Bladder Stone Removal

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What are bladder stones?

Also known as bladder calculi, bladder stones occur when salts accumulate in an animal’s bladder and form “stones”. There are numerous causes for this phenomena, but the most common ones include high salt or poor diets, genetics (some animals are predisposed to certain types of stones due to missing enzymes in their genetic makeup), an infection of the bladder, and an altered environment (which can lead to increased likelihood of “stones” forming).

xray of bladder stones

How are they diagnosed?

“Stones” can often be diagnosed by palpitating the bladder across the abdomen, as they can be easily felt in many cases. In cases where bladder calculi are suspected (due to recurrent bladder infections and/or frequent urination that doesn’t respond to medication) but cannot be palpitated, an x-ray will be able to diagnose them easily. X-rays can generally be performed without the need to first anaesthetise your pet.

How are they treated?

Whilst bladder stones can sometimes be medically treated via a special diet, the more common (and faster) form of treatment is to remove them via surgery. These procedures are generally quite quick, often taking only 30 to 45 minutes, and patients are usually able to go home the same day.

Procedure cost

Bladder stone removal surgery for dogs usually costs between $1,700 and $2,200, plus any charges related to the diagnosis (if this has not already been performed elsewhere).

Recovery and aftercare

Bladder exposed prior to incision
Lola before surgery
Ruby recovering post surgery

Expect the same sort of aftercare that you would for most surgeries – keep your dog quiet for 5 to 7 days after their bladder stone surgery. If diet is suspected to be the cause of the “stones”, also expect a change in the type of food you feed your pet to prevent the problem from reoccurring.

Dr. Scot Plummer

Meet Dr. Scot Plummer

BVSC(HONS)

Dr Plummer has always had a deep love for animals and graduated from the University of Queensland with Honours. in his Bachelor of Veterinary Science. After the success of his Brisbane clinic, Dr Plummer has launched Melbourne Pet Surgery with the goal of lowering the cost of high-quality pet care for all Melburnians.

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