The literal meaning of lithotripsy is the "act of breaking stones." There a
re two forms of lithotripsy available for use in veterinary medicine: elect
rohydraulic shock-wave lithotripsy (EHL) and extracorporeal shock-wave lith
otripsy (ESWL). With EHL, a shock-wave is generated immediately adjacent to
a urolith within the urinary bladder. In dogs, nephroliths or ureteroliths
can be successfully treated with ESWL. With ESWL, the shock-waves are gene
rated outside the body and directed toward the urolith.