Canine Urinary Crystals

Bilirubin crystals are seen most commonly in canine urine especially in highly concentrated specimens.

Canine urinary crystals.

It also doesn t necessarily call for medical treatment interventions such as medications. Struvite stones are one of the most common bladder stones in dogs and cats. You can be prepared for it. Keeping a close watch on your dog s bathroom habits is a great way to pick up on abnormal changes that require attention.

Urine crystals and stones aren t always related. The presence of crystals in dog s urine does not necessarily mean that the dog has or will develop kidney stones. Urinary crystals are commonly referred to as bladder stones or urinary calculi in dogs and the condition which causes them is called urolithiasis. Urinary stones are similar to human kidney stones which is less common in dogs and cats but typically form in the bladder.

This can include any foul or fishy urine smell or even your dog smelling like urine. Still the crystals can be an indication of kidney stones or bladder stones or a urinary tract infection. Crystalluria in individuals with anatomically and functionally normal urinary tracts may be harmless because the crystals are eliminated before they grow large enough to interfere with normal urinary function. They typically form because of urinary changes that happen when bladder infections occur.

They cannot form in acidic urine. In dogs they often are of no clinical significance healthy dogs can have low but detectable bilirubin levels in urine. Urinary crystals are usually found within the bladder but can form in the kidneys or surrounding tubes called ureters or the urethra. Now you know what causes crystals in dog urine.

They are less common in urine of other species. If struvite is the diagnosis a veterinarian will treat the underlying cause e g dog antibiotics for urinary tract infections and may recommend a therapeutic diet that will dissolve the stones and crystals. Acute dog urinary incontinence concern can be brought on by struvite crystals forming in the dogs urine. Crystals can become bladder stones and a chronic issue if not dealt with.

Struvite crystals irritate the urinary tract and trigger frequent urination. Dogs prescribed antibiotics will typically use the drugs while consuming the therapeutic dog food and possibly longer if needed. 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. Crystals in dog urine can also be an indication of bladder or kidney infection.

While your veterinarian can deal with crystals you can save money and treat the crystals.