Veterinary Urine Crystals

A sign of trouble.

Veterinary urine crystals. Without an infection struvite crystals in dogs are not associated with struvite urolith formation. It can confirm suspected findings from earlier stages of the analysis as well as facilitate visual inspection of structures in the sample e g. Ammonium magnesium and phosphate for struvite. What causes crystals in dog urine.

This is a quick reference guide that provides various clinical pathologic images including hematology e g. Crystals in dog urine. Crystals cells and cytology. Struvite crystals are commonly seen in canine and feline urine.

Crystals can also form in urine after it has been collected especially if there is a long delay before the urinalysis is done. Crystals can be seen in the urine of clinically healthy animals or in animals with no evidence of urinary disease such as obstruction and or urolithiasis. Most crystals can be found in healthy animals. This is the final stage of a complete urinalysis.

The only way to know if your dog has crystals in their urine is for a vet to perform a urinalysis. Casts cells or crystals. Crystals in the urine do not always indicate disease. Needle shaped crystals may be composed of tyrosine calcium sulfate sodium urate ampicillin tri iodated contrast agents other findings in urine sediment can include fat droplets sperm bacteria fungal spores or hyphae these are contaminants you see them if urine is kept too long and parasites.

Struvite crystalluria in dogs is not a problem unless there is a concurrent bacterial urinary tract infection with a urease producing microbe. Crystalluria indicates that the urine is supersaturated with the compounds that comprise the crystals e g. We plan to add a lot more so stay tuned. The big question you ll be asking if a urinalysis detects this condition.

If your pet s urine ph is too acidic or alkaline that imbalance between acidic urine and alkaline urine can also cause crystals to form. Clinical signs of urinary crystals include trouble urinating blood in the urine and lethargy. Normal leukocytes and erythrocytes by species urine sediment examination e g. Some salts precipitate in an alkaline ph while others precipitate in an acidic ph.