Food intake and struvite crystalluria in ferrets.
Four adult, castrated, male ferrets were studied in two similar trials for effects of food intake on variables hypothesized to promote struvite (ammonium, magnesium, phosphate hexahydrate) crystal formation in urine. Struvite crystalluria occurred in three of the four ferrets. Urine pH (UpH) averaged 6.6 for these ferrets. UpH in the ferret without crystalluria was 6.0. By simple linear regression analysis, no relationship was found between the amount of food ingested and the urinary concentration and excretion of magnesium and phosphorous. However, urine osmolality and excretion of both protein and ammonium were correlated to food intake (P less than .05). Ways in which these effects could promote struvite crystal formation are discussed.
Palmore
W P
WP
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
Bartos
K D
KD
D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000652:urine*; D003460:Crystallization; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005289:Ferrets / Q000652:urine*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000652:urine*; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D008297:Male; D010710:Phosphates / Q000652:urine*; D000069877:Struvite; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary
D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D000069877:Struvite; D008274:Magnesium