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A dog that has ingested antifreeze is presented to the hospital. What type of crystals would you expect to see in the urine of this animal?

a. Struvite
b. Uric acid
c. Calcium carbonate
d. Calcium oxalate

User Kaje
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

A dog that has ingested antifreeze will likely have calcium oxalate crystals in its urine due to the metabolism of ethylene glycol in antifreeze, which forms calcium oxalate and leads to potential acute kidney failure.

Step-by-step explanation:

A dog that has ingested antifreeze will likely have calcium oxalate crystals in its urine. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which, when metabolized, leads to the formation of calcium oxalate. This happens due to the conversion of glycolic to glyoxylic acid and then oxalic acid, which can combine with calcium to form calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals predominantly deposit in the kidneys, causing damage which can lead to acute kidney failure.

It is important to note that while uric acid crystals are associated with conditions like gout, and the formation of some types of kidney stones, they are not typically related to antifreeze toxicity. Instead, ethylene glycol poisoning specifically leads to the production of calcium oxalate crystals. Immediate veterinary care is crucial for a dog that has ingested antifreeze to prevent serious and potentially life-threatening kidney damage.

User Fire Lancer
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