My dog has a urolith in his urethra. Is this a serious problem?

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!

Certainly, it's possible that it could. But it could also become stuck in the urethra and cause a urinary blockage - if this happens, he will need to see a vet urgently to have the blockage treated as this is a life-threatening problem.

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.

It is hard to look at x-rays through the PetCoach system, but I do not see any bladder stones. There does appear to be some gas in the bladder, which may have been inadvertently introduced through catheterization or could indicate the presence of a gas-producing bacteria. The prostate is significantly enlarged, to the point where it could constrict the urethra and cause straining to urinate. The urinalysis shows a possible infection, which could come from the bladder or prostate. I would not start urinary alkalizers without the certainty of oxalate stones. I would start antibiotics appropriate for a prostate infection and have Sheldon neutered ASAP, which can help with BPH https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/prostate-enlargement/

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.

This can't be pleasant for you or for Ted! Urination during sleep can have several causes, including a urinary tract infection, seizures, weakness to the urethral sphincter (hormone related or not), or even "bed wetting" that Ted could grow out of. Regardless, the first step should include taking Ted to his vet for an exam, prostate exam (unlikely to be an issue since he has been neutered) and urinalysis to check for infection. If there is not a readily apparent diagnosis, your vet will discuss monitoring for seizure activity or a trial with medications to improve the urethral sphincter's function. I hope this helps!

Where the arrows are pointing it looks like it may be small stones. I would recommend a urinalysis checking for a urinary tract infection and potentially a urine culture. The urine culture will tell you exactly what bacteria is in the urine and what antibiotic to treat it. I would also recommend a X-ray to see if there are larger stones in the bladder. I hope Tucker feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.