There are many reasons that you might need to collect a urine sample from your dog.
We won’t understand and will think you’re strange, but you gotta do what you got to do. Urine samples will help the vets to understand what potential health issues we have.
You will likely be asked by the vet to collect urine samples if you notice strange behavior, changes in peeing frequency, or blood in our pee. These are often a result of an endocrine disease, such as thyroid issues and diabetes.
The best time to collect a urine sample is first thing in the morning. This is because the urine will be the most concentrated that it gets as it has been resting in the bladder all night.
Whatever container you choose to collect the urine in should be thoroughly washed and sterilized before use. This is because the sample can be contaminated and produce false results if it is not sufficiently cleaned
How do you get a urine sample from a female dog?
You will need to get a container to collect the urine in. It is often easier to collect it initially in a container with a large opening, as we are not the best at aim. My human always uses a Tupperware box or an old pie dish.
If you follow us around while we are waiting to pee, it’s unlikely that we will go. It’s stage fright, you know? Just stand back, give us some space and privacy. Eventually, we will need to pee and you will be able to spring into action.
Maybe spring was the wrong word. You should calmly approach your dog as she begins to squat down and slide the container underneath her. There is a chance this will spook her and you will need to repeat this process a few times for it to be successful.
Transfer the collected urine to the sample tube given by the vet, or to a sealable container. Vets like fresh urine for testing, ideally no more than 4 hours old. That being said, our urine will keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
How do you get a urine sample from a male dog?
The process is the same as for a female dog. The only difference is that boys lift their legs to pee rather than delicately squatting like us girls.
You should be aware of which leg he likes to lift and try to position your container in the right position.
How do you get a urine sample from a pee pad?
If you have a young puppy that is being housetrained, you are likely to be using puppy pee pads. My human used them for me when I was little, they’re super easy to use and very convenient.
If your dog is not yet peeing outside it can be difficult to collect a urine sample from them without making a mess. Fortunately, it is really easy to collect urine from a pee pad.
All you need to do is get a clean syringe without a needle. Place the tip on the soaked area of the pee pad and pull back on the syringe plunger. This will suck up any liquid from the pee pad and is highly convenient for transportation.
How does a vet get a urine sample?
One of the procedures vets perform is known as cystocentesis, or cysto. This is where they carry out an ultrasound on us like we are pregnant. This will be done to find our bladder.
Once the vet has found it, they insert a small needle into the bladder and extract a sterile urine sample. This is more commonly performed on female dogs.
For male dogs, the vet is likely to run a soft and sterile catheter up the urethra. This is a flexible plastic tube that will travel up the urinary duct and into the dog’s bladder.
If the vet suspects a urinary obstruction, or if the make has not been neutered, this is often a good method to use. It is not impossible to perform this procedure on female dogs, but it is far less common.
How much dog urine is needed for a sample?
Vets do not often need too much of our urine to test. Usually, a tablespoon or two will be sufficient.
In exceptional cases, you may need to collect more than this, but your veterinarian will advise you if this is the case.
What is a dirty catch urine sample?
This is referring to the urine samples not collected through cystocentesis. The urine gets dirty as it travels through your dog’s urethra and out of their body.
It can also get contaminated by the ground, the external environment, and your dog’s fur.
How much does a urine test cost for a dog?
There are a few steps to urinalysis. During this process the urine is placed in a centrifuge and spun around to separate the solids and liquids.
The solids are referred to as sediment and are what will be examined underneath a microscope. The vet will check for the presence of specific bacteria, cells, and crystals.
The sample is also chemically analyzed to check for the presence of proteins and the specific gravity (concentration) of the urine. This is likely to cost somewhere between $20 and $150.
Performing a culture and sensitivity test is likely to cost somewhere in the region of $25 to $100. This is commonly done when the vet notices the presence of white blood cells in the urine.
They will also be ordered if bacteria is found in the sediment, or if there is an excessive amount of protein which indicates inflammation in the bladder. This could also be indicative of the kidneys excreting protein.
It may also be ordered if the urine sample is overly diluted. This could mean that white blood cells and bacteria cannot be noticed, and is likely indicative of overhydration.
