Abstract
A dog was referred for nutrition consultation after surgical removal of struvite uroliths from the bladder. Inspection of the dog's current ration revealed a pronounced vitamin-A deficiency together with a marked deficiency of protein, phosphorus and magnesium. Therefore, a supersaturation of the urine with ammonium, magnesium and phosphate, the three constituents of struvite, as a cause of struvite calculi formation appears rather unlikely. Vitamin-A deficiency can promote urinary infections and consequently struvite stone formation because of the lack of the protective effect of vitamin A on the epithelia of the urinary tract. Not only common causes for struvite urolith formation, including urinary supersaturation with stone-forming constituents and urinary tract infection, but also less common causes, including vitamin-A deficiency, which was the presumed trigger in the present case study, have to be taken into consideration. Dietetic measures appear to be a useful tool in such cases to prevent uroliths from reoccurring.
Item Type: | Journal article |
---|---|
Faculties: | Veterinary Medicine |
Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health |
ISSN: | 1434-1239 |
Language: | German |
Item ID: | 52957 |
Date Deposited: | 14. Jun 2018, 09:51 |
Last Modified: | 04. Nov 2020, 13:31 |