Feline Urinary Crystals

Struvite crystals are microscopic crystals that are found in the urine of some cats.

Feline urinary crystals.

In cats the small size of the urethra means that crystals can clump and block the flow of urine. An individual feline s unique physiology and disease history will most likely predict the development of crystals in their urine above anything else. Cats who present with crystalluria need to be seen by a veterinarian in order to properly identify the crystals and diagnose any underlying conditions that may be causing them to form. Urinary crystals are microscopic structures that can be found in the urine of many animals including cats.

The detection of urinary crystals is not synonymous with kidney stones or the clinical signs associated with them nor is detection of urine crystals irrefutable evidence of a stone forming tendency but there is some association with an increased risk for kidney stones in animals that are. Not all pets diagnosed with crystals have bladder stones. The cornell feline health center notes that crystals in cat urine are sometimes associated with a range of urinary diseases collectively called feline lower urinary track disease flutd. The signs of flutd may include.

What are urinary crystals. Some normal animals can have crystals in their urine although sometimes they are indicative of an underlying issue especially if present in large numbers or accompanied by urinary symptoms. Feline urine crystals consist of either struvite or calcium oxalate crystals. The development of crystals in the urine or crystalluria occurs when normal minerals that float in the urine bind to each other.

Struvite crystals contain magnesium phosphate and ammonium and result from too much alkalinity. Urinary crystals are routinely diagnosed on examination of a urine sediment. Many believe that this is due to cats eating commercial foods that acidify the urine. What is crystals in the urine.

Crystalluria is a medical condition where crystals are expelled into the urine. Struvite specifically is a material that is composed of magnesium ammonium and phosphate. Causes of feline urine crystals feline urine crystals may develop due to a number of factors. Crystals may indicate bladder stones or uroliths rock like mineral formations that develop in the bladder.

If the crystals form in to stones diets are not effective at dissolving them and they require more drastic intervention. The calcium oxalate crystals result from the opposite factor too much acidity. The crystals themselves can be perfectly normal but become problematic when they combine to form grit or stones of varying shapes and sizes. In some cases urine crystals can lead to a life threatening blockage of the urinary tract.

If the stones cannot be diagnosed through palpation the diagnosis of bladder stones in cats is made or confirmed with abdominal x rays or ultrasound.