Crystals in Dog Urine

If there are crystals present in dog urine, the pet will generally show signs of urinary tract infections or a condition termed as urolithiasis. This condition causes your pet a lot of discomfort and should be diagnosed and treated in time.

Urinary Stones

Urinary crystals are made up of certain minerals. If these crystals aren’t eliminated by the body through the urine, they join together and form urinary stones. Some of the chemical compounds that make up these stones include calcium phosphate, urate and magnesium ammonium phosphate. Although all breeds are at risk of suffering from crystals or urinary stones, some breeds only from specific types of stones.

How Bladder Crystals and Stones Form

Research indicates that certain breeds are at greater risk of developing stones because their bodies make certain substances that cause crystals or stones. Besides this, inadequate diets are more likely to cause extremely acidic urine or alkaline urine which is conducive to the formation of urinary stones.

The other reason why pets suffer from stones is urinary tract infections. Dogs that are prone to bladder infections are at greater risk of suffering from crystals at some point or the other.

As a pet owner, you need to watch your dog for any symptoms of this condition and seek medical help as soon as possible to prevent complications from arising.

Urinary Stones Symptoms in Canines

  • Blood in the urine
  • Dog finds it difficult to urinate
  • Frequent urination
  • Dog may pass little to no urine
  • Pet cries while urinating
  • Frequent licking of the genitals 
  • Weakness

Apart from the symptoms listed above, if your pet shows signs of vomiting and loss of appetite, you need to seek prompt medical care. In some cases, the stones or crystals block the urethal passage and prevent the flow of urine. When this occurs, the pet’s body accumulates toxins and the dog will suffer from electrolyte imbalance and death.

To prevent this from happening, it’s best to watch for any warning symptoms and initiate treatment at the earliest.

Diagnosing Dog Urine Problems

To confirm that the pet is suffering from urolithiasis, the vet will palpate the abdomen to look for any signs of swelling. The vet will also perform a urine culture test and a urine analysis to find out if the dog is suffering from any bacterial infection.

To find out the location of the stones, the vet will then conduct an ultrasound along with abdominal X-rays.

Treatment for Dog Urine Crystals

After the vet has determined the type and number of stones or crystals that are present, treatment will commence. If the stones can be easily dissolved, the vet will prescribe certain medications. You will be asked to feed the dog a special diet that will assist in dissolving the crystals.

These prescription diets benefit several pets suffering from urolithiasis as they alter the pH balance of the urine. If diet and medication don’t work, the vet may have to perform a surgery to remove crystals that have turned into stones.

If your dog has to consume prescription diets, make sure you stick to the diet and avoid feeding your pet any treats or table leftovers. Once the crystals have dissolved, it’s important to take precautionary measures to prevent their recurrence.

 

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