Vet‑Approved 2025 Guide: Urinalysis for Cats & Dogs – Detection, Procedure & Home Care 🐶🐱💉 

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Urinalysis is a simple yet powerful diagnostic tool that veterinarians use to assess health, especially for the urinary system, kidney function, endocrine disease, and systemic disorders. In our 2025 vet-approved guide, I’ll walk you through why urinalysis matters, how it’s done, what results mean, potential risks, and costs, and how you can prepare and support your pet with calm and care tools from Ask A Vet. 🐶🐱🔬

🔍 Why Is Urinalysis Important?

A urinalysis provides insights about hydration status, kidney concentrating ability, urinary tract infection, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, liver dysfunction, crystals, and more. It’s part of every routine medical work‑up and is especially vital when pets show signs like:

• Straining to urinate or frequent urination
• Blood, smell changes, or discoloration in urine
• Excessive thirst or urination
• Incontinence or lack of urination
• Chronic disease monitoring (kidney, endocrine, liver)

📥 How We Collect Urine Samples

Three methods are commonly used, each with pros and cons:

• Free‑catch (mid‑stream): Convenient and non-invasive; may be contaminated with debris.
• Catheterization: Sterile collection via urethral catheter; may irritate the urethra.
• Cystocentesis: Direct bladder puncture; cleanest sample but slightly invasive.

For bacterial culture and infection testing, cystocentesis is preferred.

🔬 What Happens in the Urinalysis Lab?

Urine is evaluated in four key areas:

1. Appearance: Color, clarity, and odor (cloudiness may indicate cells, crystals, or infection; dark color could mean dehydration).
2. Specific gravity: Measures concentration (dog normal range ~1.015–1.075, cat ~1.001–1.085).
3. Chemical dipstick: Detects protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, blood—top indicators of metabolic disease.
4. Sediment microscopy: Cell counts, casts, bacteria, crystals; critical for diagnosing infection or stones.

Often paired with urine culture (infection) or UPC ratio (protein loss), depending on findings.

🧾 What Results Mean

• High specific gravity: Dehydration or stress.
• Low specific gravity: Kidney or endocrine disorders like diabetes, Cushing’s.
• Proteinuria: Suggests kidney issues, infection, or stones—UPC testing may follow.
• Glucosuria/Ketonuria: Indicates diabetes or metabolic issues.
• Hematuria or dipstick blood: May come from infection, stones, trauma—microscopy shows RBCs.
• Crystals: Often harmless but could form stones—struvite (alkaline), oxalate, cystine (breed-related).
• WBCs/Bacteriuria: Indicates UTI; culture guides antibiotic choice.
• Casts: Kidney damage indications—hyaline, granular, WBC/RBC casts.
• Abnormal pH: Suggested underlying disease—UTI, stones.

⚠️ Risks & Limitations

• Cystocentesis can cause discomfort or mild bleeding.
• Poor collection or processing delays—cells die, crystals form, affects accuracy.
• Dipstick errors and contaminations are possible—expert interpretation required.

💰 Cost & Preparation

Cost averages $80–150, depending on methods and add-ons (culture, UPC). Insurance may cover part. At-home prep includes:

• Collect first-morning mid-stream sample—don’t let the pet empty its bladder beforehand.
• Provide a clean container from the vet, refrigerate if delayed, and analyze within 12 hrs.
• Follow vet instructions on fasting or meds.

🔍 When Vets Recommend a Urinalysis