Urolithiasis in dogs: symptoms, treatment, therapeutic diet, medications. What to feed a dog with urolithiasis: tips for creating the right diet Struvite in dogs natural diet

Urolithiasis in dogs occurs in fifteen cases out of a hundred and is a common problem in many breeds. The essence of the disease is simple: the dog’s bladder fills with stones different sizes, which block the urinary canals, causing terrible pain. Symptoms of ICD begin with difficulty urinating and then progress. The treatment is positive and brings significant relief. The most important thing is not to progress the disease to such an extent that the dog painfully tries to survive.

Helpful information

At urolithiasis pebbles can form in any department excretory system: kidneys, bladder, canals. Stones are formed as a result of the accumulation of certain substances, subsequent hardening, and crystallization. Normally, urine is approximately neutral. The disease shifts the pH value to the acidic and alkaline side. Minor chemical displacement results in the formation of fine sand, which is usually discharged to the outside on its own. Sometimes noted discomfort when passing solid particles, but overall the dog’s condition remains satisfactory.

The following types of stones may form:

• Cystines: passed on through generations of certain breeds. Dachshunds, bulldogs, and corgis usually suffer. Other dog breeds rarely develop this type of urolithiasis.
• Oxalates are the nastiest stones, they grow quickly, have a variety of shapes, and are difficult to treat.
• Phosphate stones are also different intensive growth, are successfully eliminated by strict compliance drug regimen suggested by the doctor.
• Struvite occurs as a result of exposure to various bacterial diseases.

One animal may have several types of stones. Therapeutic procedures are complicated by the selection of different treatment regimens to eliminate each type of urolith. Urolite- urinary stone. The danger of finding stones inside an organ cavity is as follows. Stones, passing through the urinary canals, scratch the walls of blood vessels, the animal feels severe pain. Particularly large stones can get stuck and clog the lumen of the canal. Then urine will accumulate in the dog’s body, poisoning the body with toxins. The blockage can result in rupture of the canal walls, leakage of fluid into the abdominal cavity. Remove the formed stones yourself folk remedies unreal. It is permissible to use non-medicinal products for early stages, for the speedy removal of sand. But stones pose too serious a threat to a dog’s health to joke or self-medicate.

Causes of urolithiasis

A serious disease requires a serious approach; many veterinarians have been studying the causes and factors leading to urolithiasis for years. It was possible to establish the following patterns:

• Various infections, especially those that change the structure of the blood, can cause changes in the composition of urine. The balance of the content of certain urinary elements determines the neutrality of the fluid reaction. Any excess or decrease in concentration inevitably leads to excessive hardening of the components. Diseases of the genital area and excretory system are especially dangerous. Pancreatitis can cause complications of this kind.
• Improper feeding leads to the development of the disease. The combination of regular (natural) food with canned and dry food puts a lot of pressure and strain on the digestive organs. The dog’s body is forced to adapt over the years and work hard. Excessive amounts of protein put a strain on the liver and kidneys, and shift the pH to the acidic side. Exceeding the proportion of carbohydrates in the diet has the opposite effect. You need to adhere to a certain regimen when feeding your dog, then the risk factor will go away.
• Often sand is formed due to the use of poor quality water. Giving water directly from the tap is possible if the salt content is known exactly. Otherwise, it is recommended to pre-clean the liquid. Using banal filters will perfectly help cope with the situation. Also, irregular access to clean drinking water can cause the accumulation of poorly soluble substances.
• Lack of regular, constant exercise. By walking the dog twice a day, the owners unwittingly cause stagnation of urine. Prolonged fluid retention provokes absorption. The components of urine crystallize to contain the animal's natural urge. Older dogs cannot endure for long, so urolithiasis is often diagnosed at this age.
• The next factor follows from the previous point - insufficient physical activity causes obesity. Problem weight is a threat to the animal’s heart and all body systems. Increased body weight requires a lot of work from the excretory system, which simply cannot cope, problems arise congestion, urine spoils.
• Genetic features specific dog have a great impact. Also, congenital changes significantly complicate the animal’s life. Degenerative changes in blood vessels and excretory canals can lead to urolithiasis. Improper functioning of the liver and kidneys due to abnormal structure, metabolic disorders.

Usually a combination of several reasons leads to urolithiasis. Such a combined effect is especially dangerous in predisposed individuals. Although other breeds also have certain problems, the risk of the disease increases sharply if there are problems with keeping and walking the dog. Minor little things and mistakes of owners inevitably lead to the development of various ailments. Most of these diseases occur in pets at the end of their lives.

Symptoms of urolithiasis in dogs

The initial change in urine structure usually goes unnoticed. The dog changes when stone formation has already occurred. It is possible to prevent the dangerous development of the disease if the owners regularly undergo preventive examinations at the veterinary clinic. An ultrasound will help to identify the beginnings in a timely manner future problem. Do not neglect a visit to the doctor if your dog is at risk!

The following irrefutable evidence of stone formation is observed:

• The dog goes to the toilet often. The animal is simply unable to hold back the urge while watering carpets, shoes, and corners.
• The amount of urine varies, often the volume is too small.
• The color of the liquid becomes darker, and blood may be present.
• The animal experiences pain, trembles, and may take strange, unusual, uncharacteristic positions.
• If the urinary canal is blocked by a stone, the dog experiences severe pain. The abdomen becomes painful, tight, and the animal avoids touching. Body temperature rises rapidly, severe thirst appears, and the dog refuses to eat.

Blockage of the canals poses a threat to the dog’s life, so observing such symptoms is a signal to the owner that urgent measures need to be taken. Primary changes in the urine should alert the attentive owner: the liquid begins to smell unpleasant, and a periodic decrease in the volume of urine excreted is observed. In general, urolithiasis is characterized by a long course. Animals live for years, experiencing temporary difficulties in the excretory sphere; the manifestation of symptoms is secretive.

