Bladder Crystals In Dogs

Struvite bladder stones usually form as a complication of a bladder infection caused by bacteria and if the urine becomes exceptionally concentrated and acidic.

Bladder crystals in dogs.

When bladder stones form their minerals precipitate out in the urine as microscopic crystals. Bladder stones are a collection of minerals and other materials. Urinary obstruction caused by calculi would cause much more severe clinical signs. How are bladder stones formed and treated.

These symptoms would include abdominal pain firm and distended bladder vomiting dehydration lethargy and. They can occur for a number of reasons including genetics diet environment and long term medication 1. Bladder stones in dogs. Bladder stones in dogs are rock like formations that form in the bladder which can lead to a host of issues like chronic urinary tract infections pain and other bladder issues.

Once grains establish additional rainfall can lead the crystals to adhere together producing stones. Most bladder stones in dogs are made from struvite calcium oxalate urate or cystine crystals. Still the crystals can be an indication of kidney stones or bladder stones or a urinary tract infection. Additionally crystals are a risk factor for kidney stones.

Some stones measure up to 3 or 4 inches in diameter. Detection of urine crystals in dogs is not irrefutable evidence of a stone forming tendency. Bladder stones urolithiasis are clumps of mineral crystals that form in the urine. Some dogs with bladder stones may show no signs at all and the stones are discovered while palpating the abdomen during a routine physical exam.

It also doesn t necessarily call for medical treatment interventions such as medications. In many cases the specific type of crystal involved can be seen in a sample of urine viewed under the microscope. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones are hematuria and dysuria. The presence of crystals in dog s urine does not necessarily mean that the dog has or will develop kidney stones.

One of the more common bladder stones found in dogs is composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate also known as struvite stones. Bladder or kidney stones. Crystals are the building blocks of bladder stones. However the presence of crystals doesn t guarantee that bladder stones will develop and crystals may be present in the urine of healthy dogs.

Dog urine crystals vs. If the crystals unite they form small grains of sand like material.