Cystotomy   (Cystourolithiasis)

    Cystotomy is the surgical removal of bladder stones, followed by the laboratory analysis of the them that will provide crucial information about the chemical composition of the stones. It will be important in selecting what kind of diet the dog should use for the rest of his life to prevent formation of new stones. There are a wide variety of commercial prescription diets specially designed to dissolve and prevent formation of new stones. Your veterinarian can advice which is the best for your pet.

Urolithiasis is a disease caused by the presence and effects of uroliths (stones) or calculi or excessive amounts of crystals in the urinary tract. The disease is referred to by many names, including cystitis, urethritis, urinary calculi, bladder stones or kidney stones.

The stones and crystals can be formed anywhere in the urinary tract of the dog, including kidney, urethra or most commonly, the bladder. These crystals or stones irritate the lining of the urinary tract, causing changes in the lining, blood in the urine and often pain. In some cases the crystals or stones will block or partially block the flow of urine, making urination painful or impossible.

A dog with bladder stones will show some or all of the following symptoms:

• frequent urination (often in unusual places)
• bloody urine, dribbling urine
• straining, depression
• weakness
• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• abdominal pain

If your pet has any of these symptoms, you should contact your us for an appointment immediately. In some cases without appropriate diagnosis and treatment, your dog could face a life threatening situation.  Stones can block the urine flow, prevent elimination of poisonous wastes and cause death. In some dogs, some of these symptoms can be absent.

There is no single cause of canine urolithiasis. Yet there are a number of factors to consider age, sex, breed:

• Small breeds, including Welsh Corgi, Miniature Schnauzer, Pug, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, and Yorkshire Terrier are more commonly affected than larger breeds. The Beagle, Dachshund, Dalmatian, Bulldog, Basset Hounds, Cairn Terrier and Scottish Terrier are also susceptible.
• Confinement , lack of  exercise (infrequent urination, lack of regular exercise and low intake of water). .
•  Diet play an important roll, high levels of minerals in the diet such as magnesium, phosphorus, and sometimes calcium, as well as a diet with excess of protein are often involved in the formation of bladder stones.

To make a diagnosis of bladder stones, your pet will need a complete physical exam, urinalysis to determine the types of crystal present in the urine (bring a small sample of urine) and radiographic examination  and/or ultrasound, to see if stones are present and their location. Sometimes a urine culture with antibiotic sensitivity is required to specifically control the bacteria involved. To evaluate your pet's response to therapy, your veterinarian may repeat periodically some of this tests. Follow up exams are often necessary.