Urinalysis

1. Urinalysis

2. Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource Standards Addressed • AS.07.01. Design programs to prevent animal diseases, parasites and other disorders and ensure animal welfare. • AS.07.01.01.a. Identify and summarize specific tools and technology used in animal health management. • AS.07.01.02.a. Explain methods of determining animal health and disorders.

3. Urinalysis provides information about how the kidneys are functioning and if wastes are being properly filtered from the body

4. Specimen Collection • Free Catch – the simplest method of collecting urine

5. Specimen Collection • Free Catch – Samples from dogs can be caught with a pan or soup ladle.

6. Specimen Collection • Free Catch – Use a metal pie plate for females.

7. Specimen Collection • Free Catch – To collect from a cat, replace the cat litter with a shredded plastic bag or plastic pellets.

8. Specimen Collection 2. Manual Expression – involves palpating the bladder through the abdomen then applying pressure to it to encourage urination.

9. Specimen Collection 2. Manual Expression – mainly used for animals that are unable to urinate on their own due to an injury or illness.

10. Specimen Collection 2. Manual Expression – Animals with obstructions should never be manually expressed.

11. Specimen Collection 3. Catheterization – performed by inserting a plastic, or rubber catheter through the urethra into the bladder.

12. Specimen Collection 3. Catheterization - The size and type of catheter used depends on the sex and species of animal.

13. Specimen Collection 3. Catheterization - performed aseptically to prevent infection and is used in emergencies and for immobile animals that need long-term care.

14. Specimen Collection 4. Cystocentesis – performed by inserting a needle through the abdomen into the bladder.

15. Specimen Collection 4. Cystocentesis – Aseptic technique is used to prevent infection.

16. Specimen Collection 4. Cystocentesis – performed to obtain a pure urine sample or to relieve bladder pressure on an obstructed animal.

17. Evaluation should occur within 30 minutes of collection, however samples can be refrigerated overnight if necessary

18. Evaluation Refrigerated samples should be brought to room temperature before they are evaluated.

19. Evaluation Color - In most species urine is a pale yellow to amber color.

20. Evaluation Color - correlates to specific gravity. • lighter colored urine = lower specific gravity

21. Evaluation Color - correlates to specific gravity. • darker colored urine = higher specific gravity

22. Evaluation Color - correlates to specific gravity. • red urine = hematuria (red blood cells in urine)

23. Evaluation Color - correlates to specific gravity. • yellowish-brown foamy urine = presences of bile pigments

24. Evaluation Color - Some species, like the rabbit, have urine that is normally a darker orange to reddish-brown.

25. Evaluation Transparency clear, cloudy, or flocculent

26. Evaluation Transparency • clear, fresh urine is normal for most species

27. Evaluation Transparency • cloudy urine indicates the presence of cells, bacteria, crystals, or fats, but in the horse, rabbit and hamster cloudy urine is normal

28. Evaluation Transparency • flocculent describes urine that has pieces of floating debris in it caused by the presence of cells, fats, or mucus

29. Evaluation Specific Gravity - measures the concentration or density of urine compared to distilled water.

30. Evaluation - Three ways to measure sg. 1. Refractometer - refracts light through urine and measures density by comparing it to the amount of light that will pass through distilled water.

31. Evaluation - Three ways to measure sg. 1. Refractometer is also used to measure total plasma protein

32. Evaluation - Three ways to measure sg. 2. Urinometer - a bulb is floated in a cylinder filled with urine.

33. Evaluation - Three ways to measure sg. 2. Urinometer - specific gravity is read off a scale attached to the bulb

34. Evaluation - Three ways to measure sg. 2. Urinometer - requires a larger sample than the other methods

35. Evaluation - Three ways to measure sg. 3. Reagent strips - contain a chemical pad that changes color when dipped into urine

36. Evaluation - Three ways to measure sg. 3. Reagent strips - the color change is read using a scale on the reagent container

37. Average Specific Gravity Dog 1.025 Cat 1.030 Horse 1.035 Cattle 1.015 Swine 1.015 Sheep 1.030

38. Specific Gravity An increased sg could indicate dehydration, decreased water intake, acute renal disease, or shock.

39. Specific Gravity A decreased sg could indicate increased water intake, chronic renal disease, or other diseases.

40. Specific Gravity A decreased sg could indicate increased water intake, chronic renal disease, or other diseases.

41. Chemistry The chemical components evaluated in urine are: • ketones • bile • blood • pH • protein • glucose • yeast • sperm

42. Chemistry performed using reagent strips

43. Chemistry The chemical components provide information used to diagnose problems such as diabetes, renal failure, liver infections, muscle disease, inflammation of the urinary tract, and ketosis.

44. Sediment Provides information on the types and numbers of cells present.

45. Sediment Cells commonly seen are: • RBC’s • WBC’s • Epithelial cells

46. Sediment All of these cells are normal in small amounts; large amounts indicate disease or infection.

47. Sediment Excess RBC’s indicate hemorrhaging of the urinary tract.

48. Sediment Excess WBC’s indicate inflammation of the urinary tract.

49. Sediment Epithelial cells are sloughed from the urinary tract as they wear out, but trauma to the urinary tract will also cause sloughing.

50. Sediment Other components - bacteria - crystals - casts