What happens if your veterinarian asks you to collect a urine sample from your pet? Instantly, you are thinking, “How am I going to do this?”
Anytime your pet is urinating inappropriately we will ask for a urine sample. Here are some step by step instructions on how to collect urine from your dog.
- Have a clean container to collect the urine. It does not need to be sterilized, just cleaned and make sure it has a tight lid.
- Place your dog on a short leash.
- Take your dog outside and just before they do their business put the container underneath them to catch the urine. This may take a couple of tries because your dog is going to wonder what you are doing. This is a much easier task if you have a male dog that lifts its leg. If you have a female dog that squats to urinate a soup ladle is a handy tool! Just make sure it is not used for soup again!
- Once you have collected the urine, the best option is to bring the sample in right away. If you are unable to bring it in, keep the urine sample in the fridge in a well-marked container. Urine is no good to us if it is more than 6 hours old. First morning collection is the best sample.
If you have a cat that is urinating inappropriately the best way to collect a urine sample is to purchase kit-4-cat litter from us. This litter is non-absorbent, so when your cat urinates in its litter box you will be able to collect the urine using a syringe or simply pour the urine into a container.
If you are not able to collect a urine sample from your dog or cat we can perform a cystocentesis. This procedure requires your animal to lie on a padded trough and with the use of the ultrasound, the veterinarian will locate the bladder. Next, the veterinarian will use a needle to collect a sterile urine sample. This may sound really scary however most animals handle this procedure very well.
When you bring the urine sample into Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital we will ask you how you collected it and at what time. The urine sample is analyzed (urinalysis) through our lab machines and we will have the results within 15 minutes.
A urinalysis is a very important diagnostic tool. It can identify many types of diseases such as a bladder infection, diabetes, kidney disease and so much more. If your dog or cat is urinating inappropriately please contact Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital and we would be happy to help you.
Written by Trina, Office Manager
