Comments on: Our vet just told us that our cat has bladder stones. What is that? What is best treatment? Any alternatives?

By: Look past the smoke & mirrors!

Look past the smoke & mirrors! — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:45:59 +0000

My male cat was diagnosed with this when he was two. On our vet’s advice, we immediately began feeding him Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Formula. He hasn’t not had any problems since we changed his diet and that was over six years ago.

If your cat ever does show signs of severe distress, get him to an emergency clinic asap, as a blocked urinary tract can kill a cat in a matter of hours.

Wishing your cat well!
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By: Kila

Kila — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:59:59 +0000

Bladder stones or uroliths are a common occurrence in animals, especially in domestic animals such as dogs and cats. The stones form in the urinary bladder in varying size and numbers secondary to infection, dietary influences, and genetics. Stones can form in any part of the urinary tract in dogs and cats, but unlike in humans, stones of the kidney are less common and do not often cause significant disease, although they can contribute to pyelonephritis and chronic renal failure. Types of stones include struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, calcium phosphate, and silicate. Struvite and calcium oxalate stones are by far the most common.

Treatment:

Reasons for treatment of bladder stones include recurring symptoms and risk of urinary tract obstruction. Some stones can be dissolved using dietary modifications and/or medications. Small stones in female dogs may possibly be removed by urohydropropulsion, a nonsurgical procedure. Urohydropropulsion is performed under sedation by filling the bladder with saline through a catheter, holding the dog vertically, and squeezing the bladder to expel the stones through the urethra. Bladder stones can be removed surgically by a cystotomy, opening of the bladder. Stones lodged in the urethra can often be flushed into the bladder and removed, but sometimes a urethrotomy is necessary. In male dogs with recurrent urinary tract obstruction a scrotal urethrostomy creates a permanent opening in the urethra proximal to the area where most stones lodge, behind the os penis. In male cats, stones lodge where the urethra narrows in the penis. Recurrent cases can be treated surgically with a perineal urethrostomy, which removes the penis and creates a new opening for the urethra.

To prevent recurrence of stones, special diets can be used for each type of stone. Increasing water consumption by the animal dilutes the urine, which prevents oversaturation of the urine with crystals.
References :
My friend is a Vet

By: cpinatsi

cpinatsi — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:47:59 +0000

Some stones can be dissolved by the proper diet (struvite crystals), but oxalate crystals cannot dissolve and can block the urethra and your cat may die. Ask what type of stones they are. Then feed the dog only Urinary food, preferably wet food, Waltham Urinary s/o is appropriate for preventing both types of stones.
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By: Yahoo girl

Yahoo girl — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:02:59 +0000

Hello,

My cat has had troubles with these very same problems. Crystals, bladder stones, and infections in his urine and what not.

He got to a point a little while ago where I was told he would have to have surgery to remove the stones. Another vet that worked with my other vet started him on a special diet food SD science diet wet and dry for 1 month, and it worked liked a charm. He did not have to end up having the surgery and he eventually was able to get rid of the stones and all of the other troubles.

He does still have to be on a special diet, and probably for the rest of his life, but this is to prevent any troubles from happening again or at least try too. There are options, you just have to ask and see what your vet says. My kitty is also on a Chinese herb for crystals and prevention as an extra boost of protection. It is helping like a charm.

A great food for crystals and prevention is FELIDAE. You always want to buy good healthy foods from natural pet food stores rather than the typical store brand food. Store brands are bad awful food. They are loaded with so much garbage it’s ridiculous. Food plays a huge role in cat troubles and especially what’s going on with yours.

You want a food that is low in ash, magnesium, fat, protein etc for a kitty that has these issues. It will help. Felidae is a great food for that! So is California Naturals. It’s low in these areas and helps too.

The stones develop usually due to the many crystals, and the crystals form due to the infection in the urine, and infection can sometimes form from anything and or certain foods. It depends. If you are able to prevent infections from happening which is sometimes hard, the better.

Cats sometimes just get infections and have things happen, that’s why it’s best to always keep an extra watch on them, and do what you can to help. Things just happen, but don’t worry, all will be well.

Try finding a good food that will help with your kitty, but for right now you’ve got to get those stones cleared up. Your kitty needs a special diet like SD wet and dry. However, ask your vet first. Your kitties stones may be to the point to where the food won’t help. That is a possibility, but ask. My kitty was told there was no other option but surgery, but the food worked. It just depends.

Best of luck….
References :
Myself….