Crystals in the Urine in Dogs

Crystalluria is the presence of crystals in the urine. Crystals are concentrates of naturally occurring minerals in your dog’s urine. There are different types of crystals, and they can lead to different types of bladder stones: magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite), calcium oxalate, ammonium urate or uric acid, cysteine, calcium phosphate, and silica are the most commonly seen in dogs.

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. Additionally, crystals are a risk factor for kidney stones. Identification of urine crystals is important, as certain types of crystals can indicate certain underlying diseases. Identification can help detect disorders that predispose dogs to develop kidney stones.

 Certain breeds are more susceptible to certain crystals: Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Lhasa Apsos and Miniature Poodles to calcium oxalate; Dachshunds, English Bulldogs and Newfoundlands to cysteine; Dalmations and English Bulldogs to ammonium urate or uric acid; Miniature Schnauzers, Shih Tzus, Bichon Frises, Miniature Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Lhasa Apsos to struvite crystals.

In many cases, your pet will not exhibit any symptoms of crystals in the urine. However, you may see the following symptoms of bladder stones, especially if the crystals have developed into stones:

• Frequent urination
• Trouble urinating
• Irregular urine stream
• Increased thirst
• Blood in the urine

Types

Different types of crystals can form from different mineral concentrations. Types of urine crystals include:

• Magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite)
• Calcium oxalate
• Ammonium urate, or uric acide
• Cysteine
• Calcium Phosphate
• Silica

Crystals in a dog’s urine may be caused by one of the following:

• A diet of highly processed dog foods that may lead to abnormal urinary pH levels
• Timing of sample collection; for instance, a sample taken after a meal may have higher concentrations than a sample taken during fasting.
• Imbalanced urine pH.
• Abnormal concentrations of certain minerals in urine, which can be caused by changes in rate of excretion and urine concentration.
• Lack of solubility of crystallogenic substances in the urine. Urine that is too concentrated can pose a risk.
• Certain medications that can affect mineral concentrations in urine.
• Refrigeration of the sample after collection
• Genetics
• Poisoning, such as from ethylene glycol

Presence of crystals will be determined by a urinalysis. Your dog’s urine will be tested for its pH and the mineral content will be analyzed microscopically. Additionally, samples will be viewed under microscope in order to confirm the type of crystals in your dog’s urine. If stones are suspected, an x-ray or ultrasound may also be performed in order to detect stones.

The presence of crystals in your dog’s urine does not necessarily mean your dog needs medical treatment. If your dog is showing no symptoms, we may simple keep an eye on things. Crystals in dog’s urine are a normal part of your dog’s metabolism. However, crystals can form blockages and lead to stones. The veterinarian will determine if your dog needs medical treatment. In some cases, this requires adjusting the pH of your dog’s urine. For instance, struvite crystals are managed by making the urine more acidic, and calcium oxalate crystals are managed by making the urine more alkaline. The pH is adjusted through prescription diet. In all cases, increasing your dog’s consumption of water in order to increase urine volume is recommended. Many prescription diets contained added sodium to increase thirst.

Follow the veterinarian’s recommendation for your dog’s diet. Closely monitor your dog for the development of urinary stones. Take your dog back to the veterinarian when recommended in order to monitor the presence and/or levels of crystals in your dog’s urine. In the case of pH management, obtain strips to test the pH level of your dog’s urine at home, in order to monitor the success of the prescription diet. Most importantly, make sure plentiful, clean water is always available to your dog.

Blockages due to crystalluria can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has a blockage due to crystalluria or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!