Bladder stones are painful and a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to bladder problems for your cat. Today, our Deer Park vets share some of the common signs of bladder stones in cats so you can get your kitty the help they need.
What Causes Bladder Stones in Cats?
Bladder stones are also sometimes called cystic calculi or uroliths. These minerals often develop into rock-like formations in a cat’s urinary bladder.
They may either be a buildup of multiple small stones or a single larger stone, they can be as small as a grain of rice, and as big as a piece of gravel. Both small and large stones may be present and create an obstruction.
All cats are different but common causes of bladder stones in cats are poor diet, dehydration, high pH urine, and predispositions based on breed.
What are Symptoms of Bladder Stones?
Common symptoms of bladder stones in cats include:
- Straining to urinate
- Blood in urine
Stones can scrape against the wall of the bladder, which causes irritation, tissue damage and bleeding. If the urethra (the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) or bladder wall is swollen or inflamed, this may result in urine flow becoming physically obstructed, or muscle spasms. This can lead to dysuria.
Diagnosis of Bladder Stones in Cats
Though symptoms of bladder stones are similar to those of cystitis or uncomplicated bladder infection, the two conditions are different - if a cat is suffering from bladder stones, it's very unlikely that your cat will also have a bladder infection. Therefore, your vet may need to do more investigation before diagnosing.
Some stones will be too small to be felt with the fingers by palpating them through the bladder wall, or the bladder may be too inflamed. Other options include X-rays or ultrasound or radiographic contrast study.
How to Get Rid of Bladder Stones in Cats
If your kitty is found to have bladder stones, your next question may be to ask, “What dissolves bladder stones in cats?”
Bladder stones will typically have three potential treatments:
- Surgical removal
- Non-surgical removal by urohydropropulsion
- Prescription diet and antibiotics
Left untreated, these stones become painful and can obstruct the neck of the bladder or urethra, resulting in your cat not being able to fully empty his or her bladder and only producing small squirts of urine.
Complete obstructions can lead to urine being totally blocked. If the obstruction is not relieved, this can cause a potentially life-threatening condition and lead to a ruptured bladder. This would be classified as a veterinary medical emergency, which would need your veterinarian's immediate attention.
Other Types of Stones
Gallstones also form in the bladder but contain bile salts, while kidney stones are mineral formations that develop in the kidney. Neither of these are directly related to bladder stones. Though the urinary bladder and kidneys are both parts of the urinary system, kidney stones are not usually associated with bladder stones. Inflammation or disease causes these stones to form in either of these structures.
Other Types of Infections
Bladder infections can affect both male and female cats. The signs and symptoms of bladder infections in cats include straining to urinate, crying out while urinating, blood in the urine, and frequent attempts to urinate.
Prognosis
Prognosis is usually pretty good after bladder stones have been eliminated. Your vet should take preventive measures to help keep the stones from recurring.
Your cat should see your regular veterinarian frequently (every few months) for X-rays or ultrasounds to determine whether stones are returning. If the stones are small enough in size, the vet may use nonsurgical hydropulsion to remove them.
If your cat is having difficulty urinating, our veterinarians can help. We are experienced in diagnosing and effectively treating many conditions and illnesses.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.