17/09/2026
Warning - Images of Surgery❗️
🐾 Struvite Crystals & Bladder Stones in Dogs 🐾
Meet Poppy, a lovely Yorkshire Terrier who recently needed surgery after developing two bladder stones. She was very brave and is now feeling much better 💕🐶
Poppy had a cystotomy, a surgical procedure where the bladder is opened to remove stones. In her case, two stones were successfully removed and can be seen in the image.
But what are struvite crystals?
Struvite crystals are tiny mineral crystals that can form in a dog’s urine. In some dogs, these crystals can join together and develop into bladder stones (struvite stones).
They are often associated with urinary tract infections, and some dogs may show signs such as:
• Needing to wee more often
• Straining or taking longer to urinate
• Blood in the urine
• Accidents in the house
• Licking around their urinary area
• Discomfort when urinating
Sometimes, however, bladder stones can be present without obvious symptoms.
🔬 After stones are removed, they can be a**lysed to find out what they are made of. This helps the vet decide on the best way to manage the problem and reduce the risk of stones coming back.
Thankfully, Poppy is recovering well after her surgery❤️
If your dog is showing any changes in their normal urination, it’s always worth speaking to your vet. Difficulty passing urine can be an emergency, particularly if your dog is unable to urinate at all.
🐾 A little knowledge can help us spot urinary problems early and keep our four-legged friends happy and healthy!
