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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: 
  1. For dogs with concomitant bacterial infection, continue antibiotic administration for 3-5 days post-stone removal.
  2. 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.
  3. Encourage additional water consumption to reduce urinary concentration of all calculogenic minerals.
 
When to consider targeted therapy pending urolith analysis
  1. Not removing all stones.  Knowledge of stone composition may permit dissolution instead of repeat surgery for struvite, urate, and cystine.
  2. Urinary obstruction resulting from incomplete stone removal.  
  3. Persistent urinary signs.
 
Initiating targeted therapy pending urolith analysis
Diagnostics considerations:
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  1. Ship stones via your preferred carrier service.   We recommend you ship packages by a carrier that provides tracking information.  
  2. Repeat medical imaging to verify complete stone removal.  A common cause of rapid stone recurrence (days to weeks) is incomplete stone removal.
  3. 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 Learn more about the MN Urolith app.  
  4. Culture urine when indicated (e.g. previous struvite uroliths, previous infection, female dogs, leukocytes or bacteria identified on urinalysis, difficult urolith removal)
  5. Contact us for additional help, if needed.
 
Medical Considerations:
  1. Consider antibiotics for suspected infections (leukocytes or bacteria identified on urinalysis)
  2. Provide adequate pain medication to relieve discomfort
 
Nutritional Considerations
  1. Follow guidelines based on predicted mineral composition
  2. Encourage additional water consumption to reduce the risk of all calculogenic minerals from forming uroliths.
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