Diagnosis

It is based on three successive steps: urine testing for biochemistry, ultrasound examination abdominal cavity, radiography. Then, based on the available laboratory data, the type of urolithiasis is determined. It is important to establish the nature of the stones in order to prescribe effective treatment. Thoughtless use of medications will cause significant damage to the dog's health. Therefore, always try to get and see a complete picture of the processes taking place.

A comprehensive examination is also required to exclude the presence bacterial infections, assessment of the dog's condition.

Treatment of urolithiasis

An emergency condition of urinary canal blockage is eliminated by inserting a catheter and removing urine. Then veterinarian uses anti-spasm medications and anti-inflammatory medications. If the x-ray shows too much stone filling in the lumen Bladder, channels, may be required surgical removal accumulated stones.

The goal of therapy is to dissolve formations and remove crystals naturally.

The first months of treatment regularly urine testing for concentrations of substances is required. This action will allow you to notice the deterioration of your condition in time and avoid possible complications. If classical treatment does not produce results, a method is used to remove part of the dog’s excretory tract. Permanent blockage of the canals is cured by widening part of the urinary canaliculi.

It is important to follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor. Believe me, short-term improvement in your condition will return a hundredfold if you follow these recommendations. Preventive medications should be used if there is a risk of urolithiasis. It is also important to comply general rules keeping dogs to avoid even a possible hint of the development of the disease.

Prevention of ICD

Includes compliance simple rules healthy dog:

• The dog should be given clean, filtered water.
• You should feed either natural food or adhere to a dry diet, periodically diluting it with canned food. It is not recommended to mix different types feeding.
• Walks should be long, at least half an hour, preferably three times a day.
• Ensuring regular adequate physical activity.
• Periodic preventive urine tests. Especially important for predisposed individuals.

Compliance with these rules will help maintain your dog’s health for a long time. long years. Health to your pets!

Urolithiasis is a treatable disease if it is properly diagnosed and treated. It is worth understanding that if you do not feed your dog properly when it has urolithiasis, no medications will help. A properly selected diet is an integral part of treatment.

The dog will become healthy much faster if its diet helps dissolve stones (uroliths). Proper feeding- the most important part of therapy, even if the dog had to undergo surgery, since a weakened body can lead to a relapse of the disease.

Rocks and sand never just form, and as you can imagine, they won't magically dissolve. The diet is designed in such a way as to create a deficiency of certain mineral compounds that the body will take from the stones. Simply put, the urine should not have enough of the substance that makes up sand or stones. If there are errors in choosing a diet and the urine is oversaturated with components, the stones will grow and the disease will progress.

In addition to diet, the composition of urine is changed using drug therapy. Dissolution of the stone will not occur if measures are applied temporarily, the diet is disrupted or treatment is interrupted. According to the experience of doctors, stones in the bladder are eliminated faster because they are constantly in a deficient environment. Kidney stones and sand can also be dissolved if the kidneys are functioning at a normal pace, but it will take longer.

With proper treatment and strict adherence to the diet, bladder stones dissolve in 2–6 months.

Regarding stones that are located in the ureters or urethra, there are several nuances. They will not dissolve, but when proper diet and will not increase. The best option is if the stones descend into the bladder under the stimulation of drugs or naturally. When in the urethra, the stone seems to be pushed up into the bladder, but it can descend again, having only partially dissolved.

In addition to the natural dissolution of urates, struvites, oxalates and sand, there are medical techniques that include a wide range of techniques. Before starting treatment, a urine test is required, because if the doctor does not know which element is the basis of stones or sand, he will not be able to select an adequate treatment.

Experience shows that random treatment wastes valuable time., and sometimes to an increase in stones. By the way, the stone does not necessarily consist of only one main trace element, that is, the diet is selected to create a deficiency of several minerals.

During treatment, the dog is regularly examined to track the dynamics. If the stones do not decrease within 2 months, another attempt is made to correct the diet. The third attempt was not given and the quadruped was operated on. IN acute conditions When the dog cannot urinate or is in serious condition, surgery is performed immediately.

Every 1–3 weeks or as determined by the attending physician, the dog must visit the clinic for the following procedures:

• General blood test with biochemistry.
• General analysis and urine culture.
• If available at the clinic, an x-ray or ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity.

It is worth understanding that methods for the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis are strictly individual for each dog. If there is a need for surgery, the doctor must take into account the animal's age, gender, body type, size and location of the bladder, type of urolithiasis and severity of the condition. Since pathology affects the kidneys, that is, the filtering organ, drugs for anesthesia are selected after preliminary tests for sensitivity.

If a dog has been diagnosed and treated for urolithiasis, there is always a risk of relapse if prevention is not carried out.

Diet for struvite

Struvite stones are almost always accompanied by infectious inflammation bladder, ureters or urethra. The infection is eliminated with antimicrobial and broad-spectrum drugs. The best option for selecting medications is urine culture to identify the type of pathogen.

Treatment and prevention are similar: eliminate the infection and make sure it really isn't there. The tests are repeated until the picture becomes clear, since symptomatic treatment can lead to relief and incomplete elimination of the infection. After the stones have dissolved, active treatment continues for 7–10 days, during which urine alkalinity is monitored several times a day.

Struvite can be sterile, meaning the disease is not accompanied by infection. In this case, treatment is carried out only on the basis of diet. By the way, sterile struvite dissolves faster.

Recurrence of the formation of struvite stones, the treatment of which was not complicated by infection, is very difficult to predict, since there will be no obvious symptoms. In this case, the emphasis is on diet. For prevention purposes, the dog is fed products with the effect of oxidizing urine or used special veterinary supplements(at natural feeding).

