Reggie had a very close call. Without knowing it, Reggie was developing a cluster of small stones in his urinary system. His owners are very attentive and loving guardians, but they had not noticed any change in Reggie's urinary habits at home. No straining to urinate, no blood in the urine, no increase in the frequency of his urination. But the stone sat there with Reggie playing a strange kind of Russian Roulette. Every time he urinated he risked having the stones move into his urethra where they could have easily caused an acute, life threatening blockage. Untreated urinary obstruction can lead to a toxic crisis in as little as 24 hours. It is excruciatingly painful and can lead to permanent damage to the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. So why does Reggie look so happy in this picture? Because of a simple urine test.

Now that Reggie is entering his "Senior Years", we are conducting health examinations every six months and we are performing periodic screening tests to give us the ability to detect disease before it reaches a critical stage. A simple, inexpensive urinalysis gave us the subtle first clues that Reggie may be hiding a serious problem. An abdominal radiograph was then ordered (see picture below). The X-ray revealed a multitude of stones of varying size in the urinary bladder. Surgery was scheduled for the following day.

An anesthetic strategy was structured to account for Reggie's heart murmur and to anticipate the pain management needs of an abdominal surgery patient. Blood tests were performed to reduce the likelihood of there being any other hidden problems. These tests were found to be normal. The anesthesia and surgery were performed without complication. Postoperative radiographs showed that all of the many stones had been removed. Laboratory tests were submitted to look for signs of urinary infection and, most importantly, to analyze the chemical composition of the stones. This analysis is critical to the determination of what steps will best prevent the reoccurrence of his stones.

Within a few days Reggie had resumed his normal routine. Because his problem was detected so early, Reggie experienced much less postoperative discomfort than the typical male dog with urinary stones. His stone analysis revealed that he had developed Calcium Oxalate stones. Fortunately, there is an effective preventive program available for such patients. His diet was changed, and a supplement was added to the food to increase the urine pH (away from the acidic end, towards the basic range). His "Mom" makes him special treats using his prescription diet because he can no longer have regular foods and treats.

Reggie has his urine tested every three months and has a simple abdominal radiograph every six months. Most patients can avoid having the stones return through this program and those that do not have, at least, an early detection of the stones giving them the best chances for a quick and successful surgical remedy.