Crystals in urine sample

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chinniesnyc

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2018
Messages
7
Hi All, I would greatly appreciate some advice/opinions of people with more experience: our beloved little chinnie started to have blood in his pee on Saturday. Took him to the emergency vet who prescribed Bactrim in case it was a UTI. Urinalysis showed crystals, red blood cells, but little white blood cells and no bacteria. Waiting to hear back again from the specialist, but likely to recommend an x-ray.

We had been initially pleased that he had been passing more urine over the past day and a half and that it had become clearer, but it seems like it is more serious than we thought. Does anyone have experience with chins with kidney stones? Is surgery to remove them the only way to treat? Could this be something else entirely?

He is currently on a diet of timothy hay, Science Selective pellets, some Beaphar Care+, and used to get a small handful of alfalfa hay once a week (since been cut). Is there another tried-and-tested pellet out there that has less calcium and is not alfalfa/lucerne based? Many thanks for reading.
 
I've never personally dealt with it, but from what I've heard once stones actually form surgery is the only option. If you just have crystals there are medicines that can help dissolve them before then clump together to form stones.

I would also make sure the issue is calcium not another mineral or a UTI. Stones can be calcium based or other minerals, for example too much salt can also cause stones, they can also be caused by UTI too, or even not drinking enough water. So I wouldn't rush to fine another food until you know for sure what kind of crystals or stones you are dealing with.
 
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