My dog has a urinary stone. Will it pass naturally in his urine?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry that Cointhee has stones. Urinary stones are concerning because at any point one of the stones can cause a complete blockage of the urethra (tube you pee out of), and can block any flow of urine and this can lead to life-threatening kidney disease and death because the potassium cannot be peed out. Therefore, firstly, it is very important to make sure that Cointhee is able to pee out urine at all times, and isn't trying to pee with nothing coming out. If this is occurring please get him to a vet right away. Blood in the urine can be caused by the stones/crystals causing irritation, and can also be caused by infection that sometimes goes along with the stones. Repeated trauma to the urethra can cause strictures, and long term complications. I would discuss with your vet about taking some x-rays to see how many stones are present, and discuss if surgery is an option to remove the stones. I would also discuss about checking to see if an infection is present. Usual treatment for bladder stones includes antiboitics if infection is present, special food to try to dissolve the small crystals and tiny stones, and surgery to remove the big stones. Best of luck with Cointhee, I hope he is peeing normally again soon!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Teddiee. He appears to have a small urolith (stone) in his urethra. This can make it difficult for him to urinate properly. I hope this information helps!

It will likely pass. The symptoms of an issue to look out for including vomiting/especially within an hour of eating, straining to defecate, not popping. If you are willing to sift through each bowel movement until you find the small stone, that will provide additional peace of mind. Otherwise screening abdominal x-rays at your vet can determine whether the stone is stuck somewhere and are recommended especially if vomiting/in appearance or straining to defecate are noted. Good luck!

It is a good sign that there isn't gas building up behind the stone, which may indicate some gas is still able to pass through, however it is best that your vet continues to monitor as this may change as the stone moves through the intestines, or if it becomes lodged in a section of intestine. As for complications, it really depends on if the stone moves or if anything changes overnight. Your vet monitoring Clyde can best keep you updated on what is going on.

I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for a recheck. Struvite stones often form secondary to a urinary tract infection so your vet may want to test Beemo’s urine to make sure there is not currently an infection present. If you’re able to save a stone for your vet they might want to send it out for analysis - occasionally dogs can have multiple types of bladder stones and it’s possible your vet may want to change the diet or add a supplement if this is the case.

The two main options are a urine infection or a urinary stone, from the symptoms described I would say that a stone would make more sense which means it is more urgent. You will need to take him to the vet, he will need to go under sedation and then either an ultrasound or xray will be done to check if it is indeed a stone blocking the urethra. Then under sedation the vet will insert a urinary catheter to deblock Toby.

I agree that it looks like Buddy has bladder and urethral stones. A diet might help to dissolve them, although the stones in his urethra are a bit more concerning and may not dissolve. He is at risk for urethral obstruction at any time which would be an emergency. Surgery to remove the stones might be another option. If you feel like you want a second opinion you certainly could make an appointment with another vet, or you could ask about referral to an internal medicine specialist.