Crystals in dog’s urine: causes, types, and treatment

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The detection of crystals in dog’s urine, a condition known as Crystalluria, is a risk factor for kidney stones. It however does not necessarily mean that the affected pooch has kidney stones as some people claim. In fact treatment is usually not necessary if no other signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection are observed. Here we explore the underlying causes of crystals along with the different types of crystals and treatment methods typically used (where necessary).

What are Crystals in Dog’s Urine

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Crystals in dog’s urine are usually concentrates of minerals that occur naturally in your dog’s urine. The minerals typically involved are described as crystallogenic to denote their crystal forming tendency.

According to PetMD, urine crystals occur when your dog’s urine is or was recently supersaturated with these minerals. This causes the crystallogenic minerals in the urine to precipitate out as individual crystals. According to The Whole Dog Journal, Crystals in dog’s urine are a common finding, affecting as much as 40-44 percent of all health pooches.

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As the building blocks for kidney stones (renal stones), urine crystals can over time join to form small grains that look like sand in the kidneys, ureter, bladder or urethra. These may then further precipitate to form stones of up to 3 or 4 inches in diameter. Keep in mind though, that the presence of crystals doesn’t guarantee that your dog will develop kidney stones.

Types of Crystals in Dog Urine

Urine pH is the most important factor for the type of crystals in dog’s urine (in terms of their chemical composition). Here we are talking about the degree to which the urine is alkaline or acidic. Among the types of crystals commonly seen in a dog’s urine are:

Struvite Crystals in Dog Urine

Struvite crystals are the first of the two main types of crystals seen in dog’s urine. They are comprised of magnesium ammonium phosphate and are more likely to appear when the urine gets too alkaline.

Struvite is a natural constituent of dog’s urine. It remains dissolved (and not precipitate) for as long as the urine remain slightly acidic between 6 and 6.5 and not too concentrated. Dog urine can, for example, get too concentrated due to decreased rate of urination. When the urine becomes too concentrated or alkaline, struvite crystals often precipitate out of solution and become visible in the urine.

Calcium Oxalate Crystals

Calcium oxalate crystals in dog’s urine typically result from increased urine acidity. They are less common compared to struvite crystals. Potassium citrate is usually administered to raise urine pH and thus treat calcium oxalate crystals and prevent the formation of new ones.

Other types of crystals in dog’s urine include those composed of:

• Calcium phosphate
• Cysteine
• Silica
• Ammonium urate (also known as uric acid)
• Samples of dog urine may also exhibit more than one of these compounds.

Some dog breeds are more predisposed to developing certain types of crystals in their urine. Here is a breakdown of genetic predisposition for different dog breeds:

• Struvite crystals: Some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to producing a certain type of protein called cauxin. When excreted into the urine, it culminates in the formation of struvite crystals. Dog breeds with genetic predisposition to struvite crystals and stones include: Shih Tzus, Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frises, Lhasa apsos, Miniature Poodles, and Cocker Spaniels.
• Calcium oxalate crystals: Yorkshire Terriers, Lhasa apsos, Miniature Poodles, and Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed to calcium oxalate crystals.
• Cysteine crystals: Breeds that are prone to cysteine crystals include the Dachshunds, Newfoundlands, and English bulldogs.
• Ammonium urate crystals: Dalmatians and English bulldogs comprise the two main breeds susceptible to ammonium urate (uric acid) crystals.

Crystals in Dog Urine Causes

Crystal formation in dog’s urine may be caused by the following factors:

1. High urine pH: Any factor that causes your dog’s urine to become more alkaline than normal can culminate in the formation of crystals. These factors include inappropriate diet and an infection of the bladder involving the bacteria that produce urease enzyme. This enzyme acts on urea, breaking it into ammonia, thus causing a rise in urine pH.
2. Higher concentration of crystallogenic substances (minerals) in the urine: This can be caused by factors such as urine retention (urination postponement) and lower water concentration in the urine.
3. Excretion of certain medications such as sulfonamides and steroids and diagnostic agents such as radiopaque contrast agents.

Crystals in Dog Urine Symptoms

In the majority of the cases, dogs with crystals in urine will show no signs or symptoms. Some will however exhibit symptoms of bladder stones such as:

• Excessive urination: The affected dog may urinate every now and then.
• Difficulty urinating
• Irregular urinary stream: You may, for instance, see the affected dog lift her leg to urinate, upon which a few drops fall off, followed by a few more drops.
• Increased thirst
• Cloudy or blood-tinged urine

Crystals in Dog Urine Treatment

The presence of crystals in dog’s urine does not necessarily mean that the dog has or will develop kidney stones. It also doesn’t necessarily call for medical treatment interventions such as medications. Still, the crystals can be an indication of kidney stones (or bladder stones) or a urinary tract infection. The crystals could also progress to cause urinary blockage. Your veterinarian will diagnose the condition and determine the best approach to treatment if any.

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Treatment of crystals in dog’s urine usually involves the following:

• PH modification: The direction to which your dog’s urine is adjusted will vary depending on the type of crystals involved. Treatment of struvite crystals involve lowering the pH (increasing alkalinity) while calcium oxalate crystals call for acidity increase. This is achieved through prescription diet. You can monitor your dog’s pH at home with pH strips.
• Increasing your dog’s water intake: Increasing the rate of urination can also help a dog with crystals in urine. To achieve this, ensure that your canine pal has ready access to water at all times. Your veterinarian may also choose a prescription diet for your dog that is enriched with sodium to increase thirst.
• Medications: In some cases, an appropriate drug therapy will be adopted. This is particularly true for cases that involve a bacterial infection of the urinary tract (UTI). Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications are commonly given to the affected dog.
• Surgery: If crystals in dog’s urine continue developing as to eventually form kidney stones, your veterinarian will often resort to a surgical removal procedure known as cystotomy. Calcium oxalates generally require surgical removal or urohydropropulsion.
• Urohydropropulsion: Crystals that have formed small stones that can easily come out through the urethra may also benefit from a procedure known as urohydropropulsion. As the name suggests, saline solution is fed into the bladder through a catheter (usually under anesthesia) and then forced out through targeted compression.

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