Struvite Crystals In Canine Urine

In general crystals are found when an abundance of certain compounds are excreted by the kidneys.

Struvite crystals in canine urine.

One way to get your dog to drink more water is to increase his sodium. In some cases this requires adjusting the ph of your dog s urine. They typically form because of urinary changes that happen when bladder infections occur. The crystals composed of magnesium ammonium and phosphate become a problem only if your dog contracts a urinary tract infection.

It is therefore important to make the dog s urine more acidic to prevent their formation explains veterinarian dr. The veterinarian will determine if your dog needs medical treatment. They are comprised of magnesium ammonium phosphate and are more likely to appear when the urine gets too alkaline. Certain kinds of crystals in cat urine or dog urine may eventually lead to stone formation.

Struvite crystals are the first of the two main types of crystals seen in dog s urine. They cannot form in acidic urine. If the urine becomes exceptionally concentrated or if it becomes alkaline opposite to acidic struvite crystals will precipitate or fall out of solution. However crystals can form blockages and lead to stones.

Dogs prone to the formation of struvite stones have alkaline urine which makes crystals prone to forming and aggregating to form stones. Struvite crystalluria in dogs is not an issue unless there is a concurrent bacterial urinary tract infection with a urease producing microorganism. Struvite crystals in dog urine. Urine crystals and stones aren t always related.

Struvite stones are one of the most common bladder stones in dogs and cats. For instance struvite crystals are managed by making the urine more acidic and calcium oxalate crystals are managed by making the urine more alkaline. Inning accordance with the merck veterinary manual 2005 struvite crystals are commonly observed in canine and feline urine. Many dogs have struvite crystals in their urine which does not necessarily indicate a medical condition.

If left untreated struvite crystals can form stones that can make it impossible for your dog to urinate which can become a life threatening condition. Struvite is a natural constituent of dog s urine. It remains dissolved and not precipitate for as long as. However according to veterinarians at the marva vista animal clinic in los angeles struvite crystals require an alkaline ph in order to form.

Struvite crystals can form in your dog s bladder or kidneys after he suffers a urinary tract infection caused by one of two types of bacteria. The changes caused in the crystals by a staphylococcal or proteus infection from.