Project Overview
Urinary stones are painful and often require surgery. One common type, calcium oxalate, is particularly frustrating as some dogs form it repeatedly. Veterinarians need help identifying dogs at risk. We recently discovered genetic stone disorders in multiple breeds. Our first goal is to determine how common these genetic conditions are and how they affect the health of dogs. We have also found blood and urine markers of stone formation. Our second goal is to see how these markers and other health information affect a dog’s risk of repeatedly forming stones. Results will guide care for dogs with calcium oxalate stones and might lead to new ways to prevent stones.

Short Summary
This research focuses on urinary stones, a common and painful problem. Our goal is to generate information to help veterinarians and owners recognize dogs at high risk for recurrent stones and thereby improve their care.