Pet Urinary Problems: Knowing About Urinary Calculi in Dogs

Every pet deserves to get everything it needs as well as utmost care from its owner. Having a pet is not just about having something you can play with or do some things with but having a pet means taking care of it just as you do with a child. Having a pet is a responsibility you are taking and this includes providing it with everything that is essential most especially when it comes to health. Pets such as dogs do contract certain diseases and health conditions, too, just as people do, and one of the common health problems occurring in pets is urinary tract infection. Yes, dogs do suffer from urinary health problems just as humans do and they too feel really uncomfortable when they suffer from this kind of condition. There are different factors associated with the development of urinary tract infection and one is bladder stones or urinary calculi in dogs. This condition is also referred to as urolithiasis.

Dogs that have urinary calculi in dogs or bladder stones could have blood in their urine. They may also experience frequent urination with just small quantities of urine being passed every time they "go". You may also notice that a dog with urinary calculi in dogs could also experience strain whenever they are urinating as they hold their body in their posture of urinating much longer than normal. Licking their genital area more than normal is also another sign that a dog could have bladder stones. Sometimes, it could be quite difficult for the owner to determine whether his dog is suffering from urinary calculi as it may not show signs at all. There are times when stones are found only when a physical exam or laboratory tests are done. There are cases wherein urinary calculi in pets is found or diagnosed and confirmed through abdominal x-rays.

Bladder stones are collections of mineral crystals that have combined together and later on formed as stones in the bladder. The minerals precipitate in the urine and over time, these crystals then unite forming small grains of material which is sand-like. These stones can actually form in your pet's entire urinary tract including the bladder, ureters, kidneys, or urethra but in most cases of urinary health problems in dogs stones are found in the bladder.

There are different factors known to cause urinary calculi in dogs. Factors that are considered to affect the development of stones include urine pH, bacterial infections, the urine's stone constituents concentration, and also genetic predisposition.

As a responsible pet owner, you should educate yourself about the many diseases and health problems that your dog may experience as this will help you treat and cure them later on, as well as help you find ways of how you can prevent the occurrence of such health problems.

Puneet Aggarwal has been researching pet health for many years now, looking for healthy, natural alternatives to conventional medications. To find out more about safe treatments for urinary tract infection in pets, visit his site pet-urinary-health.com.