Nutritional Management of Urolithiasis

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2019 Mar;49(2):175-186. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2018.10.004. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Abstract

Dietary management of urolithiasis in dogs and cats is designed to dissolve calculi when possible and/or reduce the risk of recurrence. The diet must reduce urine relative supersaturation for the particular salt in order to prevent crystallization. To decrease urinary concentrations of crystal precursors, increasing water intake is essential regardless of the stone type. Altering the amounts of dietary precursors of the stone and controlling urine pH is mostly effective for struvite, urate, xanthine, and cystine, but still subject to controversy for calcium oxalate. The investigation of underlying metabolic disorders and close monitoring of animals at risk is recommended.

Keywords: Calcium oxalate; Cystine; Silica; Stone; Struvite; Urate; Urolithiasis; Xanthine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / diet therapy*
  • Cats
  • Diet / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / diet therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Urolithiasis / diet therapy
  • Urolithiasis / veterinary*
  • Veterinary Medicine