Crystals In Cat Urine Microscope

Urinary crystals are microscopic structures that can be found in the urine of many animals including cats.

Crystals in cat urine microscope.

It appears that some diets may increase the risk of a cat developing urinary crystals stones and urethral plugs. The microscopic crystals have the appearance of fine sand. The detection of urinary crystals is not synonymous with kidney stones or the clinical signs associated with them nor is detection of urine crystals irrefutable evidence of a stone forming tendency but there is some association with an increased risk for kidney stones in animals that are. Struvite crystals are microscopic crystals that are found in the urine of some cats.

Crystalluria is a medical condition where crystals are expelled into the urine. These crystals can be observed under low magnification particularly when seen in large number however low numbers may only be seen at higher magnification. The crystals themselves can be perfectly normal but become problematic when they combine to form grit or stones of varying shapes and sizes. Struvite oxalate and urate.

The development of crystals and stones is mostly dependent upon the ph of the urine and the concentration of minerals in the urine. Some normal animals can have crystals in their urine although sometimes they are indicative of an underlying issue especially if present in large numbers or accompanied by urinary symptoms. In some urine samples they do not have irregular protrusions but have smooth borders and can resemble calcium carbonate although these do not occur in the urine from dogs and cats. Though crystalluria isn t always indicative of an accompanying condition or illness such as a urinary tract infection or kidney stones the formation of crystals puts the cat at an increased risk of these problems.