A urinalysis is a diagnostic test that determines the physical and chemical properties of urine. It is used to evaluate the health of the kidneys and urinary system, but it can also reveal issues with other organ systems. All pets eight years of age and older should have a yearly urinalysis. A urinalysis may also be recommended if your dog has increased water intake, increased frequency of urination, or visible blood in the urine.
Urine should range from pale yellow to light amber in color and is clear to slightly cloudy. Dark yellow urine usually indicates that the pet needs to drink more water or is dehydrated. Urine that is not yellow may contain substances that are not normally found in healthy urine and could indicate an underlying health issue.
In the post, our Tracy vets will discuss urinalysis for dogs, as well as how to understand your pets urinalysis results so you can make the best decisions regarding their health care.
Urine samples should be read within 30 minutes of the collection. If you collect a urine sample at home, please return it as soon as possible to your veterinary clinic. If your dog is being screening for Cushings disease or evaluating your pets ability to concentrate urine, the sample should be taken first thing in the morning.
Urine is collected from the bladder using a sterile needle and syringe. The benefit of cystocentesis is that the urine is not contaminated by debris from the lower urinary tract. This sample is ideal for evaluating the bladder and kidneys as well as detecting bacterial infection.
Why did my vet recommend a urinalysis?
The following are the most common reasons why a urinalysis is performed for pets.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common health issues in dogs and cats. If there is an infection somewhere in your pet’s urinary tract, the results of a urinalysis may show the presence of bacteria and white blood cells (WBC).
If your pet shows signs of inappropriate elimination, your first stop should be the vet clinic. Your vet needs to rule out a health issue, such as a UTI, that could be causing your pet’s undesirable behavior. If an infection is present, antibiotics are often prescribed. In recurring UTI, your vet may recommend culture and sensitivity testing to identify the specific bacteria that is involved so the appropriate antibiotics can be given.
Pain and discomfort are often present when your pet has crystals in the urine. The presence of urine stones or crystals creates a perfect environment for urinary tract infections. Stones (uroliths) are formed when crystals clump together in the urinary bladder.
To get rid of the crystals, your pet’s urine pH needs to get back to a normal range. This can sometimes be achieved by a course of antibiotics and/or a change in diet. If your pet’s urinalysis shows crystals in the urine, your vet may recommend an ultrasound or x-ray to check whether urinary stones are present. In some cases, urinary stones are not dissolved by a diet change and will require surgery to remove them.
One of the major functions of the kidneys is to concentrate urine. The concentration of urine density is one of the parameters that are examined during a urinalysis (specific gravity). This is accomplished with the use of a refractometer.
Dilute urine often indicates there is something wrong with the kidneys that prevent them from functioning properly. Your vet may suggest blood work to evaluate the other important parameters of kidney function. Renal disease in pets is often a lifetime problem. A change in diet, medications, and supplementation can help add years to your pet’s life and improve his quality of life.
Diabetes in pets is often indicated by an excess of glucose in their urine and blood. During a urinalysis, increased glucose levels and the presence of ketones can be significant features in the urine of diabetic pets. Increased levels of ketone are caused by the excess breakdown of fat in the animal’s body. Blood work is often recommended when glucose and ketones values are high in order to check for diabetes.
One of the primary functions of the liver is to break down old red blood cells. In the process, bilirubin is produced. Increased levels of bilirubin in the urine can indicate that there is something wrong with your pet’s liver or there is inappropriate red blood cell destruction that is taking place in the body.
In cats, the presence of any amount of bilirubin in their urine is always a cause for concern. In this case, blood work is always performed to evaluate liver function and the concentration of red blood cells.
When a tumor is present in any part of the urinary tract, a urinalysis will show a significant number of epithelial cells. While a few epithelial cells in the urine is normal, abnormally high levels can indicate the presence of a tumor. In this case, your vet may recommend a radiograph or ultrasound and blood work to check if a tumor is indeed present in your pet’s urinary tract.
Urine collection in cats and dogs can be accomplished in 3 ways.
1. Cystocentesis
Urine is collected from the bladder using a sterile needle and syringe. The needle is passed through the abdominal wall to collect urine from a fully distended urinary bladder.
2. Catheterization
This technique collects urine by inserting a very narrow sterile catheter up the urethra into the bladder.
3. Mid-Stream Free Flow
When your pet voids urine, a sterile container is used to collect a sample. The urine sample is also called ‘free flow’ or ‘free catch’.
3Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, Joyhing, Assam Agricultural University, North Lakhimpur, Assam, IndiaFind articles by
A complete urine examination includes a macroscopic and microscopic examination of the urine sample. A macroscopic examination is comparatively quick, cheap, and easy. It includes a subjective assessment of the physical properties (color, odor, clarity, and volume) and specific gravity reading. It also includes semi-quantitative assessment of the chemical properties of urine by dipstick analysis.
Crystals in urine is a frequent finding and it is not always associated with the disease [57]. Urine crystals other than struvite and calcium oxalate dihydride are highly indicative of underlying disease. Struvite occurs chiefly in basic urine [58]. Cystine crystals predispose to uroliths due to its low solubility in acidic urine. Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals create suspicion of ethylene glycol toxicity. Ammonium biurate or uric acid crystals are suggestive for underlying liver disease, but can be normal in Dalmatians and English Bulldogs [45].
2Department of Animal Reproduction Gynecology and Obstetrics, Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, Joyhing, Assam Agricultural University, North Lakhimpur, Assam, IndiaFind articles by
Urinalysis is the clinical laboratory’s third major diagnostic screening test, only preceded by serum/plasma chemical profiles and complete blood count analysis [1,2]. It is an important check for the occurrence, extent, and length of urinary tract diseases. It can also be useful for physical health, physiological condition, fluid balance, systemic illness, and harmful insults [3,4]. It is the best way to diagnose kidney dysfunction before renal failure happens [5]. Urinalysis includes evaluation of physical characteristics, biochemical parameters, microscopic sediment, and enzyme estimation [6]. Urinary chemical strip, semi-automatic, and automatic urine analyzer specifically for veterinarians are already in place.
Veterinary Procedure – Obtaining a Urine Sample
A urinalysis is a basic diagnostic tool that can provide veterinarians with a significant picture of what’s going on inside the body of pets. A urinalysis is generally one of the tests that are performed during your pet’s wellness check. It is a laboratory procedure that examines the physical and chemical properties of urine. It’s primarily used to evaluate the health of the kidneys and urinary system. The results of a urinalysis can also reveal a problem that may be present in other organ systems. This test is also an important tool in diagnosing metabolic conditions such as diabetes. Continue reading to learn how your vet uses this test to evaluate your pet’s health.
Normally, urine is yellowish and clear or transparent. Any abnormality affecting the urinary system can cause urine to become cloudy, dark, or bloody.
A drop of urine is examined under a microscope for evidence of crystals, mucus, casts, blood cell, and even cancer cells.
This is a laboratory test that evaluates urine concentration. However, it should not be used as a sole diagnostic tool because the concentration of urine can be influenced by your pet’s hydration status and water consumption. The result of the test can be used by your vet to determine other tests that may be necessary to make a diagnosis.