bladder stones

[redwind30]

My ten year old boy has crystals in his urine. They did an xray and urine sample. No blood and no stone showed up on the xray. However, if crystals are still present in 3 weeks he said they will need to do ultra sound. He seems to be fine. Drinks water, pees, eats and is always eager to play or go for a walk.

My little guy has had bladder stones in the past and had surgery to get them removed. My husband was able to stay at home with him after the surgery two years ago.

I really can't recall how long or how bad the recovery time was. Has anyone else experienced this surgery? If I take the following day off work do you think it will be okay to leave him alone during the day after that? I have to work and don't have many sick days left. Can you give me any idea as to what to expect if he does need the surgery? As you know from my past posts everything scares me since I lost my husband last April.

I am hoping with all of my heart that he doesn't need to have it. We both have been through enough pain and stress the past few months.....not to mention a ton of medical bills!
As always thanks for listening. I really appreciate all of you since I don't have anyone else with whom to discuss these issues.

[capt_noonie]

Dogs with history of crystals or bladderstones should be on special diets that help dissolve any crystals. If they become too large to dissolve that is when you need surgery. I understand that males and females usually get different types of bladderstones. I had a female foster who had bladderstone surgery. Her case was especially scary bc her diagnosis of UTI and crystals was basically ignored which in turn caused the stones. She has four large ones that were so large and left to grow in her bladder that there was practically no more room in her bladder and the stones were making ulcers in the bladder lining. Her white blood cells were very high and red cells low and very anemic. She had to be flushed out with iv's for about 3 days to stabilize her system before she could be operated on. After that, the vet kept her for another 3 days for observastion. This was a much more serious situation that what you are in, however, it may be beneficial for you and your dog if you have him stay at the vets for a few days. i know there will be additional costs, but I think it would be best. Unless the dog is well pad trained, so he can go himself, he cannot be left alone all day and have him have to hold it that long.

[capt_noonie]

oh also if you have decent credit, I highly suggest you apply for a Care Credit card. I applied for mine before my credit tanked, so I still have mine for peace of mind. Basically what it is, its a credit card for medical expenses and if you pay off the balance before the deadline you pay no interest.

[Patti]

One of mine had a UTI with crystals. The vet gave me some antibiotics and some cranberry powder to put on her food. She was fine after a few days and no more crystals. I hope your little guy can avoid surgery. If he does have to have surgery, maybe you could schedule it on a Thursday and take off work on Friday and have the weekend to be home with him. I would think by the next Monday he should be able to be home alone. I will keep you both in my prayers.

[YorkieZoo]

Our boy Houston had the surgery at the end of last year. If memory serves correct, I believe the surgery was between $1,250-$1,300 .

We scheduled the surgery for a Wednesday, he stayed the night, and we picked him up on Thursday after work. My wife stayed with him on Friday (we both have weekends off) and I scheduled Monday just in case. That way we each only used 1 day apiece, but were with him for 4 days total.

You might want to check on the Wednesday surgery (if he has to stay the night) with the Thursday pickup if you get weekends off...that way you only have to use a Friday and can monitor him the weekend.

Our vet is open on Saturdays and Sundays, so we are lucky if there is an "OH GOD" moment, during hours on those days.

I believe that it was no running, jumping, etc for 2 weeks (staples)...and still after that (just healing time). We crated him, but the drugs knocked him out most of the time anyway.

[capt_noonie]

Duh me. That's a good idea with the weekend thing. As a person who works 7 days a week, it never even crossed my mind!

[redwind30]

Thanks to everyone for the information. I am hoping with all of my heart that the next urine specimen will be clear and no surgery will be needed. I know the vet does not have someone there alll night so I am a little concerned about leaving him there unattended. However, I know it will be difficult to keep him calm at home.
Do you think he would be better off at the vet's the night after surgery or would it be better for him to come home the same day as the surgery? How dangerous is the surgery? I know I am crossing the bridge before I get to it; but feel that I need to have some sort of plan in place. In your case was it necessary to do the surgery immediately or were you able to postpone it for a few days?

[YorkieZoo]

In our case we scheduled the surgery a few days out so it wasn't emergent. We also didn't have a choice in the overnight stay..that was required by the vet so that they could monitor.