The diet for illness is selected to increase the deficiency of phosphates, magnesium and ammonium. If you buy dry food, it should be a product good quality, marked S/D and reduced protein content. Some medicinal foods deliberately increase the salt content and this needs to be taken into account Special attention. The option is acceptable because the dog drinks more, and the urine becomes less concentrated, that is, stones dissolve in it faster. On the other side, For urolithiasis, most dogs are prescribed a strictly salt-free diet.

Important! If a dog has kidney ailments, except for urolithiasis, the therapeutic diet is introduced step by step, by substitution, and over a period of 1.5–2 weeks.

With a natural diet, the dog's food is hydrated as much as possible. It is advisable not to give tap water, but to use purified, bottled water. The diet is designed with an emphasis on increasing calcium and phosphorus deficiency. It is important not to lead the animal’s body to a deficiency of microelements and, at the same time, to provoke the dissolution of stones. To make the task easier, special mineral supplements and urine oxidizers are used. When treating urolithiasis on a natural diet, strictly prevent overeating. Meals should be small meals, without additional snacks.

Diet for urates

Urates dissolve in urine with increased rate alkalis. This is one of the most difficult variants of the disease, both for diagnosis and treatment. When successful therapy, the stones dissolve or shrink significantly within 4 months. Treatment is continued for another 30–35 days after complete dissolution, since urates are least visible during ultrasound examination.

Food for dogs with this type of urolithiasis contains a low dosage of protein and is divided into two types:

• Feed marked S/D(we talked about it above) – minus: leads to oxidation of urine; plus: contains salt (is an advantage if a salt-free diet is not indicated).
• Food marked U/D– plus: it alkalinizes urine faster; minus: does not contain salt.

A universal industrial diet to combat urate specifically has not yet been developed, since almost every case is individual.

A dog that has been diagnosed with urates is given lifelong therapeutic diet And regular examinations. A urine test is used as an indicator, which must be taken at least once every 3 months.

Diet for cystine stones

One of the cases in which medicated treading is more important than medicinal food. The diet is selected to alkalize urine and increase its volume. Simply put, the dog needs to drink more, this will lead to the active production of less concentrated urine, in which the stones will dissolve. It is recommended to limit the diet of a dog with this type of urolithiasis to U/D type food.

Cystine– this is a substance that cannot be globally influenced by diet. Moreover, practically nothing can affect cystine in terms of natural dissolution. For treatment, cystine is replaced with disulfide, a substance more susceptible to dissolution. Treatment should only be carried out under the supervision of a physician, since all targeted medications have extensive list side effects. As an enhancer of the effect, drugs for alkalizing urine are used in treatment.

Prevention of cystine urolithiasis is similar to therapy when urates are detected.

Diet for calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones

The problem with the treatment and prevention of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones is that scientists cannot give unambiguous explanations of why stones of these types are formed. Veterinarians have no alternatives but to treat this type of urolithiasis, by analogy with human medicine or at random (intuitively). As a preventive measure, the first most important thing is diet, that is, as much as possible. balanced diet, or better yet, medicinal food. How additional therapy(if necessary) use diuretics.

It is believed that one of the reasons for the formation of stones is excess calcium in the body. In this case, it is important to determine and eliminate the cause of excessive intake of microelements into the body. The difficulty is that excess calcium can only be a trigger, that is, after eliminating hypercalcemia, the problem with stones remains.

The therapeutic diet consists of reducing the mass fraction of protein without reference to microelements (except calcium). When choosing food, the choice should be made on medicinal products that do not lead to urine oxidation. Typically, such foods do not contain salt and are labeled with the abbreviations K/D and U/D.

When treating calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones, the dog is prescribed a salt-free diet. Additionally, using salt to increase your water intake is strongly discouraged.

Natural diet for urolithiasis

If you do not have the opportunity to buy expensive food or you decide to feed your dog with ICD natural food for another reason, there are a number of recommendations that you need to keep in mind.

The first of these is the quality of food. An incorrectly selected diet contributes to the formation of stones and sand. The second is the frequency of feeding. Few people know, but after eating, the alkali level in the urine increases slightly, and then returns to normal. If a bowl of food is constantly available to your pet, and he snacks at every opportunity, this leads to severe alkalization of urine. Urolithiasis is just one of the consequences of improper feeding. An overeating dog has a sharply increased risk of developing pyelonephritis and other kidney pathologies.

Calcium deficiency, no matter how strange it may sound, leads to the formation of stones, since the metabolism of microelements in the body is disrupted. Excess calcium also provokes sand formation. The conclusion is simple - it is not the presence or absence of calcium that is important, but the balance.

Next important recommendation- it's about maintaining a balance energy value diet. How longer dog eats a large amount of cereals, the worse the mucous membranes (including the bladder) work. How is it possible, you say, medicinal food contains a reduced amount of protein, porridge (that is, carbohydrates) is also not allowed, so what should you feed the dog? Oddly enough, with urolithiasis, you need to think not about what to feed, but how not to violate the common truths - that is maintain a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Don’t forget about fiber (plant foods), which should make up at least 30% of a healthy dog’s total diet.

Water plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis. When choosing a therapeutic diet, you strictly calculate the amount of salts, but after giving the dog a drink tap water, you are throwing all the calculations downhill. Tap water is saturated and oversaturated with salts and, to put it mildly, unnecessary elements (especially hard water). If your pet is prone to or has been diagnosed with urolithiasis, recommended purchase purified water or install a filter at home.

Lifestyle is an important aspect of prevention, which does not depend on the type of diet. The less a dog moves, the more its metabolism slows down. By the way, high-quality nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle are also the causes of obesity.

If you do not feed your dog special food, and it has a tendency to urolithiasis, you should know about one more nuance. There is an opinion that it is enough for a four-legged dog to walk 2 times a day, but it does not take into account the fact that stagnation of urine (while the dog endures it) provokes the development of urolithiasis. Small dogs are trained to use a litter tray; this is convenient for owners and serves as a preventative measure. Large dogs should be walked as often as possible or switched to medicated food.

