[anonymously]

“My 12 year old lab mix has just been diagnosed with bladder stones and she needs surgery”.
Surgery to remove the established stones could be life saving, a veterinarian would not have recommended surgery if it wasn’t indicated.
Post surgery, regarding calcium oxalate bladder stones:
“It is not yet possible to dissolve calcium oxalate uroliths by dietary management”.
“However, compliance with feeding special diets and avoiding use of certain drugs will minimize risk factors known to be associated with calcium oxalate urolith formation”.

PS: I gave up cable and eating out. If you wait, and the surgery needs to be done on an emergency basis, it will cost even more.