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Oversaturation of urine with crystals is by far the biggest factor in stone formation in dogs and cats. [3] This oversaturation can be caused by increased excretion of crystals by the kidneys, water reabsorption by the renal tubules resulting in concentration of the urine, and changes in urine pH that influence crystallization.
The rationale behind alkalizing the urine is that cystine tends to stay in solution and causes no harm. In order to alkalize the urine, sodium bicarbonate has been used. One must be careful in alkalizing their urine because it could lead to other forms of stones in process of preventing cystine stones.
Crystalluria refers to crystals found in the urine when performing a urine test. Crystalluria is considered often as a benign condition and as one of the side effects of sulfonamides and penicillins. The main reason for the identification of urinary crystals is to detect the presence of the relatively few abnormal types that may represent a ...
Urine pH may be monitored to help prevent the formation of kidney stones or to avoid side effects of some drugs, [68] such as high-dose methotrexate therapy, in which crystals that cause kidney damage can form if the urine is acidic. [69] If microscopy is performed, knowing the pH of the sample helps to identify any crystals that might be ...
Nephrocalcinosis is connected with conditions that cause hypercalcaemia, hyperphosphatemia, and the increased excretion of calcium, phosphate, and/or oxalate in the urine. A high urine pH can lead to nephrocalcinosis but only if it is accompanied by hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia , since having a normal urinary citrate usually inhibits the ...
The protein cauxin, a protein excreted in large amounts in cat urine that acts to produce a feline pheromone, has recently been found to cause nucleation of struvite crystals in a model system containing the ions necessary to form struvite. This may explain some of the excess struvite production in domestic cats. [14]
The most common type of cast, hyaline casts are solidified Tamm–Horsfall mucoprotein secreted from the tubular epithelial cells of individual nephrons. Low urine flow, concentrated urine, or an acidic environment can contribute to the formation of hyaline casts, and as such, they may be seen in normal individuals in dehydration or vigorous exercise.
A large portion of the crystals in a urine sediment will have this type of morphology, as they can grow at any pH and naturally occur in normal urine. Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals vary in shape, and can be shaped like dumbbells, spindles, ovals, or picket fences, the last of which is most commonly seen due to ethylene glycol poisoning. [12]