Some dog breeds are genetically prone to urolithiasis.

If you decide to purchase a pet of a high-risk breed, visit the veterinarian at least once every six months and be prepared at any time to switch your pet from preventative to therapeutic food.

Myths about urolithiasis

Owners often blame themselves for the fact that their pet is sick, and this happens after a friend or veterinarian voices common myths about the disease. The first and most common misconception sounds different, but has the same meaning - a sterilized pet needs to be fed only medicated food, otherwise he/she will develop urolithiasis.

The only factor that can support this statement is the natural decrease in the animal’s mobility. If you devote time to your pet, feed it properly and play with it, castration or sterilization is not a risk factor or cause of the development of urolithiasis.

Fish is a healthy, but not entirely unnatural, food for dogs. Recently, a diet containing fish has been considered the cause of urolithiasis, which is not very correct. The risk increases if you feed the animal only fish, and urolithiasis is not the only consequence. If the pet receives a balanced diet with fish, there is no threat.

Urolithiasis in dogs (UCD) occurs when sand or stones appear in the kidneys and bladder, blocking the urinary tract. The crystallization process leads to impaired diuresis, the animal suffers pain every time it tries to defecate. Excessive accumulation of urine leads to intoxication of the animal's body.

What is this?

If a dog owner notices that his pupil is making puddles on the sofa or carpet, he should urgently contact veterinary clinic. Timely diagnosis And correct treatment drugs can eliminate the disease and prolong the life of the animal.

According to statistics, 15% dogs of different ages suffer from urolithiasis, of which:

• 10% of young individuals under 3 years of age;
• 20% of animals up to 6 years old inclusive;
• the remaining 70% are older pets (over 6 years old).

Causes

Deposits in the organs of the urinary system of animals are formed against the background of changes chemical composition urine. The liquid can become alkalized or oxidized, which affects the composition of the stones. More on the factors contributing to the formation of stones.

• Infections caused by bacteria or viruses.

Bitches most often develop stones due to infection. urinary tract. Incorrect treatment or its absence leads to the accumulation of bacteria, deterioration of urination due to inflammation.

Bacterial infection is accompanied by the formation of struvite, consisting of ammonium phosphate, calcium carbonate and magnesium.

• Rarely walk your pet.

Short and infrequent walks outside lead to the dog emptying its bladder less often. Low physical activity of the animal contributes to the development of physical inactivity, which causes deterioration of blood circulation in the organs. Stagnant processes provoke the formation of stones in the bladder.

• Violation feeding.

An incorrectly formulated diet with a high percentage of protein and mineral salts contributes to the development of KSD. Bran, soy products and fiber also increase the risk of stone formation in dogs.

Dry food and natural nutrition it is unacceptable to combine. A mixed diet contributes to the appearance of stones. Additionally, we recommend reading about

• Limit water consumption.

Some dog and cat owners do not leave water available to their pets. Animals get used to drinking rarely, but at the same time their urine becomes more concentrated. This is quite dangerous for the dog's health, as stones begin to form in the bladder or ducts.

• Genetic predisposition.

Some dog breeds are much more likely than others to see a veterinarian for difficulty urinating. For example, cystines are diagnosed in bulldogs and dachshunds. It is believed that the disease is inherited among them.

Small breeds of dogs are also more likely to experience urolithiasis. Their small bladder requires frequent emptying, but time-poor owners do not give them proper exercise.

• Features of the structure of the urinary tract.

There are significant differences in the structure of the urethra in females and males. The long urinary canal in males means that stones from the bladder that get into it cannot fall out on their own. Their advancement is accompanied by injury to the mucous membranes and an inflammatory process. Males more often than females suffer from complete blockage of the ureter.

IMPORTANT!The risk of developing urolithiasis in a pet increases if several items from the above list are present at once.

Symptoms

What signs should alert a dog owner? Symptoms of ICD vary and depend on the stage of the process.

ATTENTION! Anuria (lack of discharge) can lead to rupture of the animal’s bladder, which can also be fatal.

The owner, noticing the symptoms , must provide timely treatment your dog. To do this, you should contact a veterinarian and undergo the necessary examinations.

Diagnostics

When the first symptoms appear, you should show your pet to a doctor. In addition to visual inspection and palpation, additional procedures will be required.

• X-ray or ultrasonography dogs are needed to identify the location of the stone, its shape and dimensions.
• Analysis of urine helps determine the type of stones and presence infectious processes in an animal. You should not collect urine for testing in advance. Adequate results are obtained by analyzing fresh urine.
• Blood analysis will show the general condition of the dog’s body.
• Cystoscopy prescribed in emergency cases. The intervention is performed under general anesthesia. First, the bladder is emptied using a catheter, washed, and then a cystoscope is inserted into the urethra. The device transmits an image of the internal surface to the monitor. The operation is more often performed on female dogs. Anatomical features male dogs make it difficult to intervene. The cystoscope must be inserted through a puncture in the wall of the bladder.

Treatment

If there are stones you will need A complex approach to therapy. Only a specialist knows how to treat an animal. He will determine the severity of the pathology and choose the necessary tactics.

Drugs

1. If the dog is in critical condition, means are needed to maintain the functioning of the heart (“Cordiamin”, “Sulphocamphocaine”).
2. To relieve spasms, antispasmodics are prescribed (Atropine, No-shpa, Papaverine hydrochloride).
3. Analgesics (Baralgin, Pentalgin, Analgin) will help reduce pain. In the clinic, for renal colic, a novocaine blockade can be performed.
4. To stop bleeding in animals, Etamzilat is used.
5. The addition of an infection requires the prescription of antibiotics (Furagin, Furadonin). If there is pus - "Neopen".
6. Special drugs for the treatment of inflammation: “Stop-cystitis”, “Urotropin”, “Urodan”, “Kantaren”, “Urolex”.
7. To support the dog's body it is prescribed infusion therapy(Nelit, Ringer-Locka and glucose).
8. Probiotics (“Vetavit”) will help support the animal’s immunity.

