What causes feline struvite crystals?

What causes feline struvite crystals?

What causes struvite bladder stones? In some cats, struvite bladder stones form as a result of a urinary tract infection. Certain species of urinary bacteria produce a chemical called urease, which leads to changes in urine acidity. Urease-producing bacteria can contribute to the formation of struvite stones.

How long do struvite crystals take to form?

Often patients are somehow predisposed to bladder infection which means they are also predisposed to form more struvite bladder stones. A stone can form as quickly as 2 weeks after infection with a urease positive bacterium sets in.

How to treat struvite crystals in cats and dogs?

The goal is to create more acidic and dilute urine. Canned prescription diets that acidify the urine are ideal, but dry formulations are available for cats who won’t eat wet food. Medications that acidify the urine can be used when a cat must be on another type of special diet. If an infection is present, antibiotics will be necessary as well.

How long does it take for struvite crystals to dissolve?

Treats and snacks should be avoided and wet canned foods can help prevent new stones, although some cats will find this food unappetizing. The crystals can take from two weeks to five months to completely dissolve. If the struvite crystals are in the urethra or in the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder,…

What kind of crystals are found in cats?

Struvite crystals are the most common form of mineral crystals that form in a cats urinary tract. Around half of all urinary stones in cats are struvite crystals.

What kind of food is best for struvite crystals?

Ideally you want to feed grain free, low carb canned food with added water to it. I have read that carbohydrates contribute to the formation of crystals. I have also read that the cheapest canned food is better than the best dry food as cats need moisture in their diet.

How to treat struvite crystals in cats-the spruce pets?

Treatment of Struvite Crystals. To dissolve the stones, a monitored diet is the best course of action. Treats and snacks should be avoided and wet canned foods can help prevent new stones, although some cats will find this food unappetizing. The crystals can take from two weeks to five months to completely dissolve.

Where do you find struvite crystals in cats urine?

Struvite and struvite crystals can be a normal finding in your cat’s urine at a low level but become problematic when the crystals combine to form grit or stones of varying shapes and sizes. These stones can be found in the urinary bladder, the urethra, or in the kidneys.

Can a struvite stone cause kidney failure in a cat?

Struvite crystals are urinary tract stones that can have various shapes and sizes and when they block the urinary tract. These stones can quickly lead to kidney failure and become life-threatening. They can appear in many types of animals, including cats.

Treats and snacks should be avoided and wet canned foods can help prevent new stones, although some cats will find this food unappetizing. The crystals can take from two weeks to five months to completely dissolve. If the struvite crystals are in the urethra or in the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder,…