Urinary calculi are solid particles in the urinary system. They may cause pain, nausea, vomiting, hematuria, and, possibly, chills and fever from secondary infection.
Nephrolithiasis: refers to the condition of having kidney stones. Urolithiasis: refers to the condition of having calculi in the urinary tract Ureterolithiasis is the condition of having a calculus in the ureter Bladder stones usually applies to urolithiasis of the bladder in non-human animals such as dogs and cats.
Kidney stones do not have single, well-defined cause, but are the result of a combination of factors. A stone is created when the urine does not have the correct balance of fluid and a combination of minerals and acids. When the urine contains more crystal-forming substances than the fluid can dilute, crystals can form. Normally the urine contains components that prevent these crystals from attaching to each other. However, when these substances fall below their normal proportions, stones can form out of an accumulation of crystals.