Can canned tuna cause urinary crystals in cats? What are the causes?

Question

Can canned tuna cause urinary crystals? My female cat is having surgery today. She’s only one and she’s a female so it’s very odd she has this problem. Vet said there was probably something causing it. I have them tuna juice about 1-2 days prior to all this flaring up. Could that be it? I also started both my cats on a joint medicine just for heath so it never becomes a problem. I got it at Walmart though. Maybe is that it? She’s healthy in all other aspects... Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | unspayed | 7 lbs

Linda G, MS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello. The development of crystals in the urine is pretty complicated & not related to any one thing. Stress, diet, the amount of water consumed each day, & how Samie's kidneys deal with urinary waste products all contribute to the development of crystals. Sometimes there is even a bladder infection to add to the problems. So no, tuna does not cause crystals, & it takes more than a few days for the crystals to develop & start causing a problem. Based on the type of crystal present, placing a cat on a special diet can help correct & prevent further problems. Increasing the amount of fluids taken in each day can also flush out the crystals & we often recommend low sodium broths, stocks & tuna water to accomplish this. Find out from your vet what type of crystal is bothering Samie & see if a diet change would be appropriate for her. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Can canned tuna cause urinary crystals in cats? What are the causes?

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