What to do while waiting for stone results.
Depending on urolith type, reformation typically takes weeks to months (e.g. infection-induced struvite especially when UTI is not prevented) to months to years (e.g. calcium oxalate). In most cases, waiting for stone results will not harm the patient. Pending urolith analysis, consider these general prevention steps:
- For dogs with concomitant bacterial infection, continue antibiotic administration for 3-5 days post stone removal.
- Feed foods that avoid mineral excess (e.g. c/d, g/d, or see recommendations for targeted nutritional therapy below). With surgery, also consider foods with adequate protein to ensure appropriate tissue repair and recovery.
- Encourage additional water consumption to reduce urinary concentration of all calculogenic minerals.
When to consider targeted therapy pending urolith analysis
- Not removing all stones. Knowledge of stone composition may permit dissolution instead of repeat surgery for struvite, urate, and cystine.
- Urinary obstruction resulting from incomplete stone removal.
- Persistent urinary signs.
Initiating targeted therapy pending urolith analysis
1. Diagnostics considerations:
a. Ship stones by USPS, UPS or FedEx or your preferred carrier. We recommend you ship packages by a carrier that provides tracking
information. Tracking provided by the shipping company gives you information on the path of your sample before it arrives in our
laboratory.
information. Tracking provided by the shipping company gives you information on the path of your sample before it arrives in our
laboratory.
b. Repeat medical imaging to verify complete stone removal. A common cause of rapid stone recurrence (days to weeks) is incomplete stone
removal.
removal.
c. Use CALCulate and CALCurad functions on the Minnesota Urolith Center App to predict stone analysis. Improve prediction accuracy by
incorporating urinalysis and blood results. Specific therapeutic recommendations are provided with the App’s predicted composition or
from our website.
incorporating urinalysis and blood results. Specific therapeutic recommendations are provided with the App’s predicted composition or
from our website.
d. Culture urine when indicated (e.g. previous struvite uroliths, previous infection, female dogs, leukocytes or bacteria identified on urinalysis,
difficult urolith removal)
difficult urolith removal)
e. Contact us for additional help, if needed.
2. Medical Considerations:
a. Consider antibiotics for suspected infections (leukocytes or bacteria identified on urinalysis)
b. Provide adequate pain medication to relieve discomfort
3. Nutritional Considerations
a. Follow guidelines based on predicted mineral composition
b. Encourage additional water consumption to reduce the risk of all calculogenic minerals from forming uroliths.