Urine Triple Phosphate Crystals (Struvite)
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| Description : | ||
Common crystals seen even in healthy patients include calcium oxalate, triple phosphate crystals and amorphous phosphates. The crystals shown above are typical triple phosphate crystals, found in feline and canine urine, and are classically described as rectangular "coffin lid" shape. They are also called magnesium ammonium phosphate or struvite crystals and are typically found in alkaline urine. In fact the name "triple phosphate" originates from an old erroneous belief that the phosphate ion was bound to 3 positive ions instead of just magnesium and ammonium. |
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| Clinical Interpretation: | ||
Struvite crystals are not unusual in normal urine and are usually of no consequence but when they are present in very large amounts, often together with a Staph or Proteus bladder infection, crystals can congeal into stones/calculi. In cats the calculi are often part of a protein matrix plug which causes feline urolithiasis syndrome (FUS), a serious cause of blockage in male cats, which have a very narrow distal urethra in the tip of the penis. In dogs, full- blown calculi usually form. Treatment for persistent struvite calculi is often with a dissolving diet containing urinary acidifiers such as ammonium chloride and ascorbic acid, and low mineral content. Surgery may be necessary. Long term prevention with an acidifying diet may be advised. |
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