What You Can Learn from a Urine Test for Dogs

This pet health content was written by a veterinarian, Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD. It was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, and was last updated on September 20, 2024

Diagnosing with a Urine Test for Dogs

Stuck in an episode of Veterinary Survivor, I found myself 44 nautical miles south of Cape Disappointment with a sick dog named Spike. My challenge was to choose one laboratory test to diagnose Spike’s condition. What do you think I picked? I chose to run a urine test for dogs—a simple, yet powerful diagnostic tool.

The Importance of Urinalysis in Dogs

The kidney is an amazing organ. A thorough urine test for dogs is like peering through a magical-looking glass into the kidney, offering much more than just basic information. This test provides insights into various metabolic pathways in the body, which can help identify underlying health issues.

• Kidney function: Urine tests offer a snapshot of how well your dog’s kidneys are filtering waste.
• Hydration levels: The color and consistency of the urine can signal dehydration.
• Infections and diseases: Blood or other abnormalities can indicate infections, kidney stones, or more serious conditions.

Observing Your Dog’s Urine: What to Look For

Let’s start with Spike, lifting his leg. Sometimes, just observing your dog’s urine can reveal a lot about their health. Key factors to watch out for include:

• Color: Deep yellow or light yellow could be normal, but greenish, reddish, or even sticky urine may be a sign of an issue.
• Volume: A change in the amount of urine could indicate a problem with kidney function or dehydration.
• Consistency and smell: Sticky or unusually strong-smelling urine may point to infection.

When to Act on Changes in Urine Color

It’s important to note any changes, such as:

• Deep yellow urine: This can mean the urine is concentrated, and your dog may be dehydrated. A urine test for dogs can help confirm this.
• Blood in the urine: If you spot reddish urine, especially when your dog pees in the snow, it could be a sign of a developing health problem.

If you notice any of these signs, don’t hesitate to get that urine sample to the vet! Here are some tips for collecting a sample.

Urine as a Paint-by-Numbers Exercise

Let’s say Spike’s urine looks particularly dark — almost too dark. This could be normal or mean he’s a bit dehydrated.

If it has an orange tinge, it could mean that Spike is beginning to get jaundiced, which could indicate a liver problem. If it appears more red than orange, meaning blood in the urine, we need to finish our analysis.

• Deep yellow to yellow-orange: concentrated urine; bilirubin (liver, gallbladder)
• Greenish: bilirubin
• Red to orange to pink: blood in urine (hematuria)
• Milky white: fat (lipiduria) or pus (pyuria)

For your everyday challenge of keeping your pet healthy, trust your powers of observation. If you think there’s something funky with the urine, have it checked out.

Collecting a Clean Urine Sample from Your Dog

Collecting a clean urine sample is essential for ensuring accurate results in a urine test for dogs. Here are some tips to help you collect a clean sample:

• Collect the sample early in the morning for the most accurate results.
• Use a clean container, and if possible, catch the urine mid-stream to avoid contamination.
• For smaller dogs, use a ladle or shallow dish to collect the urine more easily.
• Make sure to refrigerate the sample if you cannot bring it to the vet right away.
• Ensure the sample is free of debris or contaminants, as this can affect the test’s accuracy.

A clean sample helps ensure your dog’s urine test results are reliable and informative.

Specific Gravity of Urine in Dogs

Testing the specific gravity of urine measures how concentrated the urine is. A urine test for dogs helps assess the following:

• Urine concentration: Is it dilute like water or concentrated?
• Hydration levels: The specific gravity reflects how much water your dog is drinking.
• Kidney function: Indicates how well the kidneys are concentrating water.

Monitoring the specific gravity can help detect:

Kidney processing: How efficiently your dog’s kidneys handle fluid intake can signal illnesses and metabolic conditions.

Thirst: Changes in thirst may indicate underlying health issues.

What the Dipstick Test Can Reveal

The dipstick isn’t a comedy sequel, but a critical part of a urinalysis. During a urine test for dogs, a few drops of urine are placed on a lab strip called a dipstick, and in just 60 seconds, it reveals a wealth of information.

This simple test measures the presence of certain substances in your dog’s urine, including:

• Blood: May indicate infection, inflammation, or tumor
• Glucose: A sign of diabetes (Learn more about diabetic pets)
• Protein: Indicates inflammation or diseases
• pH levels: If abnormal, it can promote urinary infection or bladder stone development (Bladder stone prevention)
• Ketones: Should never be present in a healthy dog
• Bilirubin: May indicate early signs of liver or metabolic disease

For a detailed breakdown of the dipstick analysis, check out this resource.

If your dog’s urine pH is abnormal, it can increase the risk of urinary infections. Find more about urinary infections here.

Urine Sediment in Dogs

When you spin urine in a centrifuge, all the interesting components settle at the bottom of the tube, forming the sediment. Examining urine sediment helps us learn a lot about your dog’s health.

• Cells: A normal urine sample should not contain many cells. If white blood cells, red blood cells, or transitional cells are present, disease is likely.
• Casts: These tube-like structures are castoffs from the renal tubules and may indicate inflammation in the kidneys.
• Crystals: Beautiful structures that may indicate bladder stones or infection, though some crystals can be found in normal urine.

Learn more about a centrifuge.

Tests Beyond a Urine Test for Dogs

In certain cases, specialized tests on urine can provide additional diagnostic value:

• Culture and Sensitivity: If a serious infection is suspected, a urine sample can be cultured to detect bacteria and test for antibiotic sensitivity. This is especially important if the dog has a condition like diabetes.
• Urine Protein: Tracking excessive protein in urine helps monitor disease progression over time and is a noninvasive test.

The Role of Urine Tests in Monitoring Chronic Conditions

A urine test for dogs is not only valuable for diagnosing immediate health concerns but also for monitoring chronic conditions. Over time, urine tests can track changes in your dog’s health, helping detect:

• Changes in kidney function and hydration levels.
• Early signs of chronic kidney disease or diabetes.
• The effectiveness of ongoing treatments or medications.
• Potential complications arising from long-term health issues, such as infections or bladder stones.

By regularly testing your dog’s urine, your vet can closely monitor their health and make adjustments to treatments as needed.

Why Urine Tests for Dogs Are Vital

If your vet is urging you to bring in a urine sample, it’s because a urine test for dogs plays a crucial role in identifying health issues early on. Bring in a urine sample to ensure your dog gets the right diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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