Urate Kidney & Bladder Stones in Dogs

Breeds documented
28
Published sources
14

Overview

Urate stones form when uric acid crystallizes in the urinary tract. They can develop in the kidneys or bladder and may irritate the urinary lining or block urine flow. An inherited change affecting uric acid handling is one cause, but liver shunts, abnormal vessels that bypass the liver, can also lead to these stones. Not every dog with the inherited risk develops stones.

Signs to watch for

  • Straining during urination
  • Passing small amounts of urine frequently
  • Blood visible in the urine
  • New urinary accidents indoors

Stone formation often begins around four years of age.

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

Diagnosis and tests

Urine testing checks for urate crystals and other urinary problems. Ultrasound or specialized X-rays can help locate stones, and laboratory analysis can identify a removed stone's composition. A DNA test is available for the inherited HUU variant, identifying genetic susceptibility rather than confirming that stones are present.

Breeds with documented risk

28 breeds

By breed size
  • 2 Toy
  • 4 Small
  • 12 Medium
  • 9 Large
  • 1 Giant

Most popular breeds on this list

All 28 breeds, A to Z

Inheritance

  • Autosomal recessive

    American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Bichon Frise, Black Russian Terrier, Boerboel, Dalmatian, English Bulldog, German Hunting Terrier, German Shepherd Dog, Giant Schnauzer, Labrador Retriever, Large Munsterlander, Lhasa Apso, Majorca Mastiff, Miniature Schnauzer, Parson Russell Terrier, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Standard Poodle, Scottish Terrier, Spanish Water Dog, Weimaraner

    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

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.

Sources

  1. Cornell Riney Canine Health Center: Hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia or urolithiasis (HUU): vet.cornell.edu
  2. acvs.org
  3. vgl.ucdavis.edu
  4. American Bulldog: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Dalmatian: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. Dalmatian: omia.org
  7. Danish-swedish Farmdog: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  8. Drentsche Patrijshond: scispace.com
  9. Large Munsterlander: academic.oup.com
  10. Large Munsterlander: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  11. Maremma Sheepdog: journals.plos.org
  12. Pont-audemer Spaniel: ceppa.fr
  13. Schapendoes: schapendoes.fi
  14. Yorkshire Terrier: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov