Which food dissolves struvite crystals in a cat?

A veterinary dissolution diet, which acidifies the urine and restricts magnesium and phosphorus, can dissolve feline struvite stones, often in two to four weeks depending on the food. It also raises urine dilution. This diet is therapeutic, prescribed and monitored by imaging and urinalysis under veterinary control (University of Minnesota, Urolith Center). Expert deep dive ### How does a diet dissolve struvite? Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) is soluble in acidic urine. A dissolution diet acidifies the urine and cuts magnesium and phosphorus, the stone's components, while raising urine volume to dilute. A clinical trial measured complete dissolution in a median of 13 to 27 days depending on the dissolution food tested, that is roughly two to four weeks (Lulich et al., JAVMA, 2013). A study confirmed the effectiveness of a dissolution diet on naturally occurring struvite (PMC, 2021). ### Which precautions apply during dissolution? Dissolution demands an exclusive diet: any added food can alkalinise the urine and stall the process. Imaging follow-up checks the stone is gone, and urinalysis tracks pH. Notable fact: once struvite is dissolved, the dissolution diet is not meant for prolonged use; a prevention diet, gentler on pH, then takes over. Any associated urinary infection is treated in parallel. The whole process is the vet's responsibility. Comparison table | Phase | Aim | Marker | |---|---|---| | Dissolution | acidify, restrict magnesium and phosphorus | often 2 to 4 weeks | | Follow-up | imaging, urinalysis | pH control | | Handover | switch to a prevention diet | after the stone clears | | Associated infection | antibiotic treatment | if present | Petipedia's take Petipedia separates the intensive, temporary dissolution diet from the prevention diet, and notes that dissolution is run under veterinary supervision.