Cholesterol crystalluria

Cholesterol crystals typically appear as a great flat square plate with a characteristic notch in the corners (Fig. 24). They are colourless and transparent while observing with an optical microscope but show a multitude of shining colours with a polarization microscope.


It was described for humans that cholesterol crystals were accompanied by tissue damage with the necrotic syndrome and chyluria. Veterinarian experience is too limited to formulate significant generalizations However they were observed in clinical unsuspicious dogs.

Fig. 24)
Microphotographic picture from cholesterol crystals in the urine sediment from a five-year-old male Dwarf Schnauzer.