In certain conditions like disturbances in urine pH, crystals in the urine bond together. Once bonded, these crystals become insoluble and when more crystals join together, they form uroliths (urinary stones).

The presence of stones in the kidney or the bladder is known as urolithiasis. Cystitis caused by bladder stones may lead to formation of more stones in the bladder.

The basic components of bladder stones are the minerals that form crystals. These are usually made up of only one type of crystal. In rare cases crystals formed by different minerals can mix for form the same stone.

The relevance of understanding the types of bladder stones lies in the fact that each type is affected by the intake of nutrients and specific diets.

Nearly half the cases of bladder stones are diagnosed as struvite stones. These are found more in female dogs than in male ones. Struvite stones are also called magnesium-ammonium-phosphate or triple phosphate.

Urinary tract infection in dogs that is caused by particular bacteria produce an enzyme called urease that sets a chemical reaction in motion. In this reaction urea is converted into carbon dioxide and ammonia.

Although there are other causes as well, dogs that do not drink enough water or those that are not allowed to urinate frequently are at a greater risk of forming bladder stones. Diet plays an important role since excess amounts of magnesium, calcium or phosphorus can lead to the formation of bladder stones.

Other causative factors are the pH balance and urinary tract infection. In dogs urine normally tends to be more acidic. Stones of different composition of minerals can form in both acidic and alkaline urine.

Many medications like diuretics, cortisone, sulpha drugs and tetracycline increase calcium levels in the urine that sets the stage for the formation of crystals and stones. Ammonium urate bladder stones are also among the many consequences of a liver shunt, a condition of abnormal blood flow to the liver.

The treatment of canine bladder stones depends upon the type, size and composition of the stones. Almost fifty percent of the bladder stones are struvite and are predominantly found in female dogs. Excessive struvite crystals are normally formed due to urinary tract infection.