It's important to know which type of crystals a dog has, because treatment is different for different types of crystals. Most struvite crystals and stones are found in females, and oxalate crystals and stones are usually seen in males. Struvite crystals form in slightly acid to alkaline urine (pH>6.3), while oxalate crystals form in acid urine (low pH).
Struvite crystals are associated with bladder infections, and they may clear when the infection is adequately treated with antibiotics. Prevention of future infection is an important part of managing this type of crystaluria.
Crystals may also form in urine specimens if there is a delay between the time of collection and the time the specimen is examined. When this happens, it may not reflect what's actually present in the dog's urinary tract.
Here are some discussions of bladder stones and urinary crystals (crystaluria).
Canine Struvite Stones
Canine Oxalate Stones
Improving management of urolithiasis: diagnostic caveats
[ May 28, 2005, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: Betsy Iole ]