Urine Crystals in Pets: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Tips

Urine Crystals in Pets: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Tips from Abbey Veterinary Centre

25th February 2025

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Sometimes tiny crystals can form in cats and dogs urine, seen only under a microscope and can sometimes form into kidney or bladder stones!

How would I know my pet has them?

In some pets, a few microscopic crystals can be quite normal and may never cause a problem. But in some cases, excessive crystals can be a sign of liver or kidney disease, bladder infections, poisoning, kidney or bladder stones and stress. In some breeds, urinary crystals can be an inherited issues and are commonly see in Dalmatian and Bulldodog breeds.

Although crystals are microscopic some signs can indicate your pet is struggling with them, and are usually signs of cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).

Signs may include:

* Blood in the urine

* Trying to urinate more frequently than usual but not passing much

* Crying or vocalising while trying to urinate

* Urinating in unusual places

* Straining to urinate

Sometimes these crystals can cluster together and form stones. These can be very dangerous, especially in male animals as they can block their urethra (the tube that allows urine to leave the body) and cause a blockage.

This means that they can’t urinate or empty their bladder and can cause irreversible kidney damage, and in worst case scenarios the bladder can rupture, both of which can be fatal.If your male dog can’t urinate this is a medical emergency and needs immediate medical intervention.

We can detect urine crystals by looking at a spun down sample of urine under the microscope. Or team of vets and nurse are skilled to preform microscopy work and can identify what type of crystals are present. There are different types of urine crystals that can mean specific things and sometimes putting your pet on a special urinary diet can help to dissolve them.

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