Past veterinary trends continue, but with therapeutic preventative options available, many plugs can be avoided.

Dr. Carl Osborne tracks the trends of mineral composition in cats with urolithiasis.

Mineral composition trends have been stabilizing in recent years.

A look at composition provides insight into ways to prevent plugs in the first place.

In the last three decades, the composition of uroliths in dogs has been variable.

Dr. Carl Osborne examines feline urolith composition over the past three decades.

What is your interpretation and diagnosis?

A quarter-century ago, analysis of uroliths removed (usually by surgery) was optional. In fact, rather than have the stones analyzed, some veterinary practitioners gave them to their clients as a topic of conversation. What about today? Is it an acceptable standard of practice to give stones retrieved from the urinary tract to owners without knowing their composition? What would be your response to a physician who gave you stones retrieved from your urinary tract? Believe it or not, we have received uroliths for analysis formed by our veterinary colleagues that were given to them by a physician. Of course, we did not perform the requested analysis because we did not want to cross the line of practicing medicine without a license. Instead, we sent them to a laboratory licensed to provide that service.

Knowledge of urolith composition is important because contemporary methods of detection, treatment and prevention of the underlying causes of urolithiasis largely depend on knowledge of urolith composition.