It is that time of the year when my five siblings and I gather together at a mountain location (Seven Devils) to recall stories of our past, and of course, to eat. I left work at noon on Saturday and hustled up Highway NC 421 to eye candy vistas of fall in the North Carolina mountains.
My siblings are all great cooks (I brought vanilla Oreos), so a big part of the visit is a home cooked meal on top of the mountain setting. The day even started with a bagel cook off between Tommy and Joanie.
After dinner, my sister Susie (the critical care educator/nurse) presented a surprise "media memories" for all of us. It was a true labor of love as we recalled stories of our past, looked for faces of nieces and nephews in their parents as youngsters, and reveled in the blessing of our wonderful mom that glued us together. We laughed at the size 14 London Fog coat our mom purchased (she was a size 6) for a trip to Europe because it was "roomy" we suspect as a frugal shopper it was because of the 75 percent off price tag.
Genetically it is a proven fact that I was born with curly, red hair and a devotion to animals. From the stick horse experience with sister Susie to pony rides to visits to the Statue of Liberty, I document for pure entertainment the evidence presented Saturday night.
Such gatherings are great; other gatherings, such as the accumulation of bladder stones in pets, are not. Thus, today's blog entry discusses how calcium oxalate bladder stones begin.
Why has the prevalence of calcium oxalate stones increased in cats and dogs in the last 10 years?
Over the counter acidifying diets, changes in diet composition (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, oxalate), leash laws creating more indoor, sedatory life styles, decreased water consumption with less exercise, small breed ownership with increased risk in small dogs, obesity, and pets living longer are the major risks suspected. Note also in poor economic years, ownership of small pets increases.
What are the statistics on stone analysis sent to national labs such as in Canada?
Seventy percent were in male dogs. The breeds were predominantly as follows: Schnauzers, Min poodles, Lhasa apso, Bichon Frise, and Shih Tzu. Only in female Schnauzers was there an exception to the male rule. It is speculated that testosterone increases production of oxalate and estrogen increases citrate leading to soluble calcium citrate. In cats the breeds at risk for male and female cats include Persian, Himalayan, Burnese, and Ragdoll.
There must be some medical risks. What are the more common ones?
High calcium blood levels from a variety of causes (medications such as long term use of prednisone or diuretics), kidney disease, abnormal kidney excretion of calcium, tumors ( lymphoma, hyperadrenocorticism), and dietary supplements high in table salt or calcium chloride.
What is the most common treatment?
Surgical removal is still the most common. In specialty practices, bladder flushing of female dogs and lithotripsy are being offered in some cases.
If surgery is performed to remove oxalate bladder stones( there are no medical cures) what is the return rate?
Forty-eight percent return within 2 years in dogs, seven percent in cats.
What medical options are recommended to lower risk of oxalate bladder stone return?
Monitoring blood work, especially serum calcium levels, and utilizing diets such as Royal Canin SO diet (canned) to keep urine concentration thin (specific gravity less than 1.020 in dogs and less than 1.030 in cats).Sincere thanks to Dr Greg Grauer and Clinician's Brief for content for this blog.
In some cases the oral supplement potassium citrate will be recommend to raise the urine ph if consistently at 6.5 or less (more acid increases stone formation). The complex calcium citrate will be formed that flushes out in urine as it is more soluble than calcium oxalate. In addition, a mild rise in the urine ph flushes out calcium oxalate complexes quicker so not as likely to gather and form stones.
My dog, "Taco Belle"
Cary,NCBetsy Sigmon DVM
Hospital Director, Creature Comfort Animal Hospital
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