Crystals in urine? | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB

Crystals in urine?

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Lauren & Red

Lauren & Red

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Taking a step back from all of my current issues, I have a quick question that may or may not be related to diabetes.

I was just looking over Red’s initial labs and see some things that look worrisome. I have the lab info in his spreadsheet. At least something is filled out…

Anyway, the vet told me everything looked fine besides the glucose. However, I’m seeing numbers that are clearly high or low. And crystals are supposed to be negative. But he has a couple different crystals showing positive readings. I don’t even know what crystals are… I’m guessing they aren’t pretty, like they sound?

I’m clueless on what any of it means, but if anyone has any understanding of how to interpret lab results, would you mind looking and telling me if I should be worried about anything? I would really appreciate it.

Thank you in advance!
 
Chris & China (GA) said:
Nah...I knew she was around....and please don't feel bad about asking any of us for help! That's what we're here for!

@Marje and Gracie was one of the first people to help me when I first got here and is one of the most experienced people here!
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Thanks, Chris!

Lauren…..I would not worry about the elevated albumin and the ALT is likely a little elevated due to the diabetes but that value has to be elevated three times that to even be considered a “mild” elevation. Most diabetic cats have elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. Eosinophils indicate a potential allergy but I wouldn’t worry about that right now. That could even be something airborne.

I believe he was eating dry food and that can cause crystals in the urine. It would be smart to have another sample looked at. Crystals can cause blockages which male cats are especially prone to and can be dangerous.
 
I would not be concerned about the out-of-normal lab values.
Do you know how the urine sample was colected? What seems to be striange is that all three type of crystals are reported. Normally oxalate and struvite not seen together since struvite tends to be present if the urine is basic when oxalate if it is acidic.
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Thanks, Chris!

Lauren…..I would not worry about the elevated albumin and the ALT is likely a little elevated due to the diabetes but that value has to be elevated three times that to even be considered a “mild” elevation. Most diabetic cats have elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. Eosinophils indicate a potential allergy but I wouldn’t worry about that right now. That could even be something airborne.

I believe he was eating dry food and that can cause crystals in the urine. It would be smart to have another sample looked at. Crystals can cause blockages which male cats are especially prone to and can be dangerous.
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Wow! You are so smart and knowledgeable! Thank you!

Are the crystals high and something that should be tested for again immediately? I have not found a new vet yet. A third one today also didn’t recommend BG tests. He wasn’t against me testing, just told me it wasn’t necessary. What is going on? I can’t seem to find one that is educated enough on diabetes.

The next vets on my list are much further away, so not ideal. But what choice do I have?

Is there anyway to monitor crystals from home? I’m guessing not. The urine test alone was $89. As everyone knows, the financial aspects are quite overwhelming in the beginning and I’ve already put more on my credit cards than I’m comfortable with… but I don’t want to delay a serious issue. So if another $89 test soon is necessary, I’ll do it. His life and comfort matter more to me than money ever could.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
I would not be concerned about the out-of-normal lab values.
Do you know how the urine sample was colected? What seems to be striange is that all three type of crystals are reported. Normally oxalate and struvite not seen together since struvite tends to be present if the urine is basic when oxalate if it is acidic.
Click to expand...
My vet told me I had to get the sample from home myself. He would not get it there or maybe couldn’t, I don’t remember.
So basically, I dumped the litter out of the litter box and filled it with a thin layer of gravel/pebbles (the stuff you put at the bottom of fish tanks since they don’t absorb liquid). Then, I used a plunger (like the ones I use for insulin but without the needle to suck up the urine).

I probably could’ve put my hand under while he was urinating but I had never approached him in the litter box and didn’t want to scare him off. I was trying to get the sample in the quickest way possible. It was the best idea I could come up with. I have many fish tanks so the idea may sound strange to anyone else but I thought it was smart at the time. LOL. My vet said it was fine when I asked him if I could get it that way.

In hindsight, I realize I didn’t clean the litter box even though it was fully emptied before adding the gravel. And I don’t know what contamination, if any, was present in the gravel substrate. I drove the sample over immediately (it was fresh) so the vet had it 20 minutes after I collected it.

Does that change things?
 
Lauren & Red said:
Wow! You are so smart and knowledgeable! Thank you!

Are the crystals high and something that should be tested for again immediately? I have not found a new vet yet. A third one today also didn’t recommend BG tests. He wasn’t against me testing, just told me it wasn’t necessary. What is going on? I can’t seem to find one that is educated enough on diabetes.

The next vets on my list are much further away, so not ideal. But what choice do I have?

Is there anyway to monitor crystals from home? I’m guessing not. The urine test alone was $89. As everyone knows, the financial aspects are quite overwhelming in the beginning and I’ve already put more on my credit cards than I’m comfortable with… but I don’t want to delay a serious issue. So if another $89 test soon is necessary, I’ll do it. His life and comfort matter more to me than money ever could.
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You’re welcome. Wow that is pricey just to check urine crystals. I really can’t answer the question for you because I’ve never had a cat with crystals but I’ve had friends who have; the cats got blocked and ended up having to have a perineal urethrostomy. I’m not saying Red is anywhere close to that but I just don’t think crystals should be ignored and you want to be sure if the change from dry to wet diet isn’t addressing it, you take other action.
Lauren & Red said:
My vet told me I had to get the sample from home myself. He would not get it there or maybe couldn’t, I don’t remember.
So basically, I dumped the litter out of the litter box and filled it with a thin layer of gravel/pebbles (the stuff you put at the bottom of fish tanks since they don’t absorb liquid). Then, I used a plunger (like the ones I use for insulin but without the needle to suck up the urine).

I probably could’ve put my hand under while he was urinating but I had never approached him in the litter box and didn’t want to scare him off. I was trying to get the sample in the quickest way possible. It was the best idea I could come up with. I have many fish tanks so the idea may sound strange to anyone else but I thought it was smart at the time. LOL. My vet said it was fine when I asked him if I could get it that way.

In hindsight, I realize I didn’t clean the litter box even though it was fully emptied before adding the gravel. And I don’t know what contamination, if any, was present in the gravel substrate. I drove the sample over immediately (it was fresh) so the vet had it 20 minutes after I collected it.

Does that change things?
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No because you aren’t looking for bacteria. The urine sample you got needs to be analyzed within an hour or crystals will start to form in vitro according to this study (which my vet has also told me).
 
Lauren & Red said:
I have not found a new vet yet. A third one today also didn’t recommend BG tests. He wasn’t against me testing, just told me it wasn’t necessary. What is going on? I can’t seem to find one that is educated enough on diabetes.

The next vets on my list are much further away, so not ideal. But what choice do I have?
Click to expand...
My vet, located in St. Charles, IL did not initially recommend home testing either. Again, it is not something taught in vet school. However, my vet worked with me and saw the value both on paper and the overall quality of life for my cat. It is that partnership and caring I treasure.
 
I've used aquarium gravel. I did find lentil beans a good option also. I had the best luck with just sticking a measuring cup (1/2 cup) under her when she went. I also tried packing peanuts, they didn't work so good. One vet said to just put a bit shredded paper like the kind you put in a printer, she said the paper doesn't absorb that fast and then use syringe to draw it up.
 
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