Crystals in Dog Urine

Crystals showing up in your dog's urine can certainly signal a problem. The good news is that for the most part this type of problem can be treated as long as it is noticed early enough. Even if left untreated, the situation is less about a life threatening disease for the dog and more about a condition that will certainly cause the dog some discomfort for a longer period of time.

  1. Causes

    • Urolithiasis and crystallia are conditions in which the dog's urine and urinary tract are lined with tiny crystals and stones. Neither of these conditions can be pinned down to one cause, rather there are several factors that can all factor into the formation of these crystals. Age and diet as well as whether or not the dog is confined and therefore not allowed to urinate as often and as quickly as it might need can all cause the crystals to form. Male dogs also develop the crystals more often than females do.

    Effects

    • While these crystals will not always lead to a more severe condition, they can be the pre-cursor to kidney stones. If kidney stones form, the dog will be in severe pain and discomfort and could even need surgery depending on the size and scope of the stones. If a dog owner spots the crystals in the dog's urine, he should take immediate action to avoid stones forming.

    Treatment

    • Diet is the best way to treat the crystals that show up in a dog's urine. Your veterinarian will prescribe a special diet and dog food that is designed to reduce the minerals in the dog's urine that are causing the crystals and could cause kidney stones.

    Prevention

    • The best ways to avoid the crystals from forming in the dog is to make sure it is able to urinate when it needs to. Keeping a dog locked up for long periods of time and forcing it to hold its urine can lead to the crystals. A balanced diet with food that is not too high in calcium and other hard minerals will also help the dog avoid the crystals and kidney stones.