Last Updated on January 16, 2022 by Griselda M.
Are Yorkie bladder problems common? Is your Yorkie affected by this? To find out, read this article about Yorkie bladder problems!
Urinary incontinence, often known as lack of bladder control, is a disorder that most typically affects spayed female Yorkies and Yorkies in their middle to senior years.
Your Yorkie may be suffering from urine incontinence if it has suddenly begun urinating in the home or is having difficulties urinating. This guide will assist you in better understanding the situation so you can provide your Yorkie with the care it needs.
Table of Contents
What Are Yorkie Bladder Problems?
Bladder disorders in Yorkies are prevalent, and they frequently relate to urinary tract infections, urolithiasis, and kidney failure. The bladder stores pee, and muscles associated with it send signals to your dog when it’s time to urinate.
These signals can be disrupted by obstructions such as stones or growths, while infection can cause discomfort and pain. If your Yorkie finally succeeds in peeing, the indicators of a bladder condition include difficulty urinating, numerous efforts to urinate, and weak or nonexistent urine.
Your Yorkie may have a bloated belly and be in pain, as well as lose its appetite or vomit in extreme situations. When your Yorkie has bladder difficulties, your veterinarian may place a catheter in their bladder to relieve them while the veterinarian investigates the problem.
Because your Yorkie won’t be able to get rid of waste items if the urinary system is completely blocked, your veterinarian may propose surgery. They may also recommend medication and dietary modifications to deal with future bladder issues such as bladder stones.
Because the urinary system is so important in removing toxins from your Yorkie, it’s critical to call your veterinarian if you detect any of the symptoms listed above. Your veterinarian will be able to discover the source of the problem and offer your pet the best available care.
What Causes Yorkie Bladder Stones?
Yorkie bladder stones are mineral-rich rock-like formations that occur in the urine bladder. They are more prevalent in dogs than dog kidney stones. This sort of bladder stone is also known as struvite bladder stone and is the most common one.
Normal dog urine is acidic, containing metabolic waste products such as dissolved mineral salts and other substances. Struvite is a natural component of dog pee that will dissolve if the urine is acidic and not excessively concentrated.
Struvite crystals will precipitate or tumble out of the solution if the urine becomes very concentrated or alkaline. Bladder stones develop in Yorkies because of a bladder infection caused by bacteria that generate urease enzymes.
This enzyme breaks down the urea typically present in the urine, resulting in an excess of ammonia production, which causes the urine to become alkaline.
Ammonia in the urine can cause bladder irritation as well. Struvite crystals will precipitate out of solution in these surroundings. Then cluster around any cells that may have grown in the bladder because of inflammation.
Yorkies are most commonly diagnosed with bladder stones. So, there are a few treatments that you can do as an owner to help your Yorkie feel vital again.
Bladder Stones Treatment For Yorkies
Bladder stones have symptoms that are similar to those of a bladder infection or cystitis. Blood in the urine of the Yorkie and straining to pee are the most prevalent indicators of bladder stones in dogs.
Because the stones brush against the bladder wall, irritating and injuring the tissue and causing bleeding. That way, you can spot blood in the urine of your Yorkie. Struggle while peeing can be caused by inflammation and swelling of the bladder or urethra walls, muscular spasms, or a blockage in urine flow.
For struvite bladder stones, there are three main therapeutic options:
- Eating a particular diet to dissolve the stones.
- Urohydropropulsion non-surgical removal.
- Surgical removal is the last choice.
Also, an additional choice can be an ultra-sound removal of the bladder stones. But not every veterinarian hospital has this choice. In other words, discuss it with your veterinarian and see if they offer you this treatment.
1. Your Yorkie eating a bladder stone dissolving diet
The first choice must be this one, it’s the lowest risk high reward one. A veterinarian will prescribe you a well-balanced bladder stone dissolving diet which can make the stones tiny, and because of that, your Yorkie can pee them out.
There is one con of this treatment, in male Yorkies these tiny stones can get stuck in their urinal tract, and if that happens the surgery is the only choice.
2. Non-surgical removal of bladder stones
If the stones are tiny enough, they can be guided down the urethra and get expelled. Only if the stones are little and the dog is a tiny toy breed such as the Yorkie this method has a high chance of working.
In most cases, this surgery gets done with general anesthesia. It also implements the use of a catheter, increasing the risk of infection. In other words, this method is done under the anesthetic influence and with the help of pumping liquid into the bladder.
3. Surgery to remove the bladder stones
The last choice is surgery. The veterinarian will do this surgical procedure under anesthesia, and the bladder stones get removed immediately. Problems that can occur are the post-operation recovery and the general surgery issues that can come out after the procedure.
We recommend taking any of these treatments as an option, otherwise, bladder stones can lead to you Yorkie kidney failure, and as an owner, you must avoid that.
Do Yorkies Pee A Lot?
The most common sign of bladder stones is frequent peeing. So, in dogs, a urinary tract infection (UTI), is a frequent cause of excessive urination. Urinary tract infections affect older female dogs at a considerably greater rate than male dogs, despite the age.
However, like with many significant medical issues, a Yorkie urinating a lot isn’t the only or most concerning symptom that a Yorkie parent would notice.
Urine that is murky or bloody, a Yorkie who sits for a lengthy amount of time before peeing, or a Yorkie that is whimpering while they urinate is more likely to attract your attention as an owner. The most common cause is bacteria in a Yorkie urethra, which may get medical treatment.
So, always check with your veterinarian and find the cause of a Yorkie peeing more frequently. If you find blood in your Yorkie urine, we recommend instantly calling your veterinarian.
Final Thoughts On Yorkie Bladder Problems
The Yorkie bladder problems are more common than other breeds. If you find out any of the suggested symptoms or causes it’s best to react instantly and fix the issue. Always contact your veterinarian and see which treatment they will offer.
You must remember that the health of your Yorkie is the most valuable thing that you can provide to them. So, keep it at a high level.
If you have any other thoughts feel free to comment below and share them with other Yorkie owners.