Operation

Complete blockage of the canal requires surgical intervention. There are several types of surgeries performed on dogs:

• Urethrostomy, when stones are removed through an opening in the urethra.
• Cystotomy - removal of stones is performed after opening the bladder.
• Urohydropropulsion is the pushing of stones from the urethra into the bladder.

Nutrition correction

When creating a menu, you should take into account the type of stones identified.

• For struvite stones it is necessary to reduce the amount of magnesium in the diet. Phosphorus content must comply with NRC standard. When acidification of urine occurs, struvite dissolves; the diet should lead to an increase in pH. Meat products and cereals can increase acidity, which will help eliminate stones. You cannot overfeed so as not to increase the phosphorus content.

The use of an acidifying diet should not be long-term. When the stones are completely dissolved, the diet is adjusted. Excessive acidification is dangerous due to the formation of another type of stones - oxalate. But alkalization is also dangerous: when returning to the original diet, a relapse is possible.

IMPORTANT! Prolonged acidification is dangerous due to demineralization of the dog’s bones.

• For urate stones it is necessary to reduce the amount of purines and protein in the diet. You can include dairy products, eggs, vegetables and grains in your diet. By-products, lean meats, fish, legumes, and asparagus are excluded from the diet. Be sure to adjust water consumption.
• When identifying cystine stones dairy products are removed from the diet. Eggs should also be excluded from the menu.
• There are cases when a dog is diagnosed mixed stones. In this situation, it is necessary to individually develop a diet by a specialist nutritionist. Medicinal food is produced only to correct the diet for common types of uroliths. With a mixed type of stones, it is difficult to choose ready-made food. Therefore, you cannot do without consulting a nutritionist.

Possible complications

The absence of urination for more than a day in an animal threatens death from a ruptured bladder and peritonitis that develops as a result. If the animal does not defecate, acute renal failure may develop. In this case, the body suffers from poisoning by decay products. Prolonged accumulation of urine leads to irreversible processes in the body and increases the likelihood of death.

Prevention

To prevent the risk of relapse and for prevention in dogs at risk, it is necessary to observe the following recommendations.

1. Give your dog plenty of clean distilled or filtered water.
2. Provide a pet living in an apartment with good physical activity, taking her out for walks more often.

What to feed?

Depending on the type of stones identified, the doctor will recommend dietary food for an animal. If store-bought food is prescribed, the dog should not also be fed treats from your table. Can't mix natural food and industrial canned food or dry food.

Some animals are reluctant to change their diet. Perseverance and patience are required. During the first days, you can feed your pet by hand. If the dog does not want canned food, they need to be slightly heated; if he refuses dry food, the balls should be slightly soaked in warm water.

REFERENCE! If the dog does not drink enough, add a few drops of milk, kefir or meat broth to the water.

How to choose medicinal food for prevention

When choosing ready-made food for an animal, you should adhere to the following principles.

1. They purchase food High Quality . The animal should eat small portions. Easily digestible, high-calorie premium or super-premium food is suitable for this. If the food is low in calories, the pet will need a large portion to be satisfied, and this threatens an overabundance of minerals and contributes to the development of urolithiasis.
2. When purchasing dog food, you should pay attention to phosphorus content. His reduced content reduces the risk of stone formation.
3. Calcium is necessary for young puppies, and for adult animals its high content in food is fraught with severe acidification of urine.
4. Protein must be of high quality, but contained in the feed in small quantities. This will reduce the load on the animal's liver.

Useful video

Diseases of the lower urinary tract are not uncommon in dogs. Approximately 15 out of 100 individuals suffer from urolithiasis (urolithiasis or the abbreviation ICD). Pet owners just need to remember the main signs of this disease and what to do first to help quickly cope with the disease.

What you need to know about urolithiasis in dogs

• With this pathology, salt stones can form in any organ of the urinary system. The bladder suffers most often, because... Urine accumulates in it and it is most convenient for sand to settle.
• The following types of stones are found in dogs: cystines, struvites, phosphates and oxalates. The latter are considered the most unpleasant - they grow quickly and are difficult to treat (most often they are removed surgically). One individual can form several types of stones at once.
• Most often, struvite is recorded in dogs, the cause of which is chronic inflammation in the bladder, and not nutritional errors, as is the case with cats.
• In dogs, the cause of urolithiasis is not always a metabolic disorder.
• The presence of sand and stones causes inflammation in the bladder, injury, bleeding and blockage.
• In dogs, urolithiasis is most often asymptomatic, so it is important to periodically undergo a routine urine test so as not to miss the disease and not aggravate the condition of the excretory system. The main symptom of the disease—impaired urination, up to its cessation—occurs even when the condition is critical and the pathology is advanced.
• The risk group consists mainly of representatives small breeds: Yorkies, schnauzers, Dalmatians, Shih Tsu, Pekingese, miniature poodles, English bulldogs, etc.
• When diagnosing ICD, the types of stones/sand must be determined, otherwise treatment will be ineffective. For this purpose, additional examinations are always carried out - x-rays, ultrasound, detailed blood and urine tests.
• Middle-aged individuals and males are more likely to get sick, because They have a long urethra and are more likely to be blocked by stones or excess sand.

Why does this pathology develop?

