Veterinary Urine Crystals

Struvite crystalluria in dogs is not a problem unless there is a concurrent bacterial urinary tract infection with a urease producing microbe.

Veterinary urine crystals.

Crystals in the urine do not always indicate disease. A sign of trouble. This is the final stage of a complete urinalysis. Salts resulting from normal and abnormal metabolic processes and some medications may precipitate in urine and form crystals if the concentration of the salts is sufficiently high and the urine is of appropriate ph.

Struvite crystals are commonly seen in canine and feline urine. The only way to know if your dog has crystals in their urine is for a vet to perform a urinalysis. 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. Some salts precipitate in an alkaline ph while others precipitate in an acidic ph.

What causes crystals in dog urine. Crystals can also form in urine after it has been collected especially if there is a long delay before the urinalysis is done. Most crystals can be found in healthy animals. Without an infection struvite crystals in dogs are not associated with struvite urolith formation.

This is a quick reference guide that provides various clinical pathologic images including hematology e g. 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. Normal leukocytes and erythrocytes by species urine sediment examination e g. We plan to add a lot more so stay tuned.

The problem is urine crystals are painful. 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. Crystals in dog urine. Crystals cells and cytology.

The big question you ll be asking if a urinalysis detects this condition. Ammonium magnesium and phosphate for struvite. Some crystals form when a pet is given certain types of medications. Crystalluria indicates that the urine is supersaturated with the compounds that comprise the crystals e g.