Hi Pamela,

Thanks for your question.

Yes. There are medical diets that can dissolve certain types of stones. Some stones will dissolve and others won’t, so it depends on which stones are present in your pet’s bladder. We determine this by performing a urinalysis and looking at what crystals are present in the urine sample. Keep in mind that some stones won’t shed crystals very well so on occasion, the crystals we see in a urine sample are not representative of the stones that may be in the bladder.

You’ll have to speak to your veterinarian about what type of stone is present and if a diet exists to dissolve it. Some stones also form because of other underlying diseases or metabolic abnormalities in your pet’s body that blood work can help identify.

Lithotripsy, or the breaking down of stones with the use of sound waves, is not routinely performed.

Surgical removal, known as a cystotomy, is a simple surgery. It will also allow a veterinary surgeon to examine the wall of the bladder for any disease process or contributing factor. It will also allow sampling of the tissue if there are any concerns.

I hope this helps.

Dr. Clayton Greenway