It is impossible to name an unambiguous reason to say for sure that this is precisely why the pathology arose. But there are a number of predisposing factors:

1. Any long-term infections of the genitourinary area, including the kidneys. Such diseases change the composition of blood and urine, shifting their acidity. Against this background, sediments often begin to form in the form of sand and the formation of stones.
2. Unbalanced feeding of the dog. Usually the culprit is cheap dry food and mixing of ready-made food. industrial feed with natural food. This all adds to the workload gastrointestinal tract, which is constantly in a state of adjustment to a certain food, literally working its butt off.
3. Bad water or general lack of drinking. Often the tap water most commonly given to pets contains high levels of salts. They are the ones in the body that provoke the accumulation of insoluble sediments in the bladder and/or kidneys. If there is insufficient fluid intake into the body, the urine becomes more concentrated and may produce sediment.
4. Inactivity. Dogs should move actively, run, play - this is the prevention of stagnation of urine. You also need to walk your pet regularly so that it does not suffer and relieves its needs in a timely manner. With long-term patience, nature provides crystallization of urine to make it easier for the animal to endure. These crystals are then transformed into sand and rocks.
5. Obesity – increased workload develops cardiovascular system and excretory. Fluid in the body stagnates, and urine begins to deteriorate.
6. Genetic predisposition. There are a number of pathologies that are inherited by offspring, which go inextricably with ICD.
7. Metabolic disorders due to disorders of the liver, pancreas, etc.

Manifestation of the disease - what to look for

Depending on the severity of the disease clinical manifestations can be divided into several degrees of manifestation:

• Subclinical form or asymptomatic. This is the period of the disease when there are no outward manifestations, and stones and sand can only be detected using X-rays or ultrasound. And these studies are prompted by a urine test, where a change in the pH of the urine (in any direction) and the deposition of crystals are noted.

• Mild form of the disease. Outwardly, it often manifests itself as a minor malaise and classic signs of general malaise:
  • the number of times the pet asks to go to the toilet increases;
  • minor hematuria - the appearance of droplets of blood in the urine, which slightly change its color to pink;
  • the dog pees longer than usual, may whine during the process, take unnatural poses, and mark time in the process;
  • licks the genitals for a long time and thoroughly;
  • a slight increase in body temperature is possible if infectious inflammation develops.

• Severe manifestations follow mild ones:
  • the dog constantly has traces of urine droplets in the perineum, which indicates constant involuntary urination. Also, traces of urine are found throughout the home where the pet lives;
  • there is obvious blood in the urine;
  • the pet constantly whines, especially when he tries to go “small”, you can see how he strains for this;
  • you can feel an enlarged (full) bladder, because urine flow is difficult;
  • the animal looks depressed, emaciated, has no appetite, and even favorite treat not attractive;
  • Thirst may be present;
  • The temperature may rise if there are signs of infection.

• See a doctor immediately if following signs(threatening symptoms):
  • urine does not pass at all;
  • signs of dehydration, general exhaustion;
  • weakness, coma(the animal lies almost constantly, reacts poorly to the name or does not react at all);
  • bladder when palpated abdominal wall may be full, large, tense and painful, or may not be palpable at all if it has ruptured;
  • general signs of intoxication from the entry of uric substances into the blood (vomiting, nausea, convulsions);
  • the pet may fall into a coma in a particularly serious condition;
  • body temperature usually drops below 37.5°C.

Competent treatment directly depends on how correctly the veterinarian assesses the degree of manifestation of urolithiasis in a dog based on symptoms.

Owner's first aid

• If signs of illness are detected, the animal must be taken to the veterinarian to find out what is wrong.
• If critical signs of the disease are detected - lack of urination, blood in drops of urine, coma - take the pet to a specialist immediately.
• Self-medication is prohibited! An exception is the removal of spasm and pain, if it is not possible to deliver the pet to the clinic immediately (no-spa, papaverine or baralgin intramuscularly in a dose of up to 0.5 ml of solution intramuscularly into the thigh).

Treatment

It should be noted right away: there is no universal treatment for urolithiasis for all dogs!!! There are certain schemes that are formed from generally accepted drugs, but strictly individually, depending on what type of stones the course of the pathology was complicated by.

Important: treatment is carried out until it is canceled by a specialist based on the results of tests and examination. It is forbidden to stop treatment on your own against the background of visible improvement!

The main treatment measures include:

1. Maintaining cardiac activity in a critical condition:
   • cordiamine: 1-3 drops on the tongue (depending on the size of the animal) or intramuscularly 0.1 ml/kg;
   • sulfocamphocaine: 0.5-2 ml of solution by any injection method up to 2 times a day. Do not exceed the dosage of 2 ml!
2. Catheterization, which restores the flow of urine by pushing stones back into the bladder or retrograde lavage of the urethral canal;
3. Use of antispasmodic drugs:
   • atropine: 0.5 ml twice a day at the withers subcutaneously;
   • no-spa, papaverine hydrochloride: 0.5 ml 2-3 times a day intramuscularly.
4. Anesthesia:
   • baralgin: 0.75 ml/10 kg intramuscularly to relieve pain at a given point in time;
   • analgin: 0.1 ml of solution per kg of body weight up to 2 times a day (no more than every 10-12 hours) and no longer than 3 days;
   • pentalgin: ¼ tablet/10 kg weight symptomatically;
   • novocaine blockade in the lumbar region to relieve pain from renal colic (carried out only by a specialist).
5. Hemostatic therapy:
   • dicinone (etamsylate): for a dog weighing up to 5 kg, ¼ tablet is used, if more, then ½ tablet. for the same 5 kg of weight or intramuscularly 0.1 mg/kg of weight twice a day.
6. Antibiotic therapy (the use of Gentamicin is prohibited!):
   • furagin: ½-1 tablet orally. depending on the size of the pet, 2-3 times a day after feeding for 5-7 days;
   • furadonin: daily dose 5-10 mg active substance for each kg of weight, which is divided into 2-4 doses per day, a course of 7-10 days;
   • neopen (if pus is detected in the urine): 1 ml/10 kg of weight into the muscle or subcutaneously once a day for a course of 3-4 days.
7. Detoxification (infusion) therapy restores the body’s condition against the background of dehydration and promotes the elimination of toxic substances against the background of stagnation of urine:
   • vetavit: the contents of 1 sachet are divided into two parts and given with milk or food in the morning and evening for 1.5-2 weeks;
   • a mixture of 100-200 ml of Ringer-Locke and 5-10 ml of 40% glucose subcutaneously or intravenously as a dropper;
   • Nelit: per 1 kg of weight, take 50 ml of solution twice a day, in critical condition 8-10 ml/kg every 4 hours.
8. Elimination of the general inflammatory process with complex drugs for urolithiasis:
   • Urodan (about 460 rub./100 g bottle): 1 tsp. the solution is dissolved in 100-125 ml of water and given to the dog. Frequency – up to 3 times a day.
   • Stop cystitis (up to 165 rub./pack): 1 tablet. or 2 ml of solution orally for a dog weighing up to 5 kg, 2 tablets. or 3 ml - if more. Give within a week. Then reduce it to a single dose also during the week.
   • Uro-ursi (up to 180 rubles/pack of 14 capsules): 1 capsule if the dog’s weight does not exceed 10 kg and 2 capsules if more than 10 kg. Course – 14 days, one dose per day.
   • Cystokur forte (up to 1000 rub./30 g): twice a day, 2 scoops/10 kg of weight for at least 15 days.
   • Urotropine (up to 35 rubles/vial): 2-5 ml orally diluted with water twice a day for 1-1.5 weeks.
   • Healthy kidneys “Fitoelita” (100 rub./50 tablets): adult dogs 1 tablet/10 kg body weight, puppies – ½ tablet. In the first day or two, give the indicated dose every 2 hours, then switch to a three-time dose and remain at this dosage until the symptoms pass + another 1 week to consolidate the result.
   • Ipakitine (1250-1500 rubles): duration of use is from 3 to 6 months. 1 measuring spoon goes for every 5 kg of weight along with water or food twice a day.
   • Kantaren (150-180 rubles): the dosage depends on the size of the animal and varies between 1-3 tablets. orally or 0.5-4 ml as an injection once a day for 2-4 weeks (but not longer). You can increase the frequency of administration to 2-3 times a day in severe conditions.
   • Urinari Tract Support (800 rubles): give a dog up to 10 kg 2 tablets, up to 30 kg - 3 tablets, over 30 kg - 4 tablets. with your dog’s favorite treat or food. Monitor symptoms - after persistent disappearance, stop taking (on average 1-2 weeks).
   • Renal-advance (RUB 1,250/pack of 40 g): thoroughly mix into the food over the course of a month according to the following scheme: up to 2.5 kg – 1 small scoop, up to 5 kg – 2, up to 7.5 kg – 3, up to 10 kg – 4, up to 15 kg – 2 large measured portions, up to 25 kg – 3. In some cases, the veterinarian may increase the duration of administration at his discretion.
   • Urolex (up to 260 rubles): three drops/kg three times a day, an hour before feeding, onto the tongue. You can dilute it a little with water and add it. Use no longer than 30 days.
9. Diet therapy, depending on the type of stones identified:
   • The most important rule of a natural diet for a dog with urolithiasis is to reduce the content of protein, phosphorus and calcium in such a way as not to disturb the acidity of the urine, not to put an increased load on the kidneys, but at the same time, so that all this is enough for the dog to function normally.
10. In case of complete blockage of the urethra and the inability to restore the natural outflow of urine, it is recommended surgical intervention. Also shown surgical treatment urolithiasis when stones are detected on ultrasound or x-ray before blockage of the urethral canal. After any operation, the dog continues to be treated by a veterinary therapist, because... removing stones is not a cure!

Kidney stones are extremely difficult to remove surgically. One way out of the situation may be to remove the affected kidney, provided that the remaining one can subsequently cope with its functions for two. Otherwise, the animal is doomed to lifelong maintenance therapy and early death.

Question answer

Question:
What if urolithiasis in a dog is not treated?

If the identified disease is not treated, then in addition to the formation of urinary stones, which can block the urethra, a chronic inflammatory process, the formation of adhesions and, worst of all, rupture of the bladder can be provoked. The animal may die.

Question:
What and how to feed the dog during the period of treatment for urolithiasis and after?

Balancing your diet on your own is very difficult, but you can try. Everything will depend on general condition pet, the stage of development of the disease and the type of stones identified.

1. Do not mix natural feeding with industrially produced feed.
2. Try to make your diet as varied as possible, do not give long time the same food set.
3. With oxalates, by-products are completely excluded from the diet, because they contain derivatives of oxalic acid.
4. During natural feeding, the animal can be given water medicinal water"Borjomi" and "Essentuki". There should also always be access to clean, purified water for drinking.
5. With urates, rich meat and fish broths are excluded (but boiled fish and meat are left), sausages, and offal. Increase the amount of vegetables, dairy products, eggs and cereals.
6. In dogs, a lack of calcium in the diet when fed naturally will stimulate the formation of phosphate stones, so dairy products cannot be completely excluded from the diet (nor can you overdo it).
7. It is important to measure portions of food and not feed often (4-6 times is a lot) so as not to provoke constant alkalization of urine. Water should stand constantly, food should not.
8. With any diet, it is important to add vitamin A to the diet - it improves the condition of the inner mucous membrane of the bladder.
9. With the oxalate type of ICD, it is necessary to add vitamin B6 and magnesium to the food (wheat bran copes well with this).
10. Salty, fatty, sweet and fried foods are completely excluded from the diet.

