How do crystals and stones form in the bladder?
There are two main types of crystals and stones that form in the bladder. The most common is struvite (sometimes called triple phosphate.) Struvite crystals are made up of three different elements: magnesium, ammonium, and phosphorous. These crystals form when the urine is very concentrated (ie. dark in colour and strong smelling) and its pH is very high (alkaline.) The other type of crystal and stone that forms is calcium oxalate. These also form when the urine is very concentrated but when the pH is very low (acidic.) How is the cause of the FLUTD symptoms diagnosed? The first thing that the veterinarian will do is to feel the cats bladder through the abdominal wall. A sure indication of a blocked urethra is a big, hard bladder about the size of a peach. This is a medical emergency. If treatment is not immediately implemented, the cat will die of toxicity. When the bladder is completely full, the kidneys stop doing their job of filtering toxins out of the blood stream. These toxins b
