Question About Possible Bladder Stones

[LesleyandStrudel]

Hi everyone!  Over the past few months I noticed Strudel's been drinking and peeing a lot more than usual.  I at first assumed it was because of the weather -- it was VERY hot over the last part of the summer and into the fall.  Once the weather cooled down and her need to drink and eliminate didn't, we went straight to the vet-vet.  The doctor found her to have a high red blood count, indicating slight dehydration, and quite a bit of blood cells in her urine, suggesting, best case, a bladder infection, and worst case, possibly a bladder stone.  I never saw any blood, and she uses puppy pads, so I'm hoping it's not too bad!  So, here's my question -- does anyone know of any way to get rid of bladder stones without surgury?  Anything she could drink that would help it to dissolve and pass?  Right now she's on antibiotics (and today she appears to be feeling lousy, for some reason ... and she's refusing to climb stairs). I'm HOPING the antibiotic will clear everything up, but if it doesn't, I'm hoping to not have to go for anything as drastic as surgury, which is what the vet is recommending, if I don't have to!

[Barb]

Sending rays that it all clears up with the meds !!!  I have never had a pet with stones - but did see an operation on the Animal Planet - I think it was on a cat and the stones were much bigger than i though possible.  Surgery all went well and kitty was much happier !!!  Hoping Strudel doesn't have to go through any of that !  Keep us posted -

[Frankys_mom]

Hi!
Sending rays that it is just a bladder infection and not stones.  I remember someone posting about adding a small amount of vinegar to their water to acidify the urine and I know that the catfood for cats with stones is pH adjusted, but not sure about dogs.  I know that it depends on the kind of stone... one kind can be dissolved by medication and the other cannot.  My Franky had emergency surgery because he could not pee due to blockage caused by stones that were too big to pass.  He is fine now and we just have to watch his intake of certain minerals.
Hope everything clears up!
Dawn

[LesleyandStrudel]

Thanks for the idea!  This morning, I snuck about a half a teaspoon or so of vinegar into Strudel's breakfast.  She ate ravenously, and was licking the dish, so I gave her a little bit more kibble with vinegar!  I figure, it can't hurt, and maybe it will help!  Sometimes I feel like animals know better for what they need than we humans can guess!