Bladder stones occur commonly in animals, especially in domesticated animals like cats and dogs. The stones, which may vary in number and size, form in the urinary bladder and in any part of the urinary tract. The most common types of stones that occur in animals are calcium oxalate and struvite

When bladder stones symptoms is visible, often the first step is to undergo x-ray. Most stones can easily be determined in x-ray, stones under three millimeters can hardly be seen. Other process to identify bladder stones is ultrasonography. Urinalysis determines the crystals that will help identify the bladder stones for complete chemical composition identification.

Bladder stones can be treated with medications and diet modification. In female dog, urohydropropulsion may possibly remove the stones. A non-surgical procedure while sedated, holding the dog vertically, and through a catheter the bladder is filled with saline. This ejects the stones through the urethra with a gentle squeeze. Bladder stones can also be surgically removed using urethrotomy. This procedure creates a permanent opening in the urethra in Male dogs with frequent urinary track obstruction. An Alternative surgery is cystotomy, most stones can be flushed into the bladder and taken out.

Bladder stones cause some strains and pain in urination, this also explains the blood in the urine. Urinary track infections are often connected with bladder stones. Mostly in male animals, small stone pile up in the urethra giving them the inability to urinate and urinary track obstruction and can be fatal within a couple of days.

The cause of bladder stone formation is the over secretion of crystals by the kidney, mostly by the over saturation of the urine. The changes in the urine ph contribute in the crystallization. Due to the water absorption of the renal tubules, the urine becomes over saturated and become concentrated. Other causes include genetics, diet, medication, the occurrence of urinary track infection and how often the animal urinates.