Bladder issues in your pet can be serious, and sometimes the issue is advanced before the pet owner knows there is a problem.
Breana’s 8-year-old mixed-breed dog, Wally, seemed lethargic one day, but he was still eating, so she wasn’t too worried about it. The next day, the dog refused food and water, so Breana brought him to the vet, where she was told to watch him closely. No tests were performed. Later that night, the dog was hiding under the bed and refusing to move. When Breana got him out from under the bed, she noticed that his stomach was rock hard, so she headed immediately to a different vet—where Wally ended up having emergency surgery.
Bladder stones had created a block, not allowing any urine to pass. When she looked back, Breana realized that Wally would “urinate” for much longer than normal, but what was actually happening was that he was trying to urinate, but he couldn’t. The surgery, a cystotomy, saved Wally, but his bladder was damaged from being overfull for so long.
Breana was told she’d need to feed a prescription diet for urinary care. Since his bladder was damaged, her pet also needed to wear a diaper in the house since he had very little control of his bladder. Over time, Wally improved and could sometimes go several days without the diaper, but the vet told Breana that she’d always have to pay special attention to Wally’s urinary health.
Breana is one of many pet owners who had to learn how to best care for their pet after bladder surgery—and the cause isn’t always stones. Other reasons your dog or cat may need bladder surgery include tumors or blood clots. No matter the reason, providing proper care after surgery is important to their recovery.
Here are some things your vet may recommend:
The Dreaded Cone
No pet owner enjoys forcing their dog or cat to wear a cone, but without one, your pet could remove the sutures or cause infection to the area. Typically, the pet will have to wear the cone for two weeks when the sutures are removed.
Specialty Diet
As in the example above, your vet will likely recommend a prescription diet. In most cases, the need for this diet will continue for the rest of the dog’s life, but in some cases it will be temporary.
Access to Fresh Water
All pets should have access to fresh, clean water at all times, but it’s especially important for dogs and cats with a history of urinary issues. Water helps to flush crystals and bacteria from the bladder. One purpose of certain urinary pet foods is to make pets thirsty, so they will drink more, thus helping to prevent stones. For this reason, expect your pet to drink more than he did before.
Monitor Urination
One reason that Breana’s dog Wally became so ill was that Breana didn’t notice right away that he could not urinate. After surgery, it’s important to know for sure your pet is able to urinate. This means you’ll need to see the urine flow to be sure your dog is passing urine rather than just attempting to urinate. You’ll want to do this for at least a couple of weeks following surgery. Also, going forward, anytime you notice your pet trying to urinate for longer than normal, you’ll want to monitor him closely for a few days.
Limit Activity
Following any surgery, you’ll need to try to limit your pet’s activity until the sutures are removed. This can be difficult to do, especially once your pet starts feeling better and wants to resume his normal running and playing, but too much activity can damage the sutures, so it’s essential to do what you can to keep your pet still.
In addition to the immediate care your pet will need after surgery, your vet may also recommend long-term care. A prescription diet, as mentioned above, will likely be a long-term change to your pet’s routine. You can also talk to your vet about adding a bladder-support supplement, such as:
- Vetri-Science Bladder Strength for Dogs
- Pala-Tech Cranberry Plus for Dogs and Cats
- Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites for Dogs
- Uromaxx Urinary, Kidney, and Bladder Liquid Supplement for Dogs and Cats
Always talk to your vet before starting your pet on a supplement, especially if he is already taking medication for the problem.
If your dog or cat has bladder stones or other issues, the good news is that with proper treatment, most pets will go on to live normal, happy lives. The key is to seek treatment at the first sign of a problem and then follow up with proper care at home.
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