Risk Factors for Calcium Oxalate urolithiasis

Abstract

Calcium oxalate uroliths are the most common uroliths in cats and dogs. Risk factors for calcium oxalate formation are breed, calcium concentration and oxalate concentration in the urine, pH of the urine and urine volume. Further are there urinary inhibitors which can interfere with the ability of calcium and oxalic acid to combine. There are different treatments available for urolithiasis, where open surgery is most commonly used. Calcium oxalate patients treated at the “Faculty clinic for companion animals in Utrecht”, were contacted by phone and their nutritional status was evaluated. Based on the 36 cases which were used for this study, the treatment combination of open surgery with a nutrition advice as used at the “Faculty clinic for companion animals in Utrecht”; which includes putting the animal on a urinary diet, increasing the animals’ water uptake and not feeding anything else, seems to keep the calcium oxalate uroliths from reoccurring.