Kidney Stones May be the Cause of your next Diamond Bar Pet Emergency Visit

Humans aren’t the only animals that experience bladder and kidney stones. In fact, thousands of dogs suffer from painful urinary tract infections that can lead to the development of kidney stones. Because your dog can’t tell you about his symptoms, these infections can go undetected and untreated until your pet’s suffering increases enough to be visible. To prevent undue suffering, the East Valley Emergency Pet Clinic has come up with a list of symptoms of pet kidney stones to watch for, and treatment options to consider if they do develop an infection. 

The Recognizable Symptoms of Pet Kidney Stones

Often, your dog will exhibit very few, if any symptoms of a urinary tract infection. If you do notice any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately:

• Blood in the urine
• Vomiting
• Hesitation to urinate or showing signs of pain while urinating
• Frequent urination for small volume of urine
• Crystals in urine

If your dog has a history of pet kidney stones or urinary tract infections, have them checked out regularly to avoid recurrence.

What Causes Pet Kidney Stones?

When you see crystals in your dog’s urine, you’re actually seeing microscopic pieces of the minerals in the kidney stone that have collected into a grainy, sand-like material. When these mineral crystals unite they can form kidney and bladder stones. The main concern about pet kidney stones is that they will grow large enough to block the urine flow, of which complications can be fatal.

An overabundance of minerals in your dog’s diet is the most common cause of pet kidney stones. Magnesium ammonium phosphate, calcium oxalate, uric acid, cysteine, calcium phosphate, and silica can all cause the buildup that leads to stone formation. Examine the ingredients in your dog food and consider switching if you see any of those minerals present in high concentrations. Switching to a low protein diet may also help.  

What to Do in Case of a Diamond Bar Pet Emergency

If you think your dog may have kidney stones or a urinary tract infection, our staff of veterinarians can help diagnose and treat the condition. We’ll examine your dog’s urinary pH and perform ultrasound imaging to locate and identify the stones. Our veterinarians are the most experienced Diamond Bar pet surgery practitioners in the area.  

To learn more about pet kidney stones, or if you are experiencing a pet emergency in the Diamond Bar area, contact East Valley Emergency Pet at (909) 861-5737. We know that time is of the essence when your pet is sick, so no appointment is necessary and we offer extended hours for Diamond Bar pet emergencies.