Dr. Craig Prior felt Sassy the cat's abdomen to check for kidney stones.
Sassy is a cat who was admitted to the animal hospital with a painful problem. He was urinating a lot but nothing was coming out.
Prior found two kidney stones. One passed, the other is now lodged in the bladder.
Kidney stones can lead to bladder stones and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, Prior said.
They're caused by mineral deposits in the urine that form crystals. The deposits can be from calcium, magnesium, phosphates and other materials.
Diets, urinary tract infections and genetics can all be contributing factors.
Most often the kidney stones don't cause any real problems and pass naturally. But once in a while you find a animal who is just plain hurting like Sassy.
By looking at an X-ray you can see the stones clearly.
If the stone causes an obstruction it can be a medical emergency. The cat can't urinate and will become deathly ill if not treated.
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Pet Zone
Kidney and bladder stones can cause serious pain and death if not treated in time.
 
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Kidney/Bladder stones can occur in cats and dogs. Symptoms include blood in the urine, frequent urination in small amounts, restlessness and lower back pain. And no doubt some cases are worse than others.
Prior has a bladder stone that is about 3 inches in diameter. He removed it from a small dog.
"The stone was the same size as the dog's bladder," he said.
It had to be removed surgically but most stones can be treated with a change in diet and medication that can help dissolve them.
The best way to prevent them is by drinking a lot of water. If your pet is having trouble urinating, see your vet.
