are these crystals or artifact?

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

emma o'connor — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 23:32:16 GMT

The initial urine sample was collected about half an hour prior to the cats appointment, but we then hospitalised the cat and collected another sample which was analysed immediately, with the same structures found to be present. Blood work was unremarkable. alp, alt, bile acids all within normal limits. I have put the cat onto royal canin urinary pouches and sent another sample to an external laboratory for analysis. thanks again so far for all your helpful suggestions.

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

Martin Jones — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:51:02 GMT

Artefacts.

How long between collection of sample and viewing the slide?

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

Stephen Courtney — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:24:43 GMT

If there are only a few of these, perhaps they are artefactual?

If the urine SG is off the scale, what is the cat eating? suspect dry food. would suggest moist food only, perhaps with added water, perhaps a drinking fountain?

I would suggest repeating the urine sample once or twice as well. If the crystals are urates there should be evidence of liver disease. Scan and bloods?

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

plantagenet — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:28:05 GMT

we had a case of odd 'crystals' we sent for further analysis to the lab and they were found to be plastic fragments from the katkor - I tried to complain to the manafacturers but never found who to approach.

They looked really wuite similar - multiple spikey things, but not brown.

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

emma o'connor — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:34:48 GMT

thanks, I think we have a copy of that book somewhere in the practice, i'll look it up. Speedy responses again as normal, I love the forums.

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

Richard Fox — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:45:17 GMT

I would also go for Urates

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:11:45 GMT

[quote user="Noweia"]

Are they bilirubin crystals?

[/quote]

That or sodium urate crystals? The square ends tend me more towards urate rather than bilirubin that look more like even spines.

Have you got a copy of the Bayer Urinalysis book - free and very very good.

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

emma o'connor — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:03:38 GMT

I've never seen bilirubin crystals before so they may well be. I plan to check out our laboratory library in the morning.

Re: are these crystals or artifact?

Noweia — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:44:30 GMT

Are they bilirubin crystals?