Senior Bichon Passing Stones and Blood Clots With Recurring Struvite

Passing gravel-like stones and blood clots isn't normal, and it needs a vet visit soon. Stones can scratch the bladder and urethra and cause bleeding, and clots or stones can block the urethra. Go to a vet right away if she strains without passing urine or only passes drops.

In dogs, struvite stones are usually caused by a urinary infection, so a urine culture is important, and the infection needs treating. Many struvite stones can be dissolved with a prescription diet, given together with antibiotics for the whole time the stones are dissolving, but the stones she's passing should be sent to a lab to confirm the type. Ask your vet about an X-ray or ultrasound, regular urine checks, and diet and water intake to help prevent more. Repeated struvite stones usually mean repeated infections, so ask your vet to look for the underlying reason, and at her age, to rule out a bladder growth.

See blood in dog urine and bladder stones in dogs.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.