dog bladder stones

[kathymsrd]

I have a 5 year old peke-a-poo who has had 2 prior surgeries for bladder stones. We changed his diet a year ago to the u/d diet and give him water all day and take him out as much as possible. He had an xray last month which showed very tiny (calcium oxalate) stones. The previous stones from 2 years ago were sent away and analyzed. Any suggestions besides surgery to help him? Have you heard of voiding urohydropropulsion? If so, how safe is it? By the way the u/d diet has put weight on him, he is now 14 pounds...
Thanks for any suggestions

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Voiding urohydropropulsion can only be used if the stones are very very tiny.  Dangers from this form of treatment include having a stone become lodged at the base of the os penis during the propulsion or very rarely bursting the urinary bladder.   Bursting the urinary bladder is very uncommon, but getting a stone lodged in the uretha at the base of the os penis is possible and very dangerous, because your dog would be incapable of urinating if this occurred, especially in such a small breed, and may be ineffective anyway, and surgery would still be necessary.  It is not possible to tell what kind of stones are in urine from an X-Ray.  There may have been some crystals present in a voided urine sample.  Your dog may be deficient in a substance normally found in urine called nephrocalcin.  Nephrococalcin inhibits stone formation in most dogs.  

From a holistic stand point,  a totally grain and soy free diet may help, along with the following Chinese herbal formulas: Hydrangea and Eupatorium Formula, San Ren Tang, or Wei Ling Tang.  These are available online, but should only be used under the advise of your vet, and after surgery if necessary.

[Jaybay]

On the diet issue, you can always start making your own dog food.  There are lots of recipes online, but certainly check with your vet first as to suitability and nutrition with any recipe.

[kathymsrd]

Biscuits(pekeapoo) stones were sent out after the first surgery to Minnesota Urolith CENTER- University of minnesota---they are very tiny calcium oxalate stones...
Is there a test for the amt of nephrocalcin?  How do you give a totally grain and soy free diet? Is there another brand of dog food I can try? how much of the Chinese herbal formula can I give? After your answer, I will call my vet.. thank you in advance..