Having your pet's stool sample tested is common. When visiting your veterinarian for a yearly examination and vaccinations, it is routine to bring a sample of stool to check for intestinal parasites. But what about other important diagnostic tests? It is likely that when you go to your doctor, one of the more common tests you receive is a urine screening. Why is it so important?
Urine analysis testing is one of the more common forgotten and inexpensive, yet extremely useful diagnostic tests that should be done on an annual basis. The urinalysis is an essential part of a health profile because it provides information about the kidneys and bladder, as well as other vital organs. Interpreting both blood and urine results together allows for verification of normal or abnormal results.
Our urinalysis evaluates for the following:
- Urine concentration (this helps evaluate the kidney function)
- Urine pH
- Presence of crystals
- Presence of bacteria
- Cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, kidney cells, other abnormal cells)
- Glucose
- Protein
- Ketones
- Bilirubin
The results are useful in a variety of situations and not limited to those
directly involving the urinary tract. Because the analysis of both urine and blood support each other, complete
interpretation of results is most accurate when they are assessed together.
One example of how urine can be useful in a seemingly
“healthy” pet is with diabetes. Your pet
may not show any outward signs of disease but based on chemical analysis of the
urine, your veterinarian will be able to diagnosis diabetes before it becomes life
threatening.
Talk with your veterinarian today about keeping your pet healthy with diagnostic screenings. When caught early, disease and illness is less expensive to treat and far more successful!
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