Urolithiasis-Calcium Oxalate in Dogs

Overview of Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis in Dogs

Calcium oxalate uroliths, also referred to as calculi, are stones within the urinary tract composed of the mineral calcium oxalate. Clinical symptoms depend on the size and number or uroliths as well as their location in the urinary tract. Some affected animals may have no clinical signs. Calcium oxalate stones affect dogs of all ages, but are most common in middle-aged pets.

Causes of Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis

In most cases, the cause of calcium oxalate stone formation remains unknown despite thorough medical evaluation of the pet. However, several conditions may contribute to the formation of calcium oxalate calculi. These include:

What to Watch For

Signs of urolithiasis in dogs may include:

Diagnosis of Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis in Dogs

Treatment of Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis in Dogs

There are no successful treatment protocols that can dissolve calcium oxalate stones. Your veterinarian will probably recommend any of the following:

Home Care

Administer any medications and feed special diet as prescribed by your veterinarian. Watch for the recurrence of clinical symptoms because calcium oxalate stones tend to recur.

Potassium citrate may be of benefit because it increases urine pH (it makes the urine more alkaline) and inhibits calcium oxalate stone formation.