Question:
Therapeutic food for dogs with urolithiasis

It is important to note that with the correct selection of special food, you cannot give your pet anything else - even as a reward or treat, otherwise the effect of the diet will be reduced to zero. An appropriate note is required indicating what type of animal the food is intended for (for example, Royal Canin for dogs). The class must be premium or super-premium. Economy class should be excluded from the diet.

For general prevention and treatment of urolithiasis are recommended:

• Royal Cannin Urinary S/O;
• Royal Cannin Urinary;
• Club 4 paws Ph control;
• Pet Time Dog Perfection;
• Urinary S/O Small Dog USD
• Eucanuba Oxalate Urinary Formula
• Hill's Prescription Diet™ Canine k/d™

If oxalates are detected:

• Urinary S/O LP18;
• Eucanuba Oxalat Urinary Formula;
• Hill's Prescription Diet™ Canine c/d™ Multicare$
• Farmina vet life ossalati

Urate urolithiasis:

• Hill's Prescription Diet U/D/

Cystine urolithiasis:

• Farmina vet life ossalati

For struvite stones:

• Urinary S/O LP18;
• Hill Prescription Diet™ Canine w/d™;
• Hill's Prescription Diet C/D;
• Eukanuba Struvite Urinary Formula;
• Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR.

Question:
Surgical treatment of urolithiasis

Surgical treatment of urolithiasis includes the following methods:

• urethrotomy - dissection urethra and removing the stones that blocked it;
• urethrostomy - the formation of a new urethra with frequent inflammatory processes and relapses of pathology;
• cystostomy - opening the bladder, removing stones, washing the cavity from sand, followed by medical therapy;
• laser stone removal - crushing stones into smaller fragments in order to remove them naturally by increasing diuresis (the method is rarely used in veterinary medicine due to a lack of equipment and the high cost of the procedure);
• administration of drugs that dissolve bladder stones.

Question:
Is the prevention of urolithiasis effective?

This disease can and should be prevented! Necessary:

• monitor your pet’s weight, avoiding obesity;
• choose the right diet (especially if you have a history of the disease);
• Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly and take a urine test, because... urolithiasis in dogs is often asymptomatic;
• always provide free access to clean drinking water (especially if the pet is fed dry food);
• monitor the excess of protein products when feeding adults;
• monitor the timely emptying of the bladder, not allowing your pet to endure and wait a long time for a walk;
• walking should include at least 3 walks, two of which should be at least 30 minutes, one up to 1 hour;
• do not mix natural nutrition with nutrition ready-made feed. Also, do not alternate between feeding dry and wet food;
• give the dog regular but moderate physical activity - running, active games while walking.

Question:
Is it acceptable to treat urolithiasis with herbs (folk recipes)

It is acceptable to use recipes traditional medicine, but strictly according to the veterinarian’s indications. Some herbs may not be compatible with medicines main treatment - it is important not to make the pet worse.

1. Visible pain when trying to urinate can be relieved with freshly squeezed parsley juice - from 1 tsp. up to 1 tbsp, depending on the size of the dog, up to 4 times a day.
2. Take 1 g of dry herbs of bearberry, cucumber, immortelle, dandelion, kidney tea, corn silk and flax seeds, mix, take 5 g of the mixture, pour 250 ml of boiling water, leave covered for up to 30 minutes. Give 1-3 tablespoons twice a day, 30 minutes before or after feeding, depending on the dog’s weight.
3. Mix 1 tsp. licorice root, dandelions and burdock, chamomile flowers, golden rod and echinacea, horsetail and sage herbs, hop cones. 1 tbsp. pour 500 ml of boiling water over the mixture and simmer in a water bath for up to 20 minutes. Give 5-10 ml in the morning and evening throughout the entire treatment of urolithiasis + 2 weeks on top to consolidate the result. With this remedy, you need to give the dog a lot to drink - the sand is washed out of the bladder well.

We offer to buy medicinal food for dogs with urolithiasis. Veterinary nutrition is designed to solve animal problems during treatment, as well as for prevention. For each dog with its own individual characteristics, you can choose the ideal diet.

Use of dog food for urolithiasis

Manufacturers produce canned and dry food for dogs with urolithiasis. The animal becomes capricious and picky during the period of illness, taking this into account, manufacturers have created many different flavors and forms of release - wet food and dry croquettes.

Special diets for urolithiasis are designed to solve problems in dogs or provide supportive therapy for:

• bacterial cystitis;
• dissolution of struvite;
• prevention of relapses of urolithiasis, which can be caused by both struvite and calcium oxalates.

The unique formulation of dog food for the prevention of urolithiasis promotes the dissolution of struvite stones and creates an acidic urine environment, which also has a beneficial effect on your pet’s body.

Contraindications to medicinal feeds for urolithiasis

Before using such nutrition, you should consult a doctor, because it has a number of contraindications, including:

• period of pregnancy and lactation;
• chronic renal failure;
• pancreatitis (including previously suffered);
• heart problems;

Also, dry food for dogs with urolithiasis cannot be combined with medications that cause acidification of urine. The course of treatment is 1.5-4 months; prevention of such a disease can last up to six months.

Buy dog ​​food for urolithiasis

In our online store “12 Monkeys” you will find a wide selection of medicinal foods:

• Appetizing-looking pieces of meat and excellent taste. Thus, the pet will happily eat medicinal food for dogs with urolithiasis and receive necessary treatment;
• safe ingredients for correct observance recommendations. All ingredients are carefully selected so that such food will not contain food additives, dyes and suspect protein sources, thereby significantly reducing the risk allergic reactions;
• nutritious diets. Except therapeutic effects food contains protein, fats and carbohydrates necessary for a pet.

From us you can purchase dry food for dogs with ICD, as well as special canned food. Among our products there are special food lines from such brands, like Royal Canin, Purina, Hill's, Farmina and others. You can purchase in packages from 200 g to 12 kg.