How to Treat Kidney Stones in Dogs

Reviewed by Natalie Punt, DVM

Last Updated: July 24, 2024 References

If your dog seems to be in pain and isn't acting like itself, then it might be suffering from kidney stones. This uncommon condition can cause your pet a lot of suffering and can create life-threatening infections. Treatment requires both veterinary intervention and at home care to control the condition long-term. With a combination of these types of care, your dog can recover from kidney stones quickly and effectively.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Veterinary Treatment

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Take your dog to be seen by a veterinarian. If you suspect that your dog has kidney stones, you should have it seen by a veterinarian immediately. You should tell your veterinarian about your dog's symptoms and the vet will assess the dog's condition.^{[1]
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- Kidney stones can be very painful for a dog, so getting it veterinary care quickly is the humane thing to do.
- The symptoms of kidney stones are relatively general, so your vet will likely also consider other conditions and illnesses that could be causing your dog pain. Diagnostic tests should help to narrow down the diagnosis.
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Allow your veterinarian to do diagnostic testing. There are a variety of tests that your veterinarian may do to give your pet the proper diagnosis. Diagnostic testing is especially important because sometimes kidney stones don't cause obvious symptoms. They are only found when the dog is being screened for other problems. Tests that the vet may use include:^{[2]
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- Complete blood count (CBC), which looks at that dog's white and red blood cells.
- Electrolyte count in the blood, which presents evidence of stone formation.
- Urinalysis or urine culture, which can spot crystals and signs for bacteria developing.
- Abdominal x-rays, which can be used to inspect the kidneys.
- Systemic blood pressure, which can assess whether high blood pressure is present.
- Abdominal ultrasound, which can be used to look locate stones.
- Contrast radiography, which can confirm the presence of a blockage.
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3
Medicate your dog. There are a variety of medications that your veterinarian may prescribe to treat your dog's condition. Your veterinarian may begin with antibiotics, to clear any connected infections. Next, they may give your dog medications to increase its thirst, which dilutes the dog's urine, or to make your dog's urine more acidic, which will help dissolve the stones.^{[3]
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- The veterinarian may also prescribe your dog pain medication if it is suffering from pain due to the kidney stones.
- Be sure to discuss possible side effects and drug interactions with your veterinarian if they prescribe your dog any medications.
- Follow your veterinarian's instructions for dosing and length of treatment. This will help ensure that your dog receives the correct treatment for its condition.
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Consider surgical intervention. Your veterinarian may suggest surgery if your dog's kidney stones are severe. There are several types of surgery that can be used to treat kidney stones. These include traditional surgical removal of the stones and less invasive laparoscopic surgeries that use lasers to break up the stones before removal.^{[4]
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- Newer types of surgery, in which the procedure is done through a small incision, tend to be cheaper and the animals tend to recover from the procedure quicker than with traditional surgeries.
- If your dog is going to have surgery, be sure to follow your veterinarian's before and after surgical instructions. Typically these include directions for when and what to feed a dog before surgery, how to care for any incisions, and when and how to give your dog medications.
- If your dog's kidney damage is severe, then it might be necessary to have the damaged kidney removed.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Managing Your Dog's Condition

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Change your dog's diet. Once your dog has been diagnosed with kidney stones, it will be your responsibility to control the condition long-term. The best way to do this is to change the dog's diet. There are a variety of special diets made specifically for dogs with kidney stones.
- Your veterinarian will likely suggest a specific product to feed your dog. If they don't offer that information, be sure to ask them what they would suggest.
- Dog foods that are specifically for dogs with kidney stones work by including less protein and phosphorus than typical dog foods. They also contain ingredients that adjust the acidity of your dog's urine to make the conditions less favorable for stone formation.
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Give your dog plenty of water. It is important for a dog with a history of kidney stones to drink a lot of water. Drinking a lot of water can dilute your dog's urine, which minimizes the ability of stones to form in the kidneys.^{[5]
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- If your dog is not drinking much water, consider feeding it wet food. Wet food can add much needed moisture into the animal's system.
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Monitor the dog's condition. It is important to keep an eye on your dog's condition over time. Keep an eye out for the symptoms of kidney stones in the future so that you can get the dog veterinary care very quickly. This can help to minimize any future episodes.^{[6]
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- Even if your dog is not having symptoms, you should get its urine and blood tested every three months for signs of re-emerging problems.
- Your veterinarian may also suggest an abdominal x-ray or ultrasound every few months to check for developing stones.^{[7]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Identifying Kidney Stones

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Look for physical symptoms of kidney stones. There are a variety of symptoms that can occur when your dog has kidney stones. Look for these symptoms:^{[8]
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- Fever
- Blood in the urine
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
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Look for signs of pain. In addition to other physical symptoms, your dog will likely be in pain if it has kidney stones. The pain can come from both general abdominal discomfort and acute kidney pain. However, it can be hard to spot the signs of pain in a dog, so look for:
- Changes in posture
- Heavy breathing
- Abnormal vocalization
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Pay attention to general behavioral changes. If your dog has kidney stones the condition may alter its behavior. This is due to the discomfort and systemic problems kidney stones cause. Some common behavioral changes connected to kidney stones include:^{[9]
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- Increase or decrease in urination frequency
- Lethargy
- Poor appetite
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Monitor breeds with higher risk of kidney stones. If you have a breed that is prone to kidney stones, you should work to prevent them. Keep an extra close eye on the dog for signs that kidney stones might be developing. Also, submit urine samples to your vet regularly so that they can check for crystals, which can clump together and form stones. Some dog breeds that are more likely to get kidney stones include:^{[10]
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- Miniature schnauzer
- Lhasa apso
- Shih Tzu
- Yorkshire terrier
- Dalmatian
- Dachshund
- Bulldog