Struvite stones: a frequent condition in neutered pets
Author: Veterinarian Johs. Gjelstrup
As a pet owner, you should pay attention to the regularity with which your dog or cat urinates. Failure to urinate on a regular basis might be a sign of struvite stones.
Different conditions can cause stones to form in the urinary tract in cats and dogs. These can become very problematic for your pet if they block the urinary tract. Especially in male cats the urethra is very narrow, so even small crystals can have difficulty passing through. The animal then typically has problems with urination and the condition can become extremely painful.
Struvite stones require treatment
Treatment of struvite stones requires an experienced veterinarian, as many factors can play a role in the cause and cure. The ratio between calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the feed is very important. The magnesium content is particularly important and must not exceed 0.09%. The pH of the urine is also significant as some stones form if the urine is too alkaline, i.e. has too high a pH. In case of an infection, the urine will also often be alkaline. Acute cases of struvite stones require veterinary intervention with the surgical removal of stones in the bladder or ureters. In some cases, however, the right feed may eventually dissolve the struvite stones, even large bladder stones in dogs. In addition, it may be helpful to try to change the urine pH by giving the cat or dog additional amounts of methionine or ascorbic acid.
Change in urine pH
Diafarm UrolSyn paste for dogs and cats can be used as a supplement to the treatment of struvite stones. The paste contains methionine which can help to change the pH of the urine and thus reduce the risk of struvite stones. Diafarm UrolSyn paste for dogs and cats is a tasty paste that the animal can eat directly from the tube, or you can mix the paste into the feed. Diafarm UrolSyn is not a drug and you should always consult your veterinarian before use.