6 Signs Your Schnauzer has Stones (and 10 Prevention Tips)

When we noticed that our Miniature Schnauzer, Livi, was having a hard time urinating, we worried. Was it a urinary tract infection, kidney stones, bladder stones? As it turns out, her veterinarian confirmed our fears and diagnosed her with bladder stones. The stones needed to be removed and Livi needed a new diet. As it turns out, Schnauzers are very prone to several types of stones, and the experience caused me to do some research. I wanted to know more about how to prevent stones from forming again. Here’s what I found.

What are the signs that my Schnauzer has stones and what do I do? The most common signs of stones are straining or urinating frequently, bloody urine, and potty accidents. Your Schnauzer may need surgery and a therapeutic diet. You’ll need to increase water intake, and manage protein, calcium, and sodium intake.

Why Are Miniature Schnauzers Prone to Bladder and Kidney Stones?

Many small-breed dogs are prone to bladder and kidney stones, including Miniature Schnauzers.

Bladder and kidney stones, also known as urinary calculi, refer to mineral deposits that begin to form due to bacteria in a Schnauzer’s urine. They can be large, single deposits or consist of multiple smaller pieces.

All Schnauzers are prone to stone formation, but the Miniature Schnauzers are more susceptible because of high concentrations of calcium in their urine.

“Many small-breed dogs are prone to bladder and kidney stones, including Miniature Schnauzers.”

THE SCHNAUZER COLLECTIVE

Smaller dog breeds are more susceptible to Struvite stones because of how they are bred down. The formation of these stones has nothing to do with genetics, but rather, is primarily based on how breeding a dog down can impact the way its organs and systems function, as well as how it metabolizes food.

As you may guess, stones are very painful and can be life-threatening when left untreated.

Are Standard and Giant Schnauzers Prone to Stones?

Giant and Standard Schnauzers are prone to stone formation, but not nearly to the degree as Miniature Schnauzers. However, all Schnauzers are more susceptible to bladder and kidney stones than other dog breeds.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of stones will prepare you with information in case you need it, regardless of the Schnauzer breed you have.

What are the Symptoms of Schnauzer Stones? Six Signs to Know!

Urinary tract and bladder stones start small but can grow both in size and number over time.

As stones are developing, symptoms may be sporadic or not even noticeable.

However, if you begin seeing any of the patterns below, you can be sure that some type of problem has developed and you’ll need to consult with your veterinarian.

Schnauzers with stones have all or some of the following symptoms:

1. Urinating frequently. If you realize that your Schnauzer is developing a need to go out more often to relieve himself, then this might indicate an internal issue or urinary tract infection. Keep a journal where you document your Schnauzer’s behavior and then consult with your veterinarian.
   
2. Straining to urinate. You should check your Schnauzer when he is urinating to see if he appears to be straining or not. Generally, straining is caused by small stones that are trying to go out of the bladder via the urethra, and it can be very painful to your Schnauzer. If there’s an obstruction, the bladder cannot be able to empty, and that can pose a life-threatening condition.
   
3. Loss of energy. If your Schnauzer looks weak and also less active than usual, or his eating or drinking patterns have changed drastically, it might be an indication of a urinary tract problem.
   
4. Blood in the urine: Always look for any traces of blood in the urine of your Miniature Schnauzer. If there’s no blood, also check the color of the urine. If the urine is cloudy or dark in color, then it might a sign of bladder stones.
   
5. Urinary accidents. A sudden increase in accidents can be a mixed signal, since they can also be due to stress and other medical conditions. However, accidents in combination with the signs above might serve to confirm that your Schnauzer is dealing with stones.
   
6. Constant licking the area around the urinary tract opening. This is another clear signal that either an infection, irritation, or stone formation is causing your Schnauzer discomfort.

These clinical symptoms can also be seen with other ailments affecting the urinary system like tumors and infections. Therefore, the diagnosis of stones formation should be confirmed by your veterinarian with either an ultrasound or an X-ray.

What to Do If Your Schnauzer Has Stones

Obtain a Diagnosis

If you are seeing any of the symptoms indicating stone formation, you should see your veterinarian for assistance.

She will examine your Schnauzer and perform several tests, including an x-ray, ultrasound, and urinalysis. The urinalysis test will check the mineral content present in the urine and might even contain some fragments of the stones.

The urine sample will also be tested for bacteria. An ultrasound or x-ray will provide your veterinarian with a clearer view of the stones, and where they are located in the urinary tract. Once your veterinarian can offer a proper diagnosis, treatment can begin.

Prepare for Treatment

Treatment will be determined depending on the kind of stones involved and the problems they’re causing.

There are two primary treatment options:

1. The quickest and most effective solution is to remove the stones surgically by opening your Schnauzer’s bladder through a ventral abdomen incision. This option is especially suitable for large stones, and the surgical operation is often quite fast, taking around thirty minutes in most cases. You will need to keep the incision clean, and if your Schnauzer is healthy he should be active again in 2-4 days.
   
2. The second treatment option is to try to dissolve some types of stones using a special diet. It avoids surgery and might be an excellent option for Schnauzers with additional health issues or risks. You should strictly adhere to the diet recommended by your veterinarian for the bladder stones to dissolve. Catheterization can also be used to flush out and remove stones and urine. In addition, antibiotics and medications specially designed to dissolve bladder stones can also be utilized if the stones are fairly small.

Prepare for the Potential Cost

The cost to get a proper diagnosis and treat bladder stones can range between $1,200 and $5000, depending on your geographical location and any additional health problems your Schnauzer may have.

At times, stones may also be present in a male Schnauzer’s urethra, which means that the surgical procedure will also take longer. That also means an increase in the total cost as well.

You may incur further costs to send the stones for analysis to determine their composition

10 Tips for Preventing Schnauzer Stones

If you have a Miniature Schnauzer specifically, staying alert to her behavior and being proactive about her diet can help to prevent painful and potentially deadly stones.

Even within genetic tendencies towards stones, research indicates that there are effective steps you can take to prevent them.

In addition to these tips, scheduling an annual checkup and staying in contact with your veterinarian throughout the year are common sense ways to manage your Schnauzers health.

Tip #1: Get a Stone Analysis

First, if your Schnauzer has already developed stones, your veterinarian needs to know why the stones have formed and determine the exact mineral content.

Knowing the composition will identify whether they are struvite or calcium oxalate stones. Once the type of stone is known, you can receive better instruction as to how to prevent or minimize a recurrence. The two types of stones are covered later in this article.

It’s important to know which type of stone your Schnauzer has developed because they are prevented and treated differently.

Oxalate stones are the most common and cannot dissolve on their own, so these tips are primarily for preventing oxalate stones.

Tip #2: Adopt a Stone-Healthy Diet

Generally, the diet is usually the first place to start when it comes to preventing the recurrence (or even initial development) of stones. Adopting the therapeutic diet recommended by your veterinarian will reduce the initial concentration of problematic minerals, and also alter the urine’s pH, creating an environment which is less hospitable for bacteria growth.

In addition to a veterinarian-recommended pre-formulated therapeutic diet, you have the option of including home-cooked meals.

However, you should avoid feeding even healthy foods if they contain high oxalate levels. The oxalates found in leafy green vegetables, for example, will combine with calcium and form stone crystals.

As a result, when cooking for your Schnauzer you many need to consider avoiding spinach, sweet potatoes, organ meat, and brown rice.

You could consider other foods with lower oxalate levels such as peeled apples, wild or white rice, as well as chicken and fish.

Always check with your veterinarian for personal recommendations.

Tip #3: Offer Enough Water

Make plentiful, fresh water available. Ensure that your Schnauzer takes fresh, clean, and plentiful water every day. Drinking enough water will help your Schnauzer flush out excess minerals before the formation of the stones starts.

The general recommendation for water intake is one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day.

Tip #4: Check Urine pH Level

Test her Urine pH level. Acidic urine is a breeding ground for stones, and tend to develop in urine that is between pH 5.0-6.5. Maintaining a pH level that is healthier for Schnauzers (between pH 6.5-7.0) will greatly reduce the tendency to form stones. You can purchase urine testing strips and test her morning urine mid-stream before her first meal.

Tip #5: Offer Wet Food

Switch to dog food with high water content. If your Schnauzer is not drinking enough water, you should consider switching to high-quality dog food that usually contains 70% water. You can also try adding some water to your Schnauzer’s meals. We have fed our Livi human-grade food from The Honest Kitchen and she is thriving after having stones.

Tip #6: Offer Apple Cider Vinegar

Consider offering a very small amount of apple cider vinegar. As a powerful detoxifying agent, apple cider vinegar can also assist in normalizing acid levels in your Schnauzer’s stomach and improving the function. You can add a couple of drops to your Schnauzer’s drinking water.

Tip #7: Test Urine Specific Gravity

Test the Gravity of her urine. A urine specific gravity test simply measures the concentration of chemicals in her urine, specifically testing the health index of urine specific gravity and serum or plasma protein. This is essentially a test to ensure that her urine is optimally diluted. Ideally, you want to maintain urine specific gravity <1.020, and you can perform the test at home with a refractometer.

