The two most common types of stones found in cats and dogs are struvites and oxalates
a) Struvite stones appear in urine with a high pH (generally greater than 7.5), usually in response to a bacterial infection in the bladder. These stones are easy to prevent by keeping pets free from urinary tract infections and by treating infections appropriately.
b) Oxalate stones are found in urine with a low pH (generally less than 6.0) and are more common in certain breeds that may have a genetic predisposition. Oxalate stones are also found as a result of diseases such as Cushing’s disease, hyperparathyroidism, and any other disease that results in high calcium levels. Excessive calcium or vitamin C supplementation, steroid medications, and certain foods like soy and wheat can promote the formation of oxalate stones.
Urinary stones can cause urinary tract obstruction, pain and pressure, inability to urinate, partial bladder emptying, an open pathway for bacteria, and the development of urinary infections. The best diagnostic method is ultrasound, and symptoms you might notice include:
- hunched posture (the animal is in pain), does not tolerate touch, is aggressive
- The animal's desire to be let out more often, signs of urgent and frequent urination
- Urinating small amounts, urine leakage, or absence of urination when the animal postures to urinate
- Straining during urination
- Crying or whining during urination
- Urine dripping and frequent licking of genitals
- Urine with a strong odor
- Cloudy or bloody urine
If your animal has small stones or sand and you want to resolve them naturally, you can try the following:
Natural Methods for Resolving Urinary Stones in Dogs and Cats
01 High-moisture diet (preferably home-cooked)
02 Ginger
03 Cranberry
04 Probiotics
01 |
A meat-based diet with high moisture content will dilute the urine and help flush crystals from the kidneys and bladder. Meat is naturally low in oxalates and is the best diet for pets prone to oxalate stones. Dry food has a low moisture content and is not suitable for pets with urinary stones.
02 |
Among natural methods, we use ginger, which stimulates bile secretion and can help animals with gallbladder inflammation or stone formation; it also helps flush out urinary stones. Start with very low doses and watch for stomach upset.
1/4 teaspoon of grated fresh root for dogs weighing 6-10kg is a dose you can try.
03 |
Cranberry – You can get urine pH test strips. If animals consistently have a urine pH above 7.5, adding cranberry to their diet can be beneficial.
04 |
Probiotics – if you have encountered stones, it was likely after a bladder infection where the animal received large amounts of antibiotics. These pets should be given probiotics daily to restore an ideal gut microbiome as soon as possible.
Are you interested in which homeopathic remedy can help fight urinary stones?
Read more in the post HERE
