How pet parents can guard against bladder stones this season
Golu, a five-year-old Shih Tzu, was rushed into our clinic one summer afternoon, trembling and unable to pass urine. He'd been straining to urinate for a day but managed only a few drops tinged with blood. The family had assumed it was a urinary tract infection, and hoped it would clear up. But Golu had a cluster of tiny, sharp crystals in his bladder—stones that caused pain with every attempt he made to relieve himself. This is the story of countless dogs and cats across the country, especially during summer when the risk of bladder stones increases.
Bladder stones, or uroliths, are mineral formations that develop in the bladder when urine becomes concentrated and certain minerals start crystallising. In dogs and cats, they can vary in composition and each has its own causes, implications and treatments. The stones may be single or multiple, large or gravel-like, and can be so many and so tightly packed that they resemble a bag of marbles on an X-ray. These stones irritate the bladder lining, cause pain, inflammation, blood in the urine, and most dangerously, obstruction—especially in male animals, where the urethra is narrower and more prone to blockage.
Symptoms can be subtle at first. Dogs may start urinating more frequently, dribbling small amounts of urine, or licking themselves excessively. Cats will go to the litter tray repeatedly, straining, vocalising or peeing outside the box in frustration. Sometimes, you'll notice blood in the urine or a colour change. I once saw a Persian cat named Whiskey who had been assumed to be protesting a new brand of litter by peeing in the living room, only for us to discover he had bladder stones and was desperately trying to find a comfortable position.
In India, the summer plays a huge role. With high humidity and temperatures, pets may dehydrate more quickly. This concentrates the urine, creating an ideal environment for mineral precipitation. If the pet is on a diet high in minerals or if their pH balance is off, the risk multiplies.
The causes of bladder stones vary by species and even by breed. In dogs, struvite stones often form secondary to urinary tract infections, especially in females. Calcium oxalate stones, on the other hand, are more common in male dogs and have no infectious component, and instead relate to genetic predispositions. Breeds like Miniature Schnauzers, Lhasa Apsos and Pomeranians are more prone. Neutered male cats, particularly Persians and British Shorthairs, appear predisposed.
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of urine analysis, X-rays and ultrasound. Crystals in the urine give us the first clue, but imaging helps locate and size the stones. Occasionally, stones don't show up well on X-rays. I remember once removing nearly 30 small oxalate stones from a Dachshund whose X-ray had looked unremarkable until we did an ultrasound.
Treatment depends on the type of stone, the size, number, and if there's an obstruction. Struvite stones can often be dissolved medically with special diets that acidify the urine. This, however, demands strict compliance and careful monitoring. Calcium oxalate stones don't dissolve and typically require surgical removal. Obstructed animals are medical emergencies and must visit a veterinarian immediately.
Prevention is the golden strategy. For dogs, routine urine tests, dietary modification and encouraging water intake are key. For cats, it's also about reducing stress because feline lower urinary tract disease, including stones, often flares up during times of environmental stress.
While bladder stones often recur, knowing the type of stone your pet formed the first time around helps in crafting a customised prevention plan. I once treated a Golden Retriever whose struvite stones returned twice before his family understood the importance of completing every antibiotic course and sticking with his diet. He hasn't had a recurrence in three years.
Bladder stones are painful, disruptive and, in some cases, life-threatening. Yet they're also one of those conditions where early intervention and informed care can drastically alter the outcome.
Nameeta Nadkarni is a veterinary soft tissue surgeon and pet blogger from Mumbai.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Time of India
Topped Gujarat, now India: Vadodara girl ranks 39 in INICET PG
Vadodara: After topping Gujarat in both her SSC and HSc board exams, 23-year-old Izmabanu Saiyad has now secured All India Rank 39 in the prestigious INICET postgraduate medical entrance exam , continuing her remarkable journey from a small classroom to the gates of India's top medical institutes. The results of which were declared by AIIMS Delhi on Saturday. Izmabanu is the daughter of Aabid Saiyad, a Sanskrit and English teacher at MES Boys' High School in the minority-dominated Yakutpura area of Vadodara. Aabid has been teaching since 1998 and is known for promoting Sanskrit education among Muslim students in the region. Izmabanu recently completed her MBBS with distinction from Baroda Medical College. Her academic journey has been consistently stellar — she topped Gujarat with a 99.99 percentile in the SSC exam in 2017 as a student of New Era Girls High School, Bhutdi Jhapa, and repeated the feat in her HSc exams two years later. "I want to become a surgeon. I'm aiming to get into surgery, preferably at a reputed central institute," she said. The Saiyad family, traditionally dominated by educators, is now seeing a shift toward medicine. "My mother, who holds a BA and BEd in Gujarati and Persian, was also a teacher until recently. Now, I've completed MBBS, and my younger brother is pursuing the same at GMERS Gotri Medical College," said Izmabanu.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- The Hindu
Understanding pubic hair to figure out what comprises genital health
