Struvite Crystals In Dog Urine Treatment

Due to the fact that struvite crystals do not position an issue unless the dog has a urinary tract infection there is no required treatment for crystals including dietary modifications.

Struvite crystals in dog urine treatment.

Struvite crystals can form in your dog s bladder or kidneys after he suffers a urinary tract infection caused by one of two types of bacteria. Feed your pet an acidic diet with animal based protein sources. The direction to which your dog s urine is adjusted will vary depending on the type of crystals involved. Struvite stones are quite unique in their composition.

The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones are hematuria and dysuria. For instance struvite crystals are managed by making the urine more acidic and calcium oxalate crystals are managed by making the urine more alkaline. If enough crystals build up in your dog s bladder they form a bladder stone which may need to be surgically removed. If the dog does have a urinary tract infection a prescription dog food will not treat it.

This will help to maintain the acid in your pet s urine that is necessary to avoid the buildup of struvite crystals. One of the more common bladder stones found in dogs is composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate also known as struvite stones. Crystals in cat urine vs. Dogs and cats are different in many ways but both seem predisposed to urine crystal formation.

However crystals can form blockages and lead to stones. Generally speaking struvite stones crystals will form when the animal s urine ph becomes neutral or alkaline ph 7 or greater and urine is concentrated. The crystals themselves are nearly identical. Treatment of struvite crystals involves lowering the ph increasing alkalinity while calcium oxalate crystals call for acidity increase.

The less concentrated the urine the less likely struvite crystals will form. Crystals in dog urine. Struvite bladder stones usually form as a complication of a bladder infection caused by bacteria and if the urine becomes exceptionally concentrated and acidic. The difference lies in the kind of crystals that form in dogs or cats and how they can adversely affect these pets.

If left untreated struvite crystals can form stones that can make it impossible for your dog to urinate which can become a life threatening condition. The veterinarian will determine if your dog needs medical treatment. Being composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate struvite stones require a different treatment compared to other types of bladder stones in dogs. The crystals are painful and uncomfortable dangerously blocking the flow of urine.

If your dog was diagnosed with struvite stones you may be wondering what dietary foods for dogs with struvite crystals and stones are out there. In some cases this requires adjusting the ph of your dog s urine. Carnivores dogs and cats that eat a fresh red meat based diet naturally produce acidic urine which prevents this crystal formation. Increase your cat s or dog s water intake.