Canine struvite urolithiasis

Struvite calculi, composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate, have existed for thousands of years in human medicine and are a leading cause of calculi in companion animals. Struvite stones have also been called urease, infection-induced, phosphatic, and triple phosphate stones. They are the most common uroliths in dogs, in which most cases of struvite urolithiasis are associated with infection. Management of struvite urolithiasis requires a multimodal approach that addresses the presence of the urolith(s) and associated infection while identifying risk factors that predispose to the development of infection.