The Minnesota Urolith Center (MUC) at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine recently reached a big milestone: they received their 750,000th urolith, or bladder stone.
DVM 360 magazine recently highlighted the achievement:
“The diagnostic center provides this service to veterinarians at no charge, saving the profession an estimated $2.5 million in diagnostic fees last year alone.”
Data collected from urolith samples helps the MUC provide recommendations, consultations, clinical studies and lectures on uroliths and how to better treat and prevent them worldwide.
The receipt of the “struvite-calcium phosphate carbonate stone” was also marked by a $500,000 renewed sponsorship of the center by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Uroliths come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as this one, pictured above.
Struvite urinary stones are the most common uroliths found in dogs. Cats can also develop uroliths, and the often-painful stones can irritate an animal’s bladder and prolong infection.
Stones are treated via medication, surgery and preventative measures.
“In the beginning of the last decade, we were receiving approximately 25,000 samples per year,” said Carl Osborne, D.V.M, Ph.D., who is well known for his work with uroliths. “Last year, we saw nearly 80,000 from around the world.”
Congratulations to the Minnesota Urolith Center. We look forward to reporting on their next milestone whenever it arrives.
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