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Crystalluria - Crystals in the Urine |
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What is Crystalluria?
Why do they form? Crystals can form for many reasons. Sometimes they've formed because of underlying causes, such as infections. Crystals themselves are irritating to the bladder wall, and can cause straining, blood in the urine, and infection in the bladder. Sometimes crystals form because of the breed of dog, for example Dalmatians often have crystals in their urine. Infections can also lead to crystal formation. It is important to find out which type of crystal is in the urine in order to properly treat it. Are they genetic? As mentioned before, some breeds of dogs are prone to crystal formation. For example:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Uroliths tend to form when the concentration of the crystalloid substances become high. Urine pH is also an important factor in crystal formation. Some crystals form better in a high pH, and some form better in low (acid) pH. There is a strong dietary influence on crystal formation. Calcium supplements that are given independent of meals and excessive dietary protein can be contributing factors. Additional dietary oxalate (e.g., chocolate and peanuts) and ascorbic acid promote oxalate excretion.
Common crystals How are the crystals diagnosed? If your pet is having to strain to urinate, a urinalysis will be run. It is best to have the urinalysis collected by the veterinarian so as to ensure that it is sterile. A free catch urine sample may be used in a few cases, but does not give us the best diagnosis because bacteria can contaminate it. After collection, the urine sample is run at the veterinary hospital. Specific tests are conducted to examine the pH, protein contents, blood contamination and the crystal contents of the urine sediment (concentrated urine). When reading a sediment, the crystals are diagnosed as to what type they are. This helps guide us to which diet will be best for your pet. In some cases we will have reason to believe that there could be stones forming. Stone formation is called urolithiasis. Ultrasound, x-ray and sometimes palpation are used to diagnose urolithiasis. What is the treatment for crystals?
Because crystals irritate the bladder wall, infections can also become a problem. Antibiotics will be selected to control the infection. Once on a special diet and chronic antibiotics, repeated urinalysis will be required. This is to help ensure that the infection and crystals are dissolving as expected. If left untreated, stone formation known as urolithiasis can occur. After stones have formed, surgery is generally required. In very rare cases, special diets can be used to dissolve stones - but that is unusual. If you would like to look at our surgery procedure for Cystotomy, be aware that these are actual surgery photos. For viewing without frames select Cystotomy without frames. If your pet has been diagnosed with stones, please consult the urolithiasis handout (also known as bladder stones) included in our listing. If you have any of questions regarding Crystalluria or urolithiasis, please do not hesitate to contact us at 309-685-4707 We will be happy to answer all of your questions or concerns about Crystalluria. |
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Crystalluria is by definition the appearance of crystals in the urine. Crystals form when minerals are super-saturated in the urine and they precipitate out into crystals. Crystals in the urine can lead to stone formation - urolithiasis. The accompanying photo shows calcium oxalate crystals with the typical x-shaped habit.
While calcium oxalate crystals can form in any pH., struvite crystals tend to form most commonly in the higher pH ranges of seven and greater.
Treatment of Crystalluria is based on changing the diet to an appropriate diet to prevent stone formation. Which diet is chosen is based on the type of Crystalluria. Many of these diets are prescription diets. The diets are designed to control the pH of the urine as well as the mineral content of the urine. Examples of these foods include C/D, S/D, Control, and K/D.