Bladder Stones in Dogs and Cats: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Bladder stones (uroliths) cause painful urination, blood in urine, and can block the urethra — a life-threatening emergency in male cats. Learn how they form and how to prevent them.
Bladder stones (uroliths) are mineral formations that develop inside the urinary bladder. They range from sand-grain-sized to stones several centimeters across. The most common types are struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) and calcium oxalate. Bladder stones cause pain, inflammation, and urinary blockage — which is a life-threatening emergency, especially in male cats whose narrow urethra is easily blocked.
Points Clés
- Bladder stones affect both dogs and cats — male cats are at highest risk of dangerous urethral blockage
- Struvite stones are often caused by urinary tract infections; calcium oxalate stones by diet and genetics
- Symptoms include bloody urine, frequent urination, straining, and accidents outside the litter box
- Diagnosis requires X-rays or ultrasound — urinalysis alone cannot confirm stones
- Treatment is either surgical removal (cystotomy) or dissolution diets (for struvite stones only)
- Prevention includes prescription urinary diets, increased water intake, and regular urinalysis
Types of Bladder Stones
Struvite stones: most common in dogs, often caused by urinary tract infections that make urine alkaline. Can be dissolved with prescription diets. Calcium oxalate stones: most common in cats, cannot be dissolved — require surgical removal. Urate stones: associated with liver disease in dogs. Prevention strategies differ by stone type, so identifying the stone type is critical.
Urethral Blockage Emergency
In male cats, bladder stones or crystals can block the narrow urethra, preventing urination entirely. This is a life-threatening emergency — without treatment within 24-48 hours, toxins build up and the bladder can rupture. Signs: straining in the litter box with no urine output, crying in pain, lethargy, vomiting. If your male cat cannot urinate, go to the vet IMMEDIATELY.
Treatment Options
Surgical: cystotomy (opening the bladder to remove stones) is the most common treatment. Dissolution: struvite stones can sometimes be dissolved with prescription diets (Hill's s/d, Royal Canin SO) over 2-4 weeks. Laser lithotripsy: breaks stones into fragments that can be flushed out. Prevention diets are prescribed after stone analysis to prevent recurrence.
Prevention Strategies
Feed a prescription urinary diet that maintains optimal urine pH and mineral balance. Increase water intake — add water to food, use a water fountain for cats. Monitor urine pH regularly. For cats prone to blockage, wet food is strongly preferred over kibble. Regular urinalysis every 6-12 months catches early crystal formation before stones develop.
Quand Aller chez le Vétérinaire
- Your pet has blood in their urine
- Your pet is straining to urinate but producing little or no urine
- Your male cat is in the litter box repeatedly but not producing urine — EMERGENCY
- Your pet is urinating frequently in small amounts with signs of pain
- Your pet has been diagnosed with crystals in urine
- Your pet has had bladder stones before and you want to prevent recurrence
Comment le Centre Royal Peut Aider
Royal Veterinary Center provides complete bladder stone management: diagnostic X-rays and ultrasound, urinalysis with crystal identification, surgical stone removal (cystotomy), and post-surgical prevention diet planning. For urethral blockages in male cats, we provide 24/7 emergency catheterization and stabilization. Call +853 6677 6611.
Cet article est à titre éducatif uniquement. Contactez le Centre Royal au +853 6677 6611.