Posted by Porky on September 30, 2006 at 20:30:06:
Ways to prevent kidney and bladder stones:
1. Most important factor is to always have available water and other fluids. Fluids dilute urine making crystallization more difficult, and encourage passing of crystals through urination before they accumulate into stones or plugs. Have multiple sources of water available in case one gets accidentally tipped over, etc. The water should also be clean and free of sediment.
Encourage your pet to drink first thing in the morning by freshening the water bowl, and make sure fresh water is available right after eating.
If you have an old dog, or one with balance problems, place the bowl higher on a stand. This is a good idea anyway as it prevents water from going down the wrong tube into the respiratory tract. In serious cases, teach your dog to drink while reclining upright on its belly with the bowl close to its mouth.
Don't feed your dog excessively dry food. Add broth or water to dry food.
2. Allow for easy access to urination. Don't force your pet to sleep through the night and hold its urine. If it begs to go out, get up and let it out as often as necessary. This prevents acid from concentrating in the urine and forming crystals.
3. Add a little lemon or other citrus juice occassionally into your pet's food if they will tolerate it. This will increase the quantity of citrate in urine preventing formation of oxalate stones.
4. Periodically, every month or more, acidify the dog's food to dissolve/prevent alkaline stones. Use cranberry juice, yogurt, miso soup, etc. or added to the food or mild supplementary vit. C will do the job. Don't overdo vitamin C as this can aid in formation of oxalate stones.
5. Provide enough oils and fat especially fish oil in food. 'Slippery' foods like oatmeal and bananas also help lubricate the urinary system.
6. Make sure you pet has a good intestinal flora as this prevents concentration of oxalates and calcium in urine.
7. Exercise your pet but always remember to have water available for easy replenishment. If you go on long runs or walks, have a squirt bottle along so dehydration does not occur, especially when the weather is hot.
If the pet's urethra becomes clogged it can be serious especially with males.
When the pet cannot urinate at all, the situation can become life-threatening with about 24 hours in some cases.
If you don't have emergency clinics available or otherwise can't get immediate help, here are some things you can try.
1. Try massaging around the urethra. This is the first things vets try. The idea is to loosen or break up the blockage at first. If the bladder is not overly-filled you may want to gently try to express, but be careful as you don't want to cause a rupture.
With females you can try to encourage the blockage with massage out of the urethra or back toward the bladder. With males, especially male cats, only try to move the blockage back toward the bladder.
Mentholated rubs can help relax spasms and break up mucous that exists in plugs. You can also use warm vinegar/soy sauce compresses. Or rub the area with a bruised piece of fresh ginger. Apply moisturizing oils, especially coconut oil, to skin of area around urethra. Apply oil first massaging in thoroughly and then apply mentholated rub.
2. With dogs let the pet sit in a bath tub as it is filled with warm water with tap opened as much as possible. Add some refined salt, vinegar and soy sauce to the bath water and fill as much as the pet will tolerate. Cats usually won't allow this. Once the tub is full, smack the water with a metal object to cause shockwaves that can break up crystals.
3. Try gently tapping the exterior around the urethra with a metal or other solid object to break up obstruction.
4. Feed your pet something with lots of lactic acid in it like yogurt, miso paste, lactic cheeses, etc. Obviously don't allow the dog to drink if the bladder is distended. Dip some dog treats in olive or other oil and feed.
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