Bladder Stones in Pets

The mineral magnesium may stop them before they start

Dogs and cats may be eating diets in the form of their food, that actually may be causing these stones to develop. Diets that are high in vegetables and grains will produce alkaline urine;

and this type of urine actually allows certain types of stones to form and may result in bladder stones pets.

When magnesium reacts with this alkaline urine, it helps crystals (stones) to form in the bladder. There is a very definite “catch 22” to this howeverand you should, as pet owners, be very careful as how you react.

Most of the prescription (or preventative) diet pet foods take the magnesium out of their blends to try to help prevent the development of crystals.

However, magnesium is an essential mineral for your pet’s body, especially helpful for the nervous system. By reducing or eliminating magnesium from you could instead be causing other potential health issues.

It is by far and away more important in the preventative stages to prevent the “alkaline urine” by feeding your pets a diet high in protein and one that is grain free, as this may help prevent bladder stones in pets.

Look for a food that has very small amount or no vegetables at all, to reduce the chance of crystal formulations.

Grain-based only foods may also cause your pets potential kidney issues aside from stones, and/ or even cause kidney failure in your pets. Protein that is found in meats will help to create desired maximum “acid urine”.

Magnesium does not react at all to acid urine, making it again an essential mineral to your pet. This mineral will help prevent the forming of crystals, or stones.

The condition of bladder stones in pets, as we refer to them, is actually urolithiasis, which is the process of finding stones anywhere in the urinary tract.

Stones (also called calculi), in the urinary tract can be found in the kidneys, the uteters, the bladder, or the urethra.

But for the purpose of your pet, these “stones” will appear over 80% of the time in the bladder itself, resulting in bladder stones in pets.

The warning signs or the symptoms to watch for in bladder stones pets will be blood in the urine, and than only very small amounts of urine each time your pet goes.

They will give the appearance of struggling to go, and in reality, they actually are struggling.

However, what is quite surprising to many pet owners is that your pets may actually show no signs at all of bladder stones pets.

Many times your veterinarian will only discover that your pet has stones during a routine examination.

There are actually several types of stones that your pet can develop. The most common type of stone is called “Struvite stones”. This is almost always the result of an infection of the urinary track that has been caused by “magnesium ammonium phosphate”.

This is way it is so vitally important to understand the functions of magnesium relative to your pet.

It is also important to note that stones in your pets have nothing to do with the age of your pet, and in fact quite often occur in puppies. Other types of stones (or better described as crystals) are formed by calcium oxalate, apatite, cystine, or ammonium urate.

As any of these stones form, they will most defiantly lead to irritation to your pet’s urinary tract, making bacterial infection difficult to treat properly.

If not treated properly, a very vicious cycle begins. Untreated, these stones can lead to a blockage of the urethra (especially in male dogs), which could lead to a very serious set of illnesses and even death in severe cases.

These bladder stones in pets are often chronic health issues to both dogs and cats.

In cats, there is an overwhelming consensus that the diet is again the major cause of stones. And again, it centers on magnesium ammonium phosphate.

In cat food, you can identify this on the label by “ash content”. It is just as important with cats, as with dogs, to focus on protein based foods, and prevent “alkaline urine” by feeding your pets a diet high in protein and one that is grain free.

Just like with dogs, in cats look for a food that has very small amounts or no vegetables at all, to reduce the chance of crystal formulations. As many cat owners will testify, treating urinary infections in cats is quite extensive, and in most cases, very expensive.

The treatment for bladder stones in pets is really quite simple. Watch what your pet eats.

Also, keep plenty of fresh water available at all times. Keeping the kidneys and the bladder flushing properly will also help in preventing this painful ailment.

There are also several very good supplements on the markets today, especially containing a cranberry extract that will help in prevention.

Natural Treatments for Bladder Stones in Pets

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