, or diets formulated to reduce
risk of bladder stones.
The
occurrence of bladder stones is not uncommon in our canine friends and can lead to serious discomfort and even secondary problems if not treated.
Urinalysis, the name for the test, will show if bacteria is present and if there is a large concentration of crystals, the building
blocks of bladder stones.
Your vet will do a urinalysis to look for crystals (these would suggest the
possibility of bladder stones), white blood cells, and bacteria in the urine.
Presumably you are reading this article because your cat has been diagnosed with a calcium oxalate bladder stone, or at least some
kind of bladder stone, and you seek more information.
And if you've been feeding your kitty exclusive kibbles since its kittenhood and you've made no effort to teach it how to drink from its fountain, then the
chances of bladder stone formation are high.
According to Patricia Schenck & D.J. Chew from the book: Home - Prepared Dog and Cat Diets -» The
frequency of bladder stones in dogs is not high enough to justify dietary modification before a stone forms, and treatment of crystalluria is unnecessary in dogs that have never formed a urolith».
Techniques have been developed with the laparoscope to assist in removal
of bladder stones so as to minimize incisional size and tissue manipulation and subsequently improve patient comfort and recovery.
Analysis of bladder stones and accurate record keeping may prove invaluable should future research unravel the genetics of these problems.
When I took her to the grooming asa she got in, she urinated with blood (I didn't notice it before since she does it in the grass while I walk her) and the guy told me that was a
signal of a bladder stone and she would need surgery.
It looked like there was a
clump of bladder stones but when Dr. Evans did surgery to remove them, she just found this single, odd shaped stone.