The pH of urine refers to the level of acidity or alkalinity in the urine. The significance of urine pH in pet cats, dogs, and other animals can vary depending on several factors, such as diet and health conditions. Urobilinogen is formed from the reduction of bilirubin, which is a yellowish substance found in the liver that helps break down red blood cells. Elevated levels of urobilinogen in the urine of cats and dogs can indicate various conditions, including liver disease, hemolytic anemia, and some forms of bacterial infections. Protein Urobilinogen. The presence of urobilinogen in urine indicates that the bile duct is open, and that bile can flow from the gall bladder into theintestine. A negative urobilinogen result has no interpretation and does not mean the bile duct is obstructed. Examination at high power (40×) enables the examiner to evaluate cell number and morphology, and identify casts and crystals. Each of these elements may be counted by averaging the number of elements in 10 fields. The cells, casts, and crystals are reported as the average number per high-power field (HPF) or low-power field (LPF). Cells Urinary casts are cylindrical molds formed in the lumens of the renal tubules. They are primarily composed of a mucoprotein secreted by renal tubule cells. Concentrated urine, decreased urine flow, and acidic urine favor the formation of casts.

BILIRUBIN REAGENT PADS may be unreliable as screening tests in dogs because of a high percentage of false-positive and false-negative results in this species. In contrast, positive bilirubin test results in cats are usually indicative of some underlying disease. Urine Specific Gravity (USG) measures the concentration of all chemical particles in the urine. It determines the body’s hydration levels and the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. The occurrence of nitrites in the urine of cats and dogs usually indicates a bacterial urinary tract infection. Nitrites are formed in the urine when bacteria convert nitrate to nitrite as part of their metabolic process. Urine pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the urine is. The pH can change with diet, but can also signal the presence of infection or metabolic disease. Normal urine in cats and dogs ranges from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. Extremes in urine pH beyond this range are more likely to be associated with disease.Specific gravity compares the density of urine to water. This helps to determine how well the kidneys are diluting urine. Diluted urine (1.00 SG) may diagnose a condition called diabetes insipidus. Concentrated urine (+1.03 SG) may mean that the kidneys aren’t functioning properly. Compare the reaction colour with the colour scale after 30-60 seconds (leukocyte test field after 60-120 seconds). The best reading time is at 30 seconds (leukocytes at 90 seconds). Colour changes which occur after 2 minutes time, are irrelevant and should be ignored. The urine sample should not be older than 2 hours.

A Hygiecatch urine collection device with a patented formulated scent to attract the dog and encourage urination TIP: Evaluate urine sediment and/or bacterial cultures to rule in or rule-out bacterial urinary tract infections.

The Urinalysis

The test determines values from 0,5 to 1 mg/dl urine. The colour fields correspond to the following concentrations of bilirubin: 0 (negative), 1(+), 2(++), 4(+++) mg/dL, respectively, 0 (negative), 17(+), 35(++), 70(+++) μmol/l. b. Has an inflammatory process somewhere along the genitourinary tract caused by bacterial infection. Occasionally the blood test pad will show positive for blood when there is muscle inflammation or injury. This is because damaged muscle fibers release a protein called myoglobin, which is very similar to hemoglobin. Myoglobin will also cause the blood test pad to show positive, even though there is no actual bleeding in the urinary system. A specific test for myoglobin can be done if muscle injury is suspected. It may help to think of urine specific gravity as the density of the urine. A healthy kidney should produce dense (concentrated) urine, while watery (dilute) urine may signal underlying disease.

a. The results do not permit differentiation between bacterial infection as a cause or complication of urinary tract infection. Most bacterial urinary-tract infections develop secondary to abnormalities in host defense mechanisms.

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

A ketoacidosis can also be caused through ß-hydroxy butyrate, which however, is not determined by the test strip. High concentrations of phenyl ketones interfere, altering the colour reaction. Phthalein compounds produce red colour tones on the test field. The urine sample is best read within 30 minutes of collection otherwise certain factors (like crystals, bacteria and cells) may alter their composition (dissolve or multiply) over time. If you collect a urine sample at home, please drop it off at your veterinary clinic as soon as possible. At Animal Medical Center of Chicago, we always recommend that a professional staff member collect your pet’s urine sample at our clinic where it can be collected in a sterile manner and immediately analyzed.