Urinalysis: Uroliths

Question 1

What are uroliths?

Answer 1

Calculi (stones) composed of various minerals

Question 2

What is often done after uroliths are surgically removed and why?

Answer 2

1. sent to an outside lab for analysis

2. to find out why the stones were formed

Question 3

What are the common types of uroliths? (4)

Answer 3

1. triple phosphate
2. urate
3. cystine
4. oxalate

Question 4

What are triple phosphate uroliths most common in? (2)

Answer 4

1. most common in both dogs and cats

2. Common in alkaline urine

Question 5

What are urate uroliths made of?

Answer 5

Composed of ammonium urate

Question 6

What are cystine uroliths made of?

Answer 6

Composed of amino acid cystine

Question 7

What are oxalate uroliths made of?

Answer 7

Composed of calcium oxalate

Question 8

What are triple phosphate uroliths made of? (4)

Answer 8

1. magnesium salt
2. ammonium salt
3. calcium salt
4. phosphate salt

Question 9

What do triple phosphate uroliths look like in an x-ray?

Answer 9

Radioopaque

Question 10

What do urate uroliths look like on an x-ray?

Answer 10

Radioluscent

Question 11

What dog breeds are urate uroliths common? (2)

Answer 11

Dalmatians and bulldogs

Question 12

What do cystine uroliths look like on an x-ray? (2)

Answer 12

1. Radioluscent

2. easily pulverized

Question 13

What do oxalate uroliths look like on an x-ray?

Answer 13

Radiopaque

Question 14

How do oxalate uroliths affect the bladder? (2)

Answer 14

1. Sharp protrusions

2. can severely traumatize the bladder