Can I use a UTI test on my dog? Here’s the Answer

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Symptoms of Pet’s Urinary Tract Infection

One of the first symptoms of a UTI in your pet may be that he or she has had a few “accidents” around the house. If you notice this, then it’s a good idea to observe for other symptoms of a UTI. These can be any of the following:

  • Pinkish stains where your dog has urinated due to blood in the urine
  • Changes in urination habits – either going more frequently or less
  • Signs of pain while urinating
  • Excessive licking of the genital area
  • Dribbling small amounts of urine

    • Best Test Strips: INVBIO-Pet Urine Test Strips 14 Parameter For Dogs & Cats

    Unlike the kit we review above, Health Mate’s product is only dog urine test strips. However, these strips give you more comprehensive results than the CheckUp kit. And you get 50 test strips, so it’s a great value if your dog suffers from regular UTIs. In addition to UTIs and bladder infections, these test strips can also help detect such potential conditions as diabetes, kidney problems, and metabolic disorders (but be sure to share your dog’s results with your veterinarian for a complete diagnosis). Learn more about bladder stones in dogs.

    Tip: You may want to get a dog urine collector since this product is only test strips.

    Health Mate’s test strips analyze your pet’s urine for the presence of:

  • Bilirubin: Too much bilirubin can lead to liver disease, such as jaundice. Small amounts of bilirubin in your dog’s urine are normal.
  • Blood: Blood in the urine can be a sign of cancer, familial hematuria (hereditary), or UTIs.
  • Glucose: If glucose is found in your dog’s urine, it could be due to a variety of complications. A vet’s care is important for a proper diagnosis.
  • Ketones: There should be no ketones in your dog’s urine. If there are, it typically means your dog is burning stored fat for energy instead of glucose. This is common for pets who refuse to eat or have diabetes.
  • Leukocytes: The level of Leukocytes, also called white blood cells, is ideal when few or none are found in urine. When more are present, it can mean your dog has a bacterial infection.
  • pH: The pH level for a healthy dog is typically between 6.5 to 7.0. If the pH is not within this range, it may allow bacteria to thrive. However, your dog’s pH level may fluctuate throughout the day, so if your dog’s pH level does not fall within this range, you shouldn’t be immediately alarmed.
  • Protein: Protein in your dog’s urine can be associated with lower urinary tract disease, renal dysfunction or damage, or reproductive tract disease.
  • Specific Gravity: Normal or high urine specific gravity typically indicates that your dog’s kidneys function properly. However, if it is too high, it can also mean that your dog has developed diabetes. If your dog has low urine-specific gravity, it could mean your dog’s kidneys are failing.
  • Urobilinogen: Urobilinogen is a breakdown of hemoglobin in your dog’s red blood cells. A small amount in your dog’s urine is normal. Abnormal levels of urobilinogen can mean your dog has hemolytic anemia or gallstones.

    • What does a urinalysis look at?

    If your cat presents to your veterinarian with urinary signs, your veterinarian will first perform a urinalysis. The urinalysis can reveal so much important information about the urine when a UTI is suspected. Your veterinarian will look at the following:

  • urine-specific gravity (how well the dog is concentrating their urine)
  • pH (certain pH levels can indicate infection or other problems)
  • ketones (sometimes seen in cases of diabetes or body-wasting)
  • glucose (sugar in the urine, usually a sign of diabetes)
  • bilirubin (a breakdown product of blood)

    • Once these levels are measured, the urine specimen is placed into a centrifuge and spun down to allow cells and other debris to accumulate at the bottom of the sample tube. That debris can then be evaluated under magnification, and this examination can reveal the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, and crystals.

    What is seen under the microscope’s magnification can lead to the next steps of assessing the dog’s urinary tract disease. For example, if there are crystals in the urine, your veterinarian may recommend radiographs (X-rays) or an ultrasound of the abdomen in order to look for bladder stones.

    Dog bladder infection or Dog urinary tract infection (UTI). Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment!

    If youve ever had a bladder or urinary tract infection, you know how painful it is. A dog urinary tract infection (UTI) is unbearable for your pup too. Unfortunately, these nasty bacterial infections are common in humans, cats, and dogs—about one in three dogs will develop a UTI. Heres everything you need to know about a dog UTI and the quick-fix treatment to get your pup feeling better fast.