Simple tips on how to collect urine samples from dogs

It’s important that vet checkups become a regular part of your dog’s wellness routine and know what to expect. In addition to the blood panel, your veterinarian may also want to test your dog’s urine — and may even ask you to collect it at home. You may be wondering how to take a urine sample from a dog, after all, it’s a bit more complicated than that. collect a stool sample.

Why is urine sampling so important? Urine samples provide your veterinarian with a wealth of information, including kidney function, white and red blood cells, bacteria, and protein levels.

Dr. Shannon Barrett, who is on duty at home in Charleston, to see the vet due to urinary problems. Veterinariansand the owner ofFeet facing down Suggest collecting a sample before your visit. While your vet may take an extra sterile sample, it’s important to have one ready, as your dog may not have to go at the critical time.

The steps involved in collecting a urine sample depend a bit on your dog, which we will cover below, but the basics include making sure you have a sterile container, collecting the sample at the right time of day that you practice or have a backup and you consider hiring a friend or partner to assist you in the process.

Without any further advice, learn what it takes to get a good dog urine sample with the help and guidance of Dr. Barrett. Continue reading!

Take a urine sample from your dog

Unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian, first thing in the morning, before your dog eats, is the best time to collect a urine sample. “Your dog slept all night and hopefully didn’t pee during the evening. The first morning urine is therefore the most concentrated. This will give us the best information about their urine,” said Dr. Barrett, who notes that the higher the concentration, the easier it is to look for bacteria. “Trying to find bacteria in a bathtub (concentrated urine) is much easier than trying to find an Olympic-sized pool (thin urine). The more concentrated the urine, the more likely we are to find bacteria if it is present.”

You can get a sterilized urine cup from your vet or buy it yourself. If using a ladle (more info below) or other such device to help collect urine, Dr. Barrett says make sure to run it through the dishwasher and let it air dry first.

“If you can’t get it to the vet within 30 minutes, put it in the fridge until you can. “We want a sample taken on the same day,” said Dr. Barrett, explaining that samples left too long run the risk of bacteria dying or possibly becoming susceptible to crystal formation. In other words, go to the vet with your sample as soon as possible.

Steps

Barrett recommends the following steps and tips to help you collect a good, usable sample from your dog:

1. Make sure you have a clean container, preferably a sterile vet urinal cup. “Small dogs, especially bitches, tend to squat to the ground very low,” says Dr. Barrett. “In these cases, it can be helpful to stick a stick in the urinal so you don’t have to bend over to get it.” You can also use the ladles for small dogs as long as they have been dishwasher-safe and air-dried before use.

2. Plan to collect your dog’s first urine sample of the day in the morning. “However, there are some diseases that your veterinarian may want you to collect at a different time, so check this out before collecting,” Dr. Barrett says.

3. Find safe ways to keep your dog close to you while taking their samples outside, such as keeping them on a harness and leash.
4. Place a urine cup, container, or dipper underneath your dog to catch their urine stream. As noted above, this can be more difficult with bitches and small dogs. It can take more than one try, which is why Dr. Barrett recommends having more than one cup ready, or even doing several test runs before taking an official sample.
5. Once you have the sample in your container, make sure it is free of dirt and debris so as not to contaminate the sample. Get to your vet as soon as possible, or keep the sample in the fridge for later same day delivery.

6. If you find the above difficult, Dr. Barrett recommends asking a friend for help. “It helps if you ask a friend to hold the leash while you are taking a urine sample. As we all know, dogs pee pretty quickly and many dogs get fussy when you introduce something new while they’re peeing. “

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What are some other ways a urine sample can be obtained?

There are cases where a urine sample must be obtained at the veterinarian’s office, rather than at home. Two common examples, which must be performed by a veterinarian, are cystoscopy and urinary catheterization.

Cystocentesis

“If we’re concerned that your pet has an infection that won’t show up on a standard urinalysis, we may want to submit a test called a urinalysis,” Dr. Barrett says.

To collect the sample, a needle is used – to ensure the procedure is sterile – to collect urine directly from the bladder.

Catheterization

Certain situations require catheterization to collect samples. Using this method, a speculum is used to place a catheter into the urethra to collect urine.

The most common reason to use a catheter for sampling is if blood is found in the urine and the source must be identified. Dr Barrett said: “In this situation, we would avoid using needles, because there is a chance that we could inadvertently contaminate the sample with blood during collection. “This way [catheterization]We know that any blood in the urine comes out of the bladder. “

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What is a urinalysis and what can it reveal about my dog?

Urinalysis sounds like it: analyzing a dog’s urine, and it can reveal a lot about a dog’s health. As Dr. Barrett explains; “We are looking at the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. This is called ‘urine specific gravity.’ The higher the number, the more concentrated the urine.” The readings should usually be in the position healthy range; Numbers above this may indicate that not enough water is passing through the kidneys or dehydration, while a lower score may indicate that the dog’s kidneys are not filtering out the right amount of waste.

Your veterinarian will also look for things like white and red blood cells, bacteria, and proteins to determine if there are any signs of infection, kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and potential health problems. other hidden or not. Urine samples are also often tested senior dog or anesthetize the dog first get an activity.

But how is a urinalysis done after your vet or lab receives the sample? “We use a special strip of paper called a urine dipstick,” says Dr. Barrett. “The dipstick contains several different color palettes that measure the pH of the urine, the amount of blood, and the amount of white blood cells in the urine. The color chart will also indicate the presence of protein in the urine. “

In addition to the color readings on the dipstick, Dr. Barrett explains that urine is also spun in a centrifuge to create a microscopic readable sediment. Bacteria, white blood cells, and red blood cells are then quantified.

Possible signs your vet may look for in your dog’s urine include:

• PH
• The protein
• Glucose sugar
• Ketones
• Bacteria
• White blood cells
• Red blood cells

“The information found in a dog’s urine sample can be very helpful in diagnosing a number of conditions,” says Dr. Barrett. For example, urinalysis can help narrow down the cause of inappropriate urination, identify a urinary tract infection, detect diabetes if glucose levels are high, or indicate kidney disease due to high protein intake.

Take it

The bottom line is that it’s important to take your dog to the vet and perform a routine urinalysis to make sure your dog is healthy and to rule out certain illnesses.

“We recommend routine blood tests on dogs at least once a year and this includes urinalysis,” Dr. Barrett said. “As dogs become ‘adult’, we recommend having blood tests and urinalysis every 6 months.” Dr Barrett says dogs with a history of bladder stones may need a water analysis. urinating every 1-2 months.

Don’t forget that when taking your dog to the vet for routine checkups and tests, it’s important to get your dog’s urine the morning before the vet so it can be tested along with the dog’s blood.

For the most part, collecting urine for urinalysis is a non-invasive method that can reveal important information about your dog’s health. As Dr. Barrett said, “Who wouldn’t want that?”

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