Pepper's Journey: A Tail-Wagging Triumph Over Troublesome Stones

At the Staten Island, NY Vetco Total Care, Pepper, a 5-year-old spayed mixed breed, came in for an exam after her dad noticed concerning changes—blood in her urine, frequent urination, and straining. Recognizing these as potential signs of urinary tract disease, the team proceeded with a full diagnostic workup, including a Total Health Profile and urinalysis.

During a Butterfly iQ+ Vet ultrasound-guided cystocentesis, an abnormality caught the team’s attention. Pepper’s bladder wall appeared thickened, and within it, a hyperechoic structure was visible—an immediate red flag for a possible bladder stone. To get a clearer picture, the team performed abdominal radiographs, which confirmed their suspicion. A large, mineralized calculus, approximately the length of two vertebral bodies, was present with mildly irregular borders.

Given the findings, Pepper’s dad scheduled a cystotomy for the following week. Once Pepper was intubated and stable under anesthesia, a urinary catheter was placed to ensure all calculi were in the bladder before surgery. With the site aseptically prepped, Dr. Saad proceeded with the cystotomy, successfully removing a single large bladder stone.

Pepper recovered smoothly, quickly regaining her spunky personality. Before long, she was wagging her tail and strolling around the hospital, already feeling the relief.

The next day, our surgical veterinary assistant called Pepper’s dad for a post-op check-in. He mentioned Pepper hadn’t urinated since returning home, which surprised the team, given that she had urinated normally before discharge.

Concerned, Pepper’s dad brought her back in for an evaluation. An ultrasound revealed a moderately filled bladder, so they placed her on the floor and removed her cone. That’s when we discovered the culprit—Pepper simply refused to urinate while wearing her cone! The moment it was off, she immediately emptied her bladder.

The team was thrilled for such a simple (and silly) solution. Pepper’s dad got a good laugh, relieved that the solution was so simple.

Thanks to the skill and dedication of our talented team, Pepper made a full recovery, and her dad was thrilled to have his happy, healthy girl back. At our Staten Island Vetco Total Care hospital, stories like Pepper’s remind us why we do what we do—providing compassionate, high-quality care that helps pets live their best lives.

Interested in advancing your veterinary career within a collaborative, high-quality clinical environment? Explore opportunities at a Vetco Total Care hospital near you and apply today.

Our exceptional surgical and recovery team included:

Dr. Saad – Surgeon
Kitty – Sr. HOM, LVT, CVT, CVBL
Felicia – Surgical Veterinary Assistant
Ky – LOD Surgical Veterinary Assistant
Fran – Veterinary Assistant (Recovery)
Danny – Veterinary Assistant/CSR (for the day)