Bladder Stones in Dogs

Category: Urinary & Reproductive
Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Breeds documented: 5
Published sources: 5

Overview

Minerals in urine can gather into solid stones inside the bladder. These stones can irritate the urinary tract lining, causing bleeding, discomfort and changes in urination. Some can move into the urethra, the tube carrying urine outside the body, and block urine flow. Different mineral types form for different reasons, including infection or certain inherited problems.

Signs to watch for

Blood in the urine
Repeated attempts to pass small amounts of urine
Straining or discomfort while urinating
Urinary accidents in a previously house-trained dog
Repeated straining without any urine coming out

Age at presentation varies with stone type; cystine stones often affect younger, unneutered males.

Emergency Go to an emergency vet now if your dog strains without passing urine.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets use urine testing and imaging, usually X-rays or ultrasound, to investigate stones and related infection. Some stones are hard to see on plain X-rays, so ultrasound or contrast imaging may be needed. Analysis of removed stones identifies their type. For certain inherited stone disorders, a breed-specific DNA test is available.

Breeds with documented risk

5 breeds

By breed size

1 Toy
2 Small
2 Medium

Bichon FriseSmall · Non-Sporting Group
DalmatianMedium · Non-Sporting Group
Biewer TerrierToy · Toy Group
Standard SchnauzerMedium · Working Group
ShichonSmall

Inheritance

This condition has more than one known form, and different breeds inherit it in different ways. The sources list the form found in each breed.

Autosomal recessive
Dalmatian, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd Dog, Giant Schnauzer, Parson Russell Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Large Munsterlander, Pomeranian, Boerboel, Weimaraner, English Bulldog, Black Russian Terrier, Spanish Water Dog, German Hunting Terrier, Majorca Mastiff
A dog is affected only if it inherits two copies of the gene variant, one from each parent. A dog with one copy is a carrier: usually healthy, but able to pass the variant on. When two carriers are bred, on average one puppy in four is affected. A DNA test can tell clear, carrier and at-risk dogs apart.
As stated by OMIA
Autosomal dominant
Australian Cattle Dog
One copy of the variant, from either parent, is enough to put a dog at risk. On average, an affected dog passes the variant to half of its puppies. Males and females are affected equally.
As stated by OMIA
Semi-dominant
Australian Cattle Dog, Miniature Pinscher
One copy of the variant has an effect, and two copies have a stronger one.
As stated by PennGen
Autosomal recessive
Newfoundland, Labrador Retriever, Landseer
As stated by OMIA

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.