Feline Compound

These stones often have different radiographic layers representing different minerals.

Uroliths with a center composed of a different material than the outer layer(s) are called compound. Compound uroliths commonly occur when metabolic uroliths (e.g. calcium oxalate, urate) contribute to urinary tract infections with bacteria that promote struvite formation, or when suture material or other intraurocystic foreign material promotes mineralization over its surface, or when treatment/diet administered prior to urolith removal alter urine pH or crystal solubility.

• Identify causes for minerals or material at or near the center.

• If present, prevent infection-induced struvite and calcium phosphate carbonate by repeating urine cultures and administering antibiotics when needed. • Next, select therapy to minimize the urolith center (see recommendations for specific mineral types at z.umn.edu/mnurolithRX). • Then, make adjustments in therapy to prevent the body, shell or bands without opposing therapy to prevent the center (e.g. urine specific gravity (less than 1.030), pH (greater than or equal to 6.5), and medications.)

• Select foods designed to minimize minerals at, or near the center of the urolith that are not infection-induced. z.umn.edu/mnurolithRX • Prevent infection-induced minerals by controlling infection; not with food.

Follow monitoring strategies to minimize the material at the center of urolith(s). Medical imaging every 6 to 12 months to detect recurrent stones when small to permit their easy removal without surgery by medical dissolution, voiding urohydropropulsion or basket retrieval.

We advise reviewing manufacturer's literature regarding selected therapeutic foods to determine indications and contraindications. For pets with multiple health concerns,we suggest that the selection of diet should take into consideration all health needs of the pet.

Feline Compound