Natural Treatment for Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate

Calcium oxalate crystals are one of the several types of urine crystals that form in cats' bladders when the urine is too acidic. They can occur in mono- or dihydrate form, and can form faceted crystals or an amorphous, sand-like mass. On their own, they irritate the bladder and urethra, causing painful, bloody urination, and favor the formation of bacteria that can lead to a urinary tract infection that will affect the overall health of the cat. If allowed to grow untreated, the crystals can completely block the urethra of a male cat, leaving him unable to urinate. Calcium oxalate crystals very rarely form in dogs.

  1. Symptoms

    • Signs that your cat may have urine crystal include blood-tinged urine, or urine that dries to a sandy consistency. He may strain to urinate in the litter box, or may urinate small amounts in various places throughout the house. His urine stream may be interrupted or inadequate, and his abdomen may be tender. A veterinarian will run a urinalysis and examine the urine sediment under a microscope, where the presence of crystals will be obvious. X-rays will help determine the extent of the problem and reveal if a blockage is occurring.

    Surgery

    • If the crystals have progressed to the point where they have formed bladder stones, surgery is the only option. There is no diet or medication that can dissolve calcium oxalate, so stones must be removed intact and microscopic crystals must be allowed to pass naturally through the system. They key to treating the condition is to treat the secondary infection with antibiotics and prevent new crystals from forming.

    Diet

    • Your vet will recommend a prescription diet that will raise the pH of the cat's urine to prevent the formation of new crystals. Hills Prescription Diet x/d or c/d, Royal Canin Urinary SO and Purina CNM UR are all commonly available diets formulated especially for cats prone to oxalate crystal formation. If a natural or vegetarian diet is preferred, it should have controlled levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and extra potassium citrate and vitamin B6 to prevent the formation of crystals.

    Water Consumption

    • Water intake is extremely important for cats prone to urinary crystals, as not only does it help flush existing crystals out of the bladder, it also dilutes the urine to keep additional crystals from forming. Non-chemical ways to get your cat to drink more water include investing in a cat fountain, since cats prefer running water, and flavoring water with low-sodium chicken or beef broth. Feeding canned food also increases water intake because the moisture is not removed from the food as it is for dry kibble.

    Supplements

    • There are some supplements that may help heal the secondary infection that accompanies bladder crystals, although no formal studies have been done and results are anecdotal. Berberine reduces inflammation and keeps bacteria from attaching to cell walls, as well as strengthening the immune system, and cranberry helps to discourage bacteria from forming in the bladder. Ester-C has been touted as a urinary cure-all, but it works by making the urine more acidic, which will encourage oxalate formation. Ester-C is used more for struvite crystals.