How to determine if a dog has urinary calculi

Urinary calculi in dogs can be diagnosed through ultrasound and X-ray. If a dog has urinary calculi, the first step is to perform a urinary catheterization to see if the calculi can be flushed out. Then the dog will be given antibiotics and calculi-resolving agents. If physical therapy is ineffective, surgery to remove the calculi from the bladder is the only solution.

Symptoms of urinary calculi

The symptoms of urinary calculi in dogs include restlessness, difficulty walking, pain, severe abdominal pain during palpation of the bladder, and chronic urinary retention can lead to uremia. The dog may show depression, vomiting, ammonia smell in exhaled breath, dehydration, increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, severe bladder expansion and loss of elasticity, which may cause bladder rupture.

Treatment of urinary calculi

Urinary calculi can be treated by performing urinary retrograde irrigation. A urinary catheter is inserted into the dog's urethra, and then the urethra at the pelvic margin is compressed while injecting a mixture of physiological saline and liquid paraffin equal volumes. When the urinary pressure increases, the catheter is quickly withdrawn and the procedure can be repeated several times. If retrograde irrigation is not successful, early surgical intervention for urethral calculi removal is necessary.

Prevention of urinary calculi

Encourage your dog to drink more water, and do not feed them mineral water or other water containing high levels of minerals. Pay attention to a balanced diet, do not feed acidic foods or high-calcium foods for a long time. You can also feed corresponding prescription diets to prevent urinary calculi effectively. For dogs prone to urinary calculi, feeding some traditional Chinese herbs can also help prevent them.