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My dog has bladder stones. What are non-surgical treatment options?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 85 lbs

If a dog happens to have stones in his bladder how can they be treated other than surgery?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

Veterinarian

Published on June 12th, 2017

This is entirely dependent on the type and size of stones, some can be dissolved with strict diet change and some cannot be broken down without surgery. If an obstruction develops surgical removal becomes an absolute emergency

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2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    The answer to this question is dependent upon what type of bladder stones Samuel has. Struvite stones can be dissolved with a prescription diet (Science Diet S/D) in about 50% of cases over several months. However, no other types of bladder stones can be dissolved with a diet or any other method and do require surgery. The concern in attempting a dissolution diet is that the stones could become lodged in the urethra, creating a bigger and more emergent problem. I typically recommend surgery to remove all bladder stones, regardless of the type to prevent the risk of a urethral obstruction. Speak with Samuel's vet about the best recommendation for his particular case. I hope that all goes well!

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