Prevent kidney stones in dogs - tips

Video: Learn How to Treat Your Dog’s Bladder & Kidney Stones - Marc Smith DVM

Content

Steps
Advice
Warning

Dogs often develop kidney stones when the urine accumulates too much mineral salts - substances that are usually passed out in the urine. Mineral salts will form stones in the urinary tract or kidneys. The cause of kidney stones can also be urinary tract infection, kidney infection, medications, age, diet or depending on the breed of the dog. Nephrolithiasis and Uroliths are the two names for kidney and urinary stones respectively. After understanding your dog's risk of developing kidney stones, there are steps you can take to help prevent the disease.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Give your dog enough water

Make sure your dog is drinking enough cool, clean water. Water helps to thin the urine, thereby dissolving the minerals that are deposited in the urine. Drinking enough water also helps the dog to urinate regularly and push the minerals out of the body.
- Change your dog's water every day and rinse the bowl a few times a week to avoid bacteria.
Give your dog the right amount of water every day. The amount of water your dog needs each day depends on his body weight. Every day, a dog needs about 30 ml of water / 0.5 kg of body weight. For example, a 4 kg dog needs to drink 1 cup of water (240 ml) of water per day. 10 cups of water (2,400 ml) is the required amount of water per day for a dog weighing 40 kg.
- Note that a more active dog, pregnant or breastfeeding, needs to drink more water.
- Give your dog more water in hot weather. Always give your dog water that is cool, clean, and from a reliable source, especially in hot weather.
- Do not give your dog ice water in cold weather. Dogs cannot get enough water from eating snow or ice. In fact, eating snow and ice forces the dog to spend more energy to thaw the snow / ice, thereby increasing the dog's water requirements.
Add water to the dog's food if the dog is not drinking enough. If your dog is a picky drinker or you suspect he is not consuming enough water during the day, add warm water to his food until the food and water are mixed. You can also feed your dog wet canned food to keep the dog's body hydrated.
- Just make sure to keep your dog cool and clean, even if you need to feed your dog wet food.
Allow your dog to pee often. Every 6-8 hours, a healthy adult dog needs to pee once. Small dogs, puppies or dogs with urinary tract problems need to urinate more often, at least every 4 hours.
- If you are unable to pee your dog properly according to his needs, you can create a dog hole so that the dog can pee in the backyard, teach your dog how to use a specialized toilet in the house, or hire someone to walk the dog several times a day.
- Watch your dog urinate at least once a week. The urine is thin and yellow, indicating that the dog is normally healthy. If your dog's urine is brown or red, or if your dog shows any urge to urinate abnormalities, you should see the vet immediately.
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Method 2 of 3: Control your dog's diet

Buy high quality dog food. Look for food brands that contain meat first ingredients (not meat by-products) or seek advice from your veterinarian. Although it is not necessary to provide your dog with a special diet to prevent kidney stones, you should still provide adequate nutrition for your dog. Your dog's nutritional needs depend on breed, age, and other factors.
- Talk to your veterinarian if you don't know how to choose your dog's food.
Follow your veterinarian's recommendations for dog food. If your dog is susceptible to urinary tract infections or has ever had kidney stones, follow your veterinarian's recommendations on how to choose your dog's food. Your veterinarian will recommend a special diet (including special treatment) to help prevent kidney stones from coming back.
- Foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein often cause kidney stones because they can increase the mineral and protein content in the urine. For dogs prone to kidney stones, foods low in these nutrients (but still meet all their nutritional needs) can help prevent kidney stones from forming and may even dissolve small stones.
- There are many types of kidney stones. The most common types of kidney stones are Struvites (made up of magnesium - ammonium - phosphorus); Calcium oxalate (formed from calcium) and uric acid stones (speckles are susceptible to this type). There are even some types of mixed kidney stones. After analyzing the urine, the veterinarian can determine the type of kidney stone the dog has and recommend the most suitable food for the dog.
Talk to a pet nutritionist if you make your own dog food. If you are making homemade dog food, consult your pet nutritionist to ensure an adequate and balanced supply of vitamins and minerals to your dog. Mineral imbalances (especially calcium and phosphorus) can cause kidney problems in dogs.
- Your veterinarian can also advise you on how to meet all of your dog's nutritional needs through your home diet.
Consider giving your dog a supplement that supports urinary health. These are dietary supplements that help dogs maintain a healthy urinary tract. These supplements often contain cranberry extract and are incredibly beneficial for urinary tract health. Cranberries help prevent bacteria in the urine from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract.
- Supplements are available in pill, capsule or chewable capsule to complement your dog's usual diet. If your dog is sick, consult your veterinarian before taking dog supplements.
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Method 3 of 3: Understanding Kidney Stone Disease

Recognize the signs and symptoms of kidney stones. In some cases, dogs kidney stones do not show any obvious signs. Kidney stones can be found with an X-ray or an ultrasound while examining your dog. In other cases, your veterinarian will rely on the following suspicious signs to diagnose kidney stones in dogs:
- Blood in the urine
- Urinate more often and drink more water.
- Re-infection of the urinary tract
- Not delicious
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Difficulty urinating
- Lifeless
- Stomachache
Understand the process of forming kidney stones. Kidney stones are caused by minerals that accumulate in the urine. The kidneys are the organs that make urine in the body. In some cases, the minerals made up of urine should be soluble but cannot dissolve in the urine, thus accumulating and forming stones.
- These stones can be extremely small or large enough to fill the holes in the kidney. Kidney stones, whether large or small, are abnormal and potentially cause damage to the kidneys.
Learn about the harmful effects of kidney stones. Kidney stones can block your dog's urine flow and cause swelling if the stone is too large. A blockage in your urine can lead to serious problems, even death. Therefore, you should take your dog to the vet immediately if you suspect that your dog has kidney stones.
- Kidney stones can either invade the bladder or form in the bladder itself. This process is more common, and a dog's bladder can be filled with stones. Any place formed stones can cause infection and damage the kidneys or bladder.
Note that some breeds of dogs are susceptible to kidney stones. Some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to kidney stones than others. Know if your dog belongs to these breeds so you can watch for symptoms more often.
- Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire Terrier and Poodles Miniature (Poodle Dogs) are dogs prone to kidney stones formed from calcium and oxalic acid.
- Dalmatians, Yorkshire Terriers and English Bulldogs (British Bull Dogs) are prone to kidney stones formed from uric acid.
Understand the common treatments for kidney stones. If you suspect that your dog has a kidney stone, get him to the vet as soon as possible. Waiting can make kidney stones worse. Treatments for kidney stones usually vary, depending on the severity of the disease. Treatment for kidney stones often includes medication, dietary changes, and even surgery.
- If you need surgery, you will need to hospitalize your dog until the dog has fully recovered from the surgery.
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Advice

Some dogs adapt to certain types of drinking bowls. Plastic bowls sometimes cause skin irritation and contain bacteria. Ceramic or steel bowls are easier to wash off and cause less skin irritation.
Regular physical activity such as walking enhances the functions of the body, including the kidneys. A daily walk also gives your dog the opportunity to urinate.
If you suspect that your dog's urinary tract has a problem, collect the dog's urine sample in a clean disposable container and take it to your veterinarian for testing.
Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water makes it easier for dogs to prevent kidney stones.