Urolith Advice and Facts

Minnesota Urolith Center discovers new urolith type in dogs!
X-ray of a dog in a side view, showing its skeletal structure and internal organs. An arrow points to a specific area, highlighting a concern.
Survey lateral abdominal radipgraph from a 14-year-old neutered male smooth Miniature Daschshund with radiopaque urocystoliths compound of 100% calcium tartrate tetrahydrate. Image provided by C.S. Young, DVM, DACVECC, Ohio State University, College of Veterunary Medicine.

Association of Diet and Calcium Tartrate Tetrahydrate Uroliths in Dogs
Jody Lulich | Lori Koehler | Lisa Ulrich | Eva Furrow

ABSTRACT
Background: Calcium tartrate tetrahydrate (CTT) uroliths are recently identified in dogs.
Objectives: To report on the types and prevalence of diets, supplements, and medications containing salts of tartaric acid consumed by dogs with CTT urolithiasis.
Animals: Sixty-three client-owned dogs identified with CTT uroliths from a single urolith analysis laboratory.

Methods: Retrospective case series evaluating dogs with CTT uroliths and their prevalence of consuming diets, supplements, and medications containing salts of tartaric acid before diagnosis of urolithiasis.
Results: Dogs with CTT uroliths were predominantly male (53/63, 84%) small purebreds (48/63, 76%). Thirty-three of 63 cases provided additional information by completing our survey. In 25 of 33 (76%) cases, a source of tartaric acid was identified in diets, supplements, or medications. In 24 of these 25 cases (96%), the source of tartaric acid was choline bitartrate.
Conclusions: When investigating a cause for CTT uroliths in dogs, consider diets and supplements containing choline bitartrate as a potential source of urolith components.

Calcium tartrate tetrahydrate urocystoliths surgically removed from the urinary bladder of a 13-year old female Shih Tzu dog.
Calcium tartrate tetrahydrate urocystoliths surgically removed from the urinary bladder of a 13-year old female Shih Tzu dog.

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Volume 39, Issue 3,  May/June 2025
Read full article:  https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70093

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