Clinical Evaluation and Management of Urolithiasis in Dogs

Authors

  • Shree Ram Karir Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Jaipur-302031, (RUVAS, Jobner), India
  • Anita Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Post Graduate Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Jaipur-302031, (RUVAS, Jobner), India
  • Alka Bharia Department of Veterinary Medicine, Post Graduate Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Jaipur-302031, (RUVAS, Jobner), India
  • Nupur Pandey Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Jaipur-302031, (RUVAS, Jobner), India
  • Pradeep Kumar Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Jaipur-302031, (RUVAS, Jobner), India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.1.29

Keywords:

Canine urolithiasis, Cystotomy, Calcium oxalate, Radiography, Struvite.

Abstract

Urolithiasis, characterized by the formation of urinary tract calculi, is a common and potentially serious condition in dogs. It may result in  partial or complete urinary obstruction and often recurs if not properly managed. The condition has a multifactorial etiology, involving  diet, infection, breed predisposition and urinary pH. This study was focused on diagnostic imaging, surgical intervention outcomes and  prevention of post-treatment recurrence of urolithiasis in ten dogs. Clinical signs, diagnostic imaging (radiography and ultrasonography),  stone composition, surgical and medical management and follow-up were analysed. Stones were identified chemically and post-treatment  protocols were followed. The most frequent stone type was struvite (5 cases), followed by calcium oxalate (3 cases) and urate (2 cases).  Surgical intervention was necessary in 8 dogs. Two urate cases were managed with diet modification alone. Most dogs recovered fully,  with recurrence in one case. Imaging was instrumental in identifying radiolucent and radiopaque calculi. Canine urolithiasis requires  comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and individualized therapy. Combining surgery, diet modification and long-term monitoring offer  the best outcomes. Accurate imaging and stone analysis are essential for preventing recurrence. 

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Amarpal, Kinjavdekar, P., Aithal, H. P., Pawde, A. M., Singh, T., Pratap, K., & Singh, T. (2004). Incidence of urolithiasis: A retrospective study of five years. Journal of Animal Science, 74, 175–177.

Bartges, J. W. (2004). Diagnosis of urinary tract infections. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 34(4), 923–933.

Bartges, J. W., & Callens, A. J. (2015). Urolithiasis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 45(4), 747–768.

Bartges, J. W., Osborne, C. A., Lulich, J. P., Kirk, C., Allen, T. A., & Brown, C. (1999). Methods for evaluating treatment of uroliths. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 29(1), 45–47.

Calabro, S., Tudisco, R., Bianchi, S., Grossi, M., De Bonis, A., & Cutrignelli, M. I. (2011). Management of struvite uroliths in dogs. British Journal of Nutrition, 106(1), S191–S193.

Cornell, K. K. (2000). Cystotomy, partial cystectomy, and tube cystostomy. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice, 15(1), 11–16.

Defarges, A., Dunn, M., & Berent, A. (2013). New alternatives for minimally invasive management of uroliths: Lower urinary tract uroliths. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 35(1), E1.

Florey, J., Ewen, V., & Syme, H. (2017). Association between cystine urolithiasis and neuter status of dogs within the UK. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 58(9), 531–535.

Franti, C. E., Ling, G. V., Ruby, A. L., & Johnson, D. L. (1999). Urolithiasis in dogs V: Regional comparisons of breed, age, sex, anatomic location, and mineral type of calculus. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 60(1), 29–42.

Hesse, A., Hoffmann, J., Orzekowsky, H., & Neiger, R. (2016). Canine cystine urolithiasis: A review of 1760 submissions over 35 years (1979–2013). Canadian Veterinary Journal, 57(3), 277–281.

Hoelmer, A. M., Lulich, J. P., Rendahl, A. K., & Furrow, E. (2022). Prevalence and predictors of radiographically apparent upper urinary tract urolithiasis in eight dog breeds predisposed to calcium oxalate urolithiasis and mixed breed dogs. Veterinary Sciences, 9(6), 283.

Houston, D. M., Moore, A. E., Favrin, M. G., & Hoff, B. (2004). Canine urolithiasis: A look at over 16,000 urolith submissions to the Canadian Veterinary Urolith Centre from February 1998 to April 2003. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 45(3), 225–230.

Jummai, T., Boonyayatra, S., Tangjitjaroen, W., & Akatvipat, A. (2018). Factors affecting the recurrence of canine urolithiasis in the lower urinary tract after surgical removal. Veterinary Integrative Sciences, 16(3), 197–210.

Killilea, D. W., Westropp, J. L., Shiraki, R., Mellema, M., Larsen, J., Kahn, A. J., Kapahi, P., Chi, T., & Stoller, M. L. (2015). Elemental content of calcium oxalate stones from a canine model of urinary stone disease. PLoS One, 10(6), 1–14.

Ling, G. V., Thurmond, M. C., Choi, Y. K., Franti, C. E., Ruby, A. L., & Johnson, D. L. (2003). Changes in proportion of canine urinary calculi composed of calcium oxalate or struvite in specimens analyzed from 1981 through 2001. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 17(6), 817–823.

Lulich, J. P., Berent, A. C., Adams, L. G., Westropp, J. L., Bartges, J. W., & Osborne, C. A. (2016). ACVIM small animal consensus recommendations on the treatment and prevention of uroliths in dogs and cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 30(5), 1564–1574.

Naeverdal, T. V., Midtgård, J. E., Llarena, A. K., & Ziener, M. L. (2023). A retrospective study on epidemiology and management of canine cystine uroliths in one part of Norway from 2015 to 2020. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 65, 47.

Osborne, C. A., Klausner, J. S., Krawiec, D. R., & Griffith, D. P. (1981). Canine struvite urolithiasis: Problems and their dissolution. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 179(3), 239–244.

Osborne, C. A., Lulich, J. P., Polzin, D. J., Sanderson, S. L., Koehler, L. A., Ulrich, L. K., Bird, K. A., Swanson, L. L., Pederson, L. A., & Sudo, S. Z. (1999a). Analysis of 77,000 canine uroliths: Perspectives from the Minnesota Urolith Center. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 29(1), 17–38.

Osborne, C. A., Sanderson, S. L., Lulich, J. P., Bartges, J. W., Ulrich, L. K., Koehler, L. A., Bird, K. A., & Swanson, L. L. (1999b). Canine cystine urolithiasis: Cause, detection, treatment, and prevention. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 29(1), 193–211.

Queau, Y. (2019). Nutritional management of urolithiasis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 49(2), 175–186.

Smeak, D. D. (2000). Urethrotomy and urethrostomy in the dog. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice, 15(1), 25–34.

Weichselbaum, R. C., Feeney, D. A., Jessen, C. R., Osborne, C. A., Dreytser, V., & Holte, J. (1999). Urocystolith detection: Comparison of survey, contrast radiographic and ultrasonographic techniques in an in vitro bladder phantom. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, 40(4), 386–400.

Published

2026-01-10

How to Cite

Karir, S. R., Anita, Bharia, A., Pandey, N., & Kumar, P. (2026). Clinical Evaluation and Management of Urolithiasis in Dogs. Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology, 22(1), 149-154. https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.1.29