Terrier toilet trouble test
Q
My three-year-old Yorkshire terrier recently had a bladder infection. My vet did an ultrasound showing lots of crystals in her bladder. She has sent a sample of these for laboratory analysis, and hopes they will respond to a special diet. Have you seen this?
A
These crystals are uroliths – or bladder stones – and I have indeed seen the various types that are occasionally found in dogs.
It is very likely your dog has struvite crystals, as these are among the most common. They are often diagnosed in small breeds, in animals usually around three years of age. Curiously, 85% of cases are female.
In contrast, another common bladder stone is calcium oxalate, mainly seen in older (9.3 years on average), male dogs. These tend to be bigger and can cause obstruction to urinary outflow, requiring emergency surgery.
There are several other types that I have seen less often.
Risk factors for uroliths include breed and urinary infections, with a presumed imbalance of minerals in the urine. This leads to clumping of precipitated crystals and the formation of stones.
Struvite crystals are sand-like and cause bladder irritation, with signs very similar to cystitis, including painful, frequent straining to urinate and the presence of blood in the urine.
Diagnosis is straightforward, as uroliths can often be palpated by the vet and confirmed by ultrasound or X-rays.
There are well-researched, effective prescription diets designed specifically to dissolve struvite over a period of weeks to a few months, which therefore avoids surgery.
Plentiful water should always be available to your dog.
Q
Our four-year-old male domestic shorthair cat recently had dental treatment. He had gingivitis and apparently teeth brushing can help prevent the problem. We have found this fiendishly difficult and would like to know if you have come across this problem.
A
Every vet in small animal practice has treated cats with dental disease. This is not surprising since, according to the International Cat Care charity, 85% of cats older than three years have some sort of dental disease.
The main dental diseases in cats are gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth resorption.
The latter two can only be treated under general anaesthesia at the veterinary practice and will involve scaling and removal of any badly damaged teeth.
The early stage is gingivitis, which begins with the development of plaque.
This is a film that harbours bacteria. Plaque must be regularly removed to prevent development of the next stage – mineralisation of the plaque to form tartar.
This favours bacterial colonisation, initiating an inflammatory response of the gums (gingivitis).
There are various viruses that can cause gingivitis, but poor oral health is the major contributor.
Destruction of underlying tissues leads to periodontitis and tooth resorption.
Dental treatment under general anaesthesia aims to restore oral health, but without preventative measures, plaque starts to build up within 48 hours.
Daily brushing is recommended, with pet-only toothpaste for prevention, started soon after dental work. If not possible an antiseptic paste, applied to the gums, has shown promise. Your vet or vet nurse can advise.