Urine Crystals Veterinary

Once a vet identifies urinary crystals in dog urine or cat urine the next step is to assess whether the crystals are likely to cause a problem.

Urine crystals veterinary. For crystals that may lead to stone formation or urinary obstruction dissolving or eliminating them is a higher priority. The crystals shown in the image on the right were seen in the urine of a cat with acute renal failure due to melamine toxicosis. The inability of uric acid to crystallize at urine ph 7 0 is the rationale for urinary alkalinization in patients at risk for acute uric acid nephropathy. Canine urolithiasis is a condition in which crystals develop in the urine often leading to the formation of bladder stones.

Urinalysis is an important laboratory test that can be readily performed in veterinary practice and is considered part of a minimum database. The only way to know if your dog has crystals in their urine is for a vet to perform a urinalysis. The clinical relevance of such crystals is questionable but drug or chemical toxicity should always be considered in an animal presenting with clinical signs of renal failure and unidentified crystals in the urine. This is a test not typically done unless there is suspicion of a problem.

There are several symptoms that can point towards crystals in the urine. Uric acid is soluble in alkaline urine preventing the precipitation of urate crystals. Because small uroliths may not be detected radiographically the calculolytic diet should be continued for 4 wk after radiographic documentation of urolith dissolution. Uric acid crystals invariably form in acidic urine typically with a urine ph 5 5.

In some cases it is more important to treat a pet s underlying condition first. It is useful to document various types of urinary tract diseases and may provide information about other systemic diseases such as liver failure and hemolysis. Depending on the mineral makeup of the stones a calculoytic diet is recommended by veterinarians to dissolve and or prevent recurrence of certain types of crystals and bladder stones. By analyzing the different types of crystals present your vet may be able to determine a treatment plan that s appropriate for your pet.

Struvite crystals should not form if therapy has been effective in producing urine that is undersaturated with magnesium ammonium and phosphate. During your pet s workup your vet may take a urine sample perform x rays perform a urinalysis run blood work and more to identify just what s causing your pet s issues.