Methods for evaluating treatment of uroliths

Formation of uroliths is not a disease but rather a complication of several disorders. Some disorders can be identified and corrected (e.g., infection -induced struvite urolith formation), and some can be identified but not co rrected (e.g., hypercuricosuria occurring in Dalmatians that form ammonium urate uroliths), although for others, the underlying etiopathogenesis is no t known (e.g., calcium oxalate urolith formation in Miniature Schnauzers). A common denominator of these disorders is that from time to time, they can create oversaturation of urine with one or more crystal precursors, result ing in formation of crystals. To develop rational and effective approaches to treatment, abnormalities that promote urolith formation must be identifi ed with the goal of eliminating or modifying them. It is therefore importan t to understand several basic concerts associated with urolithiasis.