As with any surgery there are risks, mostly due to the anesthesia, but for events like this, the surgery risks are minute compared to the non-surgery.

[capt_noonie]

If you are talking to me, she needed the surgery right away. Take a look at the pic I attached. That's how big her stones were. there were FOUR of them, and she is an 7.5 lbs dog. This is the result of neglect from her original owners when it was just a mere UTI, then crystals. She was not feeding her the crystal disolving food, she was feeding Beneful!

If he does need surgery, and no one will be at the hospital overnight, then I agree with what the others have suggested, schedule the surgery for Thursday, take off Friday and Monday if you can. Good luck with the tests.

[YorkieZoo]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

If you are talking to me, she needed the surgery right away. Take a look at the pic I attached. That's how big her stones were. there were FOUR of them, and she is an 7.5 lbs dog. This is the result of neglect from her original owners when it was just a mere UTI, then crystals. She was not feeding her the crystal disolving food, she was feeding Beneful!

If he does need surgery, and no one will be at the hospital overnight, then I agree with what the others have suggested, schedule the surgery for Thursday, take off Friday and Monday if you can. Good luck with the tests.

HOLY SMOKES! THOSE ARE HUGE! Wow! Our little guys weren't nearly that size!!! Unfortunately, he had calcium oxalate, which couldn't be dissolved, but wow, they weren't nearly that big. Jeepers....you just made me cross my legs!

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by YorkieZoo

HOLY SMOKES! THOSE ARE HUGE! Wow! Our little guys weren't nearly that size!!! Unfortunately, he had calcium oxalate, which couldn't be dissolved, but wow, they weren't nearly that big. Jeepers....you just made me cross my legs!

You should see them in person. I almost passed out when I saw them. Imagine your dog peeing straight blood red pee for 2 years and you don't do anything about it! Finally this girl surrendered her yorkie and we were able to get her healthy again. She has since been adopted by a wonderful couple in San Jose. She also has a yorkie brother who is also a rescue.

[redwind30]

Oh my Gosh!!! that poor baby! I can't imagine letting any pet suffer like that. My little guy gets his urine tested ever three months, is on a very strict diet for pancreatitis and crystals also no blood so far...so I certainly hope we are not dealing with a situaiton like the one in the picts.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by redwind30

Oh my Gosh!!! that poor baby! I can't imagine letting any pet suffer like that. My little guy gets his urine tested ever three months, is on a very strict diet for pancreatitis and crystals also no blood so far...so I certainly hope we are not dealing with a situaiton like the one in the picts.

You are doing all you can, it's esp good you are doing the testing every 3 motnhs. You are doing a good job, so no way your baby will suffer like Katie did. She had UTI, they didn't give the medication or the rx food. Then progressed to stones, saw more blood and pee and still did not treat. Two years of this. That is the outcome. It is very good of you to try to get mentally prepared for a surgery just in case too, you are thinking in advance. Your baby getting crystals is not your fault, sometimes it just happens. But you are doing a great job trying to keep him healthy!

[redwind30]

Thanks for your encouraging remarks. Since I lost my husband I am constantly afraid of messing something up. If I mess up the checkbook or something with the house...no big deal. But, if I mess up with my little guy I don't think I could forgive myself. He is so loving and is always there for me. I am trying to take really good care of him.
When your little one had to have surgery did she have to wear one of those E collars? Are there any alternatives? As I said before; last time he had surgery my husband was at home to take care of him and monitor his behavior. If he has to have the surgery (I am praying he won't) I will be able to take one day off of work; but no more than that. Do you think he will be okay wearing the "E" collar if he has to be home alone? How do they eat and drink with the silly thing on?

[capt_noonie]

Yes, with surgery they are always required to wear the e collars. Too bad you can't just tell them, hey don't lick your stitches LOL. I got a softee cone from YT member Mom to Hot Rod, her name is Bo. She custom makes them. They are fabric and a bit shorter than a plastic one so it's easier for them to eat, drink, and see!

Here is her thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ne-collar.html
You can reply directly in the thread or PM her. It's nice to have around even if you don't need surgery. Sometimes if they get an itch and obsessively bite at it, this solves the problem.