How to Prevent Kidney Stones for Dogs

Dogs often develop kidney stones when the urine accumulates too much mineral salts – substances that are usually excreted in the urine. Mineral salts will form stones in the urinary tract or kidneys. Causes of kidney stones can also be urinary tract infections, kidney infections, medications, age, diet or depending on the breed of dog. Nephrpithiasis and Urpiths are two names for stones in the kidney and urinary tract, respectively. ^{[1] X Research Sources} After learning about the risk of kidney stone formation in dogs, you can take steps to help your dog prevent the disease.

Table of Contents

Give your dog enough water to drink

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Make sure your dog drinks enough cool, clean water. Water helps to dilute the urine, so it can dissolve the minerals in the urine. Drinking enough water also helps dogs urinate frequently and push minerals out of the body. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Change the dog’s water every day and rinse the water bowl several times per week to keep bacteria out.

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Give your dog the right amount of water each day. The amount of water your dog needs each day depends on his body weight. Every day, a dog needs about 30 ml of water/0.5 kg of body weight. ^{[3] X Research Source} For example, a 4 kg dog needs to drink 1 cup (240 ml) of water per day. 10 cups of water (2400 ml) is the amount of water needed per day for a dog weighing 40 kg.

Note that dogs that are active, pregnant or lactating need to drink more water.
Give your dog extra water to drink when the weather is hot. Always give your dog cool, clean, and reliable water, especially in hot weather.
Do not give your dog ice water to drink when it is cold. Dogs cannot absorb enough water from eating snow or ice. In fact, eating snow and ice forces the dog’s body to expend more energy to melt the snow/ice, thus increasing the dog’s need for water.

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Add water to your dog’s food if the dog is not drinking enough water. If your dog is picky about water or you suspect he’s not consuming enough water during the day, you can add warm water to your dog’s food until the food and water have come together. You can also feed your dog canned wet food to add more water to the dog’s body. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Just make sure to provide your dog with cool and clean water, even if wet food is needed.

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Allow your dog to urinate frequently. Every 6-8 hours, a healthy adult dog needs to be peeed. ^{[5] X Research Source} Young dogs, puppies or dogs with urinary tract disease need to urinate more often, at least every 4 hours.

If you can’t walk your dog to pee according to his needs, you can create a dog hole so he can run to pee in your backyard, teach your dog how to use a special dog toilet in the house, or Hire someone to walk the dog several times a day.
Observe the dog urinating at least once a week. The urine is thin and yellow in color, indicating that the dog is healthy and normal. If your dog’s urine is brown or red, or if he or she shows signs of abnormality in urination, you should take your dog to the vet right away.

Control your dog’s diet

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Buy high-quality dog food. You should look for feed brands that have meat (not meat by-products) ingredients first or consult your veterinarian. Although it is not necessary to provide your dog with a special diet to prevent kidney stones, you should still provide your dog with adequate nutrition. A dog’s nutritional needs depend on breed, age, and other factors. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Talk to your vet if you don’t know how to choose dog food.

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Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for dog food. If your dog is prone to urinary tract infections or has a history of kidney stones, you should follow your veterinarian’s recommendations on how to choose dog food. Your veterinarian will recommend a special diet (including special treatment) to help prevent kidney stones from returning. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein often cause kidney stones because they can increase the mineral and protein content in the urine. For dogs prone to kidney stones, foods that are low in these nutrients (but still meet their nutritional needs) can help prevent kidney stone formation and may even dissolve small stones.
There are many types of kidney stones. The most common types of kidney stones are Struvites (formed from magnesium – ammonium – phosphorus); Calcium oxalate (formed from calcium) and uric acid stones (Spotted dogs are prone to this). There are even some types of mixed kidney stones. After a urinalysis, your veterinarian can determine the type of kidney stone your dog is suffering from and recommend the most appropriate food for your dog.

Knowledge about kidney stones

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Recognize the signs and symptoms of kidney stones. In some cases, kidney stones in dogs do not show any obvious signs. Kidney stones can be found by X-ray or ultrasound when examining the dog. In other cases, veterinarians will rely on the following suspicious signs to diagnose kidney stones in dogs: ^{[10] X Research Source Cote, E, (2010), Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats, ISBN 978-0323068642}

Urinating blood
Urinate more often and drink more water.
Urinary tract infections again
Doesn’t taste good
Vomiting
Weight loss
Difficulty urinating
Lifeless
Stomach-ache

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Understanding the process of kidney stone formation. Kidney stones are caused by a build-up of minerals in the urine. The kidneys are the urine-forming organs in the body. In some cases, minerals formed by urine that should be soluble but cannot be dissolved in the urine, thus accumulate and form stones.

These stones can be extremely small or large enough to fill holes in the kidney. Kidney stones, whether large or small, are unusual and have the potential to cause damage to the kidneys. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Learn about the harmful effects of kidney stones. Kidney stones can block a dog’s urine flow and cause kidney swelling if the stone is too large. Urinary obstruction can lead to serious problems, even death. Therefore, you should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your dog has kidney stones. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Kidney stones can invade the bladder or form on their own in the bladder. This process is more common, and the dog’s bladder can become filled with stones. Stones that form anywhere can cause infection and endanger the kidneys or bladder.

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Note that some dog breeds are prone to kidney stones. Some dog breeds are more prone to kidney stones than others. You should know if your dog belongs to these breeds so that you can monitor for symptoms more often. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire Terrier and Poodles Miniature (Poodles) are breeds prone to kidney stones formed from calcium and oxalic acid.
Dalmatians, Yorkshire Terriers and English Bulldogs are breeds that are prone to kidney stones formed from uric acid.

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Understanding common kidney stone treatment methods. If you suspect your dog has kidney stones, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Waiting can make kidney stones worse. Treatments for kidney stones often vary, depending on the severity of the disease. Treatment for kidney stones often includes medications, dietary changes, and even surgery. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If surgery is required, you will need to keep your dog in the hospital until the dog has fully recovered from surgery.

Advice

Some dogs are usually adapted to certain types of drinking bowls. Plastic bowls sometimes irritate the skin and harbor bacteria. Ceramic or steel bowls are generally easier to wash and less irritating to the skin.
Regular physical activity like walking strengthens the functions of the body, including the kidneys. Daily walks also create opportunities for dogs to urinate.
If you suspect a problem with your dog’s urinary tract, collect the dog’s urine sample in a clean disposable container and then bring it to the vet for testing.
Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water makes it easier for dogs to prevent kidney stones.

Warning

If your dog has not urinated within 12-24 hours, you should take your dog to the vet right away.

Steps

Give your dog enough water to drink

Control your dog’s diet

Knowledge about kidney stones

Advice

Warning

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