Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
2621 MORGAN CIR
KNOXVILLE,TN 37996-4540
Performing Department
SMALL ANIMAL CLINICAL SCIENCES
Non Technical Summary
Bladder stones in dogs can be composed of many different minerals; however, one of the more common types of stones are struvite. In dogs, struvite stones form because of a urinary tract infection. Struvite stones in dogs can be dissolved by feeding a special diet and giving antibiotics; however, some dogs will not eat the diet and it requires the owners changing the food. We are evaluating the use of a urinary acidifier, Methio-Form, in combination with an antibiotic, but without changing the diet as a means to dissolve struvite bladder stones in dogs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate an alternative method of dissolving struvite bladder stones in dogs.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of an alternative medical dissolution protocol for infection-induced struvite urocystoliths in dogs.
Project Methods
Client-owned dogs that have infection-induced struvite bladder stones will be recruited for this study. Dogs will receive a complete physical examination, laboratory evaluation (CBC, serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, and urine culture), and abdominal radiography. The dogs will then receive a urinary acidifier, Methio-Form, and an appropriate antibiotic based on urine culture. Every 4 weeks, dogs will be re-evaluated including physical examination, laboratory evaluation, and abdominal radiography, until the bladder stones dissolve. If the stones do not dissolve, they will be removed surgically and analyzed.