Healthy Dogs

Bladder and Urethral Stones in Dogs

Obstructed Bladder

A stone is the most common cause of an obstructed bladder. Tumors and strictures are less common causes. Enlargement of the prostate gland is a rare cause of bladder obstruction in male dogs.

A dog with an obstructed bladder is acutely uncomfortable or in dire distress. Males and females often assume a peculiar splay-legged stance while attempting to void. A partial blockage can be suspected when the dog dribbles urine, voids frequently, and has a weak, splattery stream.

A partial obstruction, left untreated, may become a complete obstruction. With a complete obstruction no urine is passed. The lower abdomen becomes swollen and tender to pressure, and it feels as if there is a large ball in front of the pelvis. Note that the continuous straining associated with an obstructed bladder can be mistaken for constipation.

Treatment:Adog with a partial obstruction due to a urethral stone may pass the stone spontaneously. Treatment thereafter is similar to that described for Bladder and Urethral Stones, page 415.

A complete obstruction is an acute emergency. Take your dog at once to the veterinarian. If the blockage is not relieved, the dog will go into kidney failure or the bladder could rupture. Often the stone can be pushed back into the bladder using a sterile catheter, or by infusing water under pressure into the urethra. If not, surgical removal will be necessary.