Canine bladder stones are easily confused with simple dog bladder infections. While an infection does not always mean bladder stones, a urinary tract infection can be a symptom of stones.
In fact, the first symptom of canine bladder stones that many dog owners notice, is that their Weimaraner has one urinary tract infection after another
At some point, however, you may need to pay closer attention. If your dog has constant symptoms like blood and pus in her urine, she may have something more serious. Like dog bladder stones!
Symptoms of Bladder Stones in Dogs
If your Weimaraner dog has bladder stones, your first inkling might be a routine test by your vet that discovers blood in your dog’s urine.
But, there are some other signs that you might not connect to canine bladder stones. You might also see these symptoms if your dog has skin allergies, food allergies, or seasonal allergies.
Frequent peeing
Your dog might be driving you nuts, asking to go outside all the time.
While your first thought is probably that she is manipulating you (perhaps for another treat?), she may really be feeling a strong urge to pee.
While frequent urination is a sign of bladder stones, it can also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection or of diabetes.
Accidents in the house
Dog incontinence or peeing in the house, is not common for a Weimaraner female who has been house-trained.
If your dog starts to have accidents after being house trained, she may not have control. A number of incontinence products for dogs can help keep your home clean and sanitary.
Licking the genital area
When any dog does this, it is a sign that there is some discomfort or irritation in that area.
It is easy to overlook this nasty habit, but if your dog licks his genital area a lot, you need to pay attention.
Unable to pee
If your Weimaraner goes outside and tries to pee and nothing happens (or he only pees a little), pay close attention. If this continues, your dog may have a medical emergency! Take her to the veterinarian immediately.
Here’s why it could be an emergency. When a dog cannot pee, the urethra may be blocked by a bladder stone. If the stone is not removed, the bladder can rupture.
In addition, a bladder that has been stretched by holding too much urine, may not ever regain its muscle tone.
If this happens, your Weim might never be able to fully empty his bladder. This makes your dog more prone to getting another dog bladder infection or a recurrence of canine bladder stones.
You can get cheap and easy to use bladder stone test strips from Amazon. You’ll get results in minutes, using your smart phone.
Prevention of Bladder Stones in Dogs
So how can you make sure that your Weimaraner does not get bladder stones? There is, of course, no guarantee with dogs, that they will never get bladder stones. But there are some things that you can do.
If you follow these preventative steps, your dog will have a much better chance of avoiding this common dog health problem!
Plenty of water
Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water. Weimaraners, like other dog breeds, like FRESH water. So make sure that the bowl is clean and the water is changed often.
Otherwise, your dog might not be getting enough water! If the water is too dirty for her, she may just not drink it.
Another quirky thing about some dogs is that they refuse to drink after other dogs. So, if you have another dog or two, make sure your Weimaraner has its own dog water bowl.
In addition, if you use a ceramic or stainless steel bowl, you can avoid the bacteria build-up we see in plastic bowls.
Pee frequently?
Give your dog a chance to empty his bladder often. This helps prevent dog bladder infections, as well as dog bladder stones.
Supplements and Food
If you use a product like PetHonesty Cranberry Supplement from Chewy, you can prevent many UTIs and possibly bladder stones. An ounce of prevention goes a long way.
Perhaps one of the best ways to prevent further urinary tract infections is to put your dog on a good prescription dog food designed especially for dogs with urinary tract infections and stones.
A brand popular with dog owners is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet. You’ll need to have a prescription or approval from your vet to get this.
Medicines
If your Weimaraner dog is taking Furosemide (Lasix), there is an increased risk for stones to develop.
Additionally, if your dog is taking steroids for her allergies, she also has a higher risk of developing stones. This is something to discuss with your vet.
While it is not entirely possible to completely avoid bladder stones in dogs, especially in dogs that are prone to them, you can take steps to minimize the risks.
If your dog already has bladder stones, a natural product like Stone Breaker could be just what you need.
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