Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals vary in size and may have a spindle, oval, or dumbbell
shape. Most commonly, they appear as flat, elongated, six-sided crystals ("fence pickets")
such as shown to the right. The arrow in the photo indicates a "daughter" crystal
forming on the face of a larger underlying crystal.
We have not observed this form of calcium oxalate crystals in urine of normal dogs and cats, and believe their presence is virtually always associated with ethylene glycol intoxication. |
Last Updated: January 16, 1996