What it is
Urine carries dissolved minerals out of the body. When it holds more of them than it can keep dissolved, tiny crystals form, stick together and grow into stones, some as fine as sand, others the size of a pea or larger. Stones are made of different minerals, and which kind they are matters to your vet.
Several things can help stones form: a bladder infection, the make-up of the urine, how much the dog drinks and, in some dogs, an inherited tendency. Males have a longer, narrower urethra, so a small stone can get stuck there more easily.
Day to day, a dog with stones may need more trips outside, and accidents indoors are not bad manners. Let your dog out whenever it asks and watch how it urinates: that is the simplest way to catch trouble early.
Signs you may notice
- Strains but passes only drops
- Blood in the urine
- Asks to go out again and again
- Accidents indoors
- Licks the genital area
- Cries when urinating
The dog keeps asking to go out, squats or strains for a long time but passes only a few drops, the urine may contain blood, and accidents can happen indoors. If the dog tries to urinate but nothing comes out, don't wait: take it to a vet right away.
When to see a vet
A dog that strains but cannot pass any urine needs a vet immediately. Blood in the urine, or repeated straining while some urine still comes out, is worth a visit the same day.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.