Pubic hair removal and grooming has ancient roots, based around hygiene and aesthetics in Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and linked to Persian rites of adulthood. By the Middle Ages however, it was linked to soliciting for sex work so much so that women started to use Merkins — pubic wigs — to hide syphilis. Fast forward to the 20th century and beauty standards along with marketing came into play. Razor company Gillette's 1915 advertisement framed body hair as 'unsightly,' and by the 1990s, razor and waxing brands began pushing the myth that pubic hair is unhygienic. The porn industry and media cemented this idea, making hairlessness, especially among women, seem like the norm rather than a choice. But is pubic hair really unhygienic? 'Body hair is a marker of good health,' says Tanaya Narendra, a sex health expert working at Abhilasha Hospital and IVF care, Allahabad. She explains that pubic hair increases the surface area of the genitals, which makes it easy to regulate temperature and reduce chaffing during the summer. With India being hot most of the year round, pubic hair is a useful tool to maintaining hygiene and health, she points out. The ill effects of excessive grooming In women, shaving and waxing can weaken the skin's barrier and immune defences, causing chronic inflammation and making the vulva more vulnerable to conditions such as lichen sclerosus (a chronic skin condition) and vulvar melanosis (increased pigmentation of the vulva), says Dr. Narendra. These grooming methods also disrupt the skin's pH and lipid balance, reducing levels of the protective bacteria Lactobacillus in the microbiome. As a result, the area becomes more susceptible to infections such as , candidiasis (yeast infection) , bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections (UTIs). 'Women and girls who removed pubic hair frequently, like weekly or monthly, were the ones who had recurrent UTIs,' says Andrzej Galbarczyk, a public health professor/researcher at Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.. His study found that extreme grooming was linked to a higher risk of recurrent UTIs—three or more per year—suggesting that frequent hair removal may disrupt the pubic area's protective microbial ecosystem. Frequent grooming also leads to microtears, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through bloodstream exposure. A meta-analysis published in BMC Women's Health by Asmaa Eltobgy et al last year, found that the odds of having gram-negative gonorrhoeal and chlamydial infections in pubic hair groomers were found to be statistically significant. Despite the hygiene myth, grooming can cause irritation, compromise protection, and lead to common issues like genital itching. Excessive grooming can also cause vestibulodynia, a hypersensitive skin condition of the vulva. Shaving and waxing often lead to irritation, ingrown hairs, and folliculitis, which can escalate into staph infections or abscesses. A blocked Bartholin gland (mucus-secreting glands located on either side of the vaginal opening) from poor hygiene or hair removal may cause abscesses and, in some cases, lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). 'A healthy vulva and vagina need the same care as your face,' says Sherry Ross, obstetrician-gynaecologist and author based in Santa Monica, California. stressing regular cleaning to prevent build-up, odours, and infection. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), hirsutism (excessive hair growth), and diabetes can further complicate grooming due to hormonal imbalances, skin issues, and delayed wound healing. For transwomen with neovaginas, the skin is especially delicate and more prone to dryness, irritation, and heightened sensitivity. Pubic hair removal in this sensitive area can lead to microtears, inflammation, and infections, which may complicate essential practices like daily vaginal dilation by causing pain and worsening skin conditions. Gentle grooming methods and proper aftercare are crucial to reduce these risks and maintain vulvar health, say experts. The case of men Men have increasingly embraced pubic hair removal as well, but the anatomical differences between male and female bodies influence how grooming affects health outcomes. In males , the urethral opening and the anus are approximately 18 to 20 cm apart, which significantly reduces the likelihood of cross-contamination by bacteria and, consequently, lowers the risk of UTIs and STIs. In contrast, females have a much shorter distance — around 4 cm — between the vaginal opening and anus, making them more vulnerable to bacterial migration and infections. However, this doesn't mean grooming is without risk for men. According to Dr. Narendra, men who frequently remove pubic hair often experience boils, microtears, and skin irritation, particularly on the scrotal skin, which is thin, highly vascularised, and prone to trauma. These minor injuries can become entry points for pathogens, potentially leading to folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles), abscesses, or even secondary infections. These issues are compounded by the fact that in India, it is still taboo to talk about genital health. Numerous patients have said that their attempts at conversation with medical professionals about pubic hygiene have not gone well, leaving them to opt for do-it-yourself remedies or turn to wellness gurus. 'Many patients come with chemical burns on vulva because they used a hair removal product that was not the right pH or was not designated for intimate areas,' says Dr. Narendra, who says she has seen young patients with scar tissue and altered cellular architecture of the vulva due to a lack of knowledge and understanding about their own bodies and products. Body image issues The physical toll apart, the emotional toll of body image issues can be just as significant. Dr. Ross explains that women often feel insecure about their vulvas. 