Tip #8: Watch Supplements

Talk to your veterinarian about supplements. Reducing overall calcium intake is one way to prevent stones, but too much of a reduction could lead to osteoporosis. Restricting excess sodium, and Vitamins C and D is also recommended, and there is mixed research on magnesium. Overall, check with your veterinarian to confirm whether any type of supplementation in addition to a healthy diet is needed.

Tip #9: Keep Exercising

Keep up with regular exercise. An excellent way to prevent stone formation is through daily exercise. Taking your Schnauzer for frequent walks is a good way to help him eliminate more regularly, which flushes out excess minerals and bacteria from the bladder. As an active breed, Schnauzers need a moderate to high amount of exercise anyway.

Tip #10: Watch Weight and Diabetes

Maintain overall health. In addition to being prone to stones, Schnauzers (Miniature Schnauzers, in particular) can also be prone to weight gain and diabetes (sigh…). Maintaining a healthy weight and blood sugar level will help to prevent stones and prolong her life overall.

What Are the Common Types of Stones Schnauzers Can Develop?

Generally speaking, stones refer to a collection of various minerals and many other materials. Most of the stones that form in canines are made from calcium oxalate, struvite, cystine, or urate crystals.

Your veterinarian will be able to determine the specific kind of crystal involved by inspecting it under a microscope. Determining which type of stone your Schnauzer has developed will result in a specific treatment plan.

The most common types of stones in Schnauzers are calcium oxalate and struvite, and bladder stones of these types are more common that kidney stones.

Struvite Stones

Struvite stones are comprised of ammonium, phosphate, and magnesium, and account for over one-third of all the stones you can find in the urinary tract of a Schnauzer. In most cases, they are accompanied by bacteria that forms a high alkaline pH level.

To help prevent such stones from forming, you should consider avoiding alkaline foods. You may want to feed your dog a more acidic diet that includes foods such as chicken, beef, fish, yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, beans, and white rice.

Can be treated with commercially available diets that include Hills Prescription Diet s/d or c/d®, Royal Canin Urinary SO, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary UR Urinary, and Rayne Clinical Nutrition Adult Health-RSS.

You can also consider incorporating a home-cooked diet as mentioned above.

Please consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

Calcium Oxalate Stones

Although the exact cause of these stones is still not understood, it is believed that high calcium levels in the urine definitely contribute to the formation of calcium oxalate bladder stones.

To prevent calcium oxalate stones from forming, you should make some adjustments in your Schnauzer’s diet to help maintain normal levels of calcium.

These diet options are effective choices: Royal Canin Urinary SO, Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diet UR Ox/St, Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit, or Rayne Clinical Nutrition Adult Health-RSS.

You can also consider incorporating a home-cooked diet as mentioned above.

Please consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

What Causes Stones in Schnauzers?

Urinary tract stones are fairly common in both cats and dogs, and can lead to urinary tract infections and blockage.

Generally speaking, the stones in pets are quite similar to those formed in human beings.

“Knowing the fundamentals of how and why stones form, along with how to treat and, preferably, prevent them, is essential information for Schnauzer parents.”

THE SCHNAUZER COLLECTIVE

Most of these stones consist of mineral salts from a wide range of common elements, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, carbonates, and ammonia. Stones might form in your Schnauzer’s bladder, kidneys, and throughout the urinary tract. They are formed in varying sizes and numbers.

There are many factors involved in the development of stones. Some of them include:

• High or increased levels of minerals like phosphate, calcium, and magnesium within the Schnauzer’s urine, which allows precipitation and oversaturation of crystals. When these crystals stick together, stones will gradually form and increase in size and number with time.
• Acidic or alkaline urine pH: Different kinds of stones will form in alkaline or acidic urine. Therefore, you should aim to maintain a relatively neutral PH.
• Abnormal metabolism of several minerals by a particular Schnauzer can also lead to stones formation.
• Increased reabsorption of water by the kidneys.
• Bacterial infection in your Schnauzer’s bladder can also alter the urine PH and consequently encourage the formation of crystals.

Knowing the fundamentals of how and why stones form, along with how to treat and, preferably, prevent them, is essential information for Schnauzer parents.

Unfortunately, once a Schnauzer has developed stones, the likelihood of forming additional stones increases. Some of what contributes to the formation of stones is beyond your control, but it’s essential to control what you can.

For example, simple changes such as increasing water intake and exercise can be a good start. Feeding your Schnauzer a high-quality diet created specifically for urinary tract health is wise, along with staying alert for symptoms.

Ultimately, work with your veterinarian for the best course of action and treatment.

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