| Is your cat straining in the litter box? Does your dog try repeatedly to go to the bathroom, seemingly with no success? Is your pet whining while trying to urinate or have you noticed a pinkish or bloody tinge to the urine? |
| These symptoms may indicate a urinary tract infection or the presence of crystals in your pet's urine. |
| What should I do? |
| Bring your pet in to see our veterinarians. Crystals in the bladder and urinary blockage are potentially deadly conditions which will not just go away by themselves. At the clinic we will capture a urine specimen from your pet and analyze the sample, looking specifically for the presence of abnormal bacteria or for crystals which can form from the minerals present normally in an animal's diet. We will also flush your pet's urinary tract, freeing it of any blockages. Bacteria are cultured and treated with the appropriate antibiotic(s). Crystals are dealt with according to the severity, size and composition of the formations. Most pets who develop crystals are put on a special diet formulated to reduce the alkaline pH imbalance in the bladder and urine. Iams and Hill's Science Diet each produce options for canine and feline patients with crystal problems. |
| What if I don't have my pet examined and treated? |
| Below is a picture of a struvite crystal removed from an eight-year-old Lhasa Apso. The crystal measures approximately 25 mm (2.5 cm) in diameter. Composed of 95% magnesium ammonium and 5% calcium phosphate (apatite), this stone had formed in the dog's bladder and was going nowhere. Surgical removal of the object was required. Afterwards, the ureter and bladder were flushed to remove any remaining crystal formations, thus allowing the pet to resume normal, healthy urinary tract function while maintained on a prescribed diet. |
| Medicines and specially formulated food blends are available to help maintain a pet's proper urinary pH balance. Surgical removal of large stones is not the norm: the presence of stones the size of the struvite crystal pictured above is rare. Catheterization followed by a sterile flush of the ureter and a course of antibiotics are common courses of treatment. Don't panic -- your pet will be okay. Blood in the urine, signs of straining or pain and repeated attempts to urinate with no success are the telltale signs of a urinary tract problem. Be it an infection or a pH imbalance, your pet's difficulties can be overcome with the help of a veterinarian. Treatment is the key: the problem will not "just go away". But with the proper medicines and on an adjusted diet, your pet can lead a normal, happy life! |
| Come see us today: Indian Hills Animal Clinic and Pet Hotel 200 McFarland Circle North Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 across the street from Jim Meyers Capstone and the Indian Hills Country Club just off of US 82 call with questions or for more specific directions to our facility: 345-1231 |
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