'I hear comments like: 'My lips are too big,' 'too bumpy,' 'too dark,' 'too uneven,'… or 'My boyfriend/girlfriend tells me my labia are not pretty.'' She attributes this to the influence of porn and social media, which lead adolescent girls to obsess over the 'perfect' vulva. Dr. Ross emphasises the need for self-awareness: 'Everyone needs a roadmap.' She says she gives mirrors to her teen patients to help them understand their anatomy, empowering them to prevent sexual dysfunction and to build a healthier connection with their bodies. She also stresses the importance of discussing pubic hair removal practices and sexual history during consultations, to ensure comprehensive care. The importance of educating ourselves, especially in light of the rise in social media-promoted products targeting young women and trans individuals has never been more crucial. 'Whether you were born with a vagina or had one created, it is important to clean the vulva, but you don't have to do too much internal cleaning,' says Dr. Ross, emphasising that the vagina naturally maintains its pH balance, and disrupting this can lead to infections. The digital world is rife with inaccurate medical advice. 'Dr. Google' can lead to confusion, conflicting advice, and further issues. Taking charge of our health is key. 'Educating those with a vulva and vagina is the first step to dispelling dangerous genital hygiene recommendations,' Dr. Ross says. It's time to shift the way women view their bodies, particularly vulvas and vaginas. The shame and anxiety surrounding sensitive topics into pride and comfort must go. Women need to become better health advocates, not only for their genitals but also overall wellness. People must seek a reliable healthcare provider to partner with on their health journey. (Neelanjana Rai is an independent journalist covering global health, indigenous communities, innovations and environmental issues. neelanjana189@
Mint
30-04-2025
- Mint
How pet parents can guard against bladder stones this season
Golu, a five-year-old Shih Tzu, was rushed into our clinic one summer afternoon, trembling and unable to pass urine. He'd been straining to urinate for a day but managed only a few drops tinged with blood. The family had assumed it was a urinary tract infection, and hoped it would clear up. But Golu had a cluster of tiny, sharp crystals in his bladder—stones that caused pain with every attempt he made to relieve himself. This is the story of countless dogs and cats across the country, especially during summer when the risk of bladder stones increases. Bladder stones, or uroliths, are mineral formations that develop in the bladder when urine becomes concentrated and certain minerals start crystallising. In dogs and cats, they can vary in composition and each has its own causes, implications and treatments. The stones may be single or multiple, large or gravel-like, and can be so many and so tightly packed that they resemble a bag of marbles on an X-ray. These stones irritate the bladder lining, cause pain, inflammation, blood in the urine, and most dangerously, obstruction—especially in male animals, where the urethra is narrower and more prone to blockage. Symptoms can be subtle at first. Dogs may start urinating more frequently, dribbling small amounts of urine, or licking themselves excessively. Cats will go to the litter tray repeatedly, straining, vocalising or peeing outside the box in frustration. Sometimes, you'll notice blood in the urine or a colour change. I once saw a Persian cat named Whiskey who had been assumed to be protesting a new brand of litter by peeing in the living room, only for us to discover he had bladder stones and was desperately trying to find a comfortable position. In India, the summer plays a huge role. With high humidity and temperatures, pets may dehydrate more quickly. This concentrates the urine, creating an ideal environment for mineral precipitation. If the pet is on a diet high in minerals or if their pH balance is off, the risk multiplies. The causes of bladder stones vary by species and even by breed. In dogs, struvite stones often form secondary to urinary tract infections, especially in females. Calcium oxalate stones, on the other hand, are more common in male dogs and have no infectious component, and instead relate to genetic predispositions. Breeds like Miniature Schnauzers, Lhasa Apsos and Pomeranians are more prone. Neutered male cats, particularly Persians and British Shorthairs, appear predisposed. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of urine analysis, X-rays and ultrasound. Crystals in the urine give us the first clue, but imaging helps locate and size the stones. Occasionally, stones don't show up well on X-rays. I remember once removing nearly 30 small oxalate stones from a Dachshund whose X-ray had looked unremarkable until we did an ultrasound. Treatment depends on the type of stone, the size, number, and if there's an obstruction. Struvite stones can often be dissolved medically with special diets that acidify the urine. This, however, demands strict compliance and careful monitoring. Calcium oxalate stones don't dissolve and typically require surgical removal. Obstructed animals are medical emergencies and must visit a veterinarian immediately. Prevention is the golden strategy. For dogs, routine urine tests, dietary modification and encouraging water intake are key. For cats, it's also about reducing stress because feline lower urinary tract disease, including stones, often flares up during times of environmental stress. While bladder stones often recur, knowing the type of stone your pet formed the first time around helps in crafting a customised prevention plan. I once treated a Golden Retriever whose struvite stones returned twice before his family understood the importance of completing every antibiotic course and sticking with his diet. He hasn't had a recurrence in three years. Bladder stones are painful, disruptive and, in some cases, life-threatening. Yet they're also one of those conditions where early intervention and informed care can drastically alter the outcome. Nameeta Nadkarni is a veterinary soft tissue surgeon and pet blogger from Mumbai.
