What is the treatment for bladder stones?

Certain types of stones (struvite) can be dissolved by feeding veterinary prescription foods; however, many stones require surgery for removal.  The surgical procedure to remove bladder stones is called a cystotomy.  During a cystotomy, the bladder is opened and the stones removed.  The bladder and urethra are flushed during the procedure to ensure complete removal of all stones.  After the procedure, a radiograph or ultrasound is performed to verify complete removal of all of the stones.

 After surgery, the mass will be sent to the laboratory for a veterinary pathologist to evaluate.  They will give us information such as whether the entire tumor was able to be removed as well as the grade of the tumor.  This information if used to help determine a prognosis and if additional therapy is needed. 

What is recovery like?

After surgery your pet will need to have activity limited for about 10-14 days.  No running, jumping or playing should be allowed. The incision should be monitored for any redness, swelling or discharge and an E-collar should be used to prevent your pet from licking or chewing the incision.  Pain medications will be prescribed to be given for several days after surgery and in some cases antibiotics will also be sent home.   

It is normal for dogs and cats to have some blood or a red tinge to the urine for the first few days after surgery.  In addition, it is common to see some straining when your pet urinates or an increased frequency of needing to urinate while the bladder heals.  If at any time you are concerned that your pet is unable to urinate, please seek veterinary care, urinary blockage is a critical emergency. 

The stones that are removed from your pet’s bladder will be sent for stone analysis.  This is a test that tells us the mineral composition of the bladder stones.  Based on these results, we may recommend a change in your dog or cat’s diet, or medication prescribed, to lessen the chances of stones forming again.    

Immediately post-surgery, your pet may be drowsy, uncoordinated or nauseous. Unless otherwise instructed, we normally recommend the following for food and water:

• Water Reintroduction: Offer a small amount of water 30 minutes to 1 hour after arriving. If there are no signs of nausea and water is kept down, more can be offered in small amounts. You may resume normal water access the following day,

• Food Reintroduction: Offer 1/2 their normal feed 2 hours after arriving home. If there are no signs of nausea and food is kept down, you may resume normal feedings the following day.

Detailed postoperative instructions will be provided to you after the surgery that outline medications, and incision care. Bandages on the IV catheter site can be removed once you get home. It is normal for some bruising and swelling to occur. If there is no pain or discharge associated with the swelling, continue to monitor at home. Please notify us or your veterinarian if you observe:

• Increased redness/bruising over time

• Odorous or pus-like discharge

• Opening of the incision site

• Increased swelling

• Difficulty urinating

• Signs of acute pain.

  • CSU Canine Pain Scale

  • CSU Feline Pain Scale

Bladder Stone Prevention and Monitoring

While a cystotomy will remove any current stones, it is important to takes steps to prevent the formation of new stones. Depending on the type of stone, dissolution may also be an option if caught early. Talk to your veterinarian about a preventative measures, which may include:

• Prescription diet in certain cases 

• Increasing water intake 

• Monitoring the urine for infection 

• Monitoring for the return of any symptoms 

• Regular imaging such as radiographs or ultrasound to detect stone recurrence early 

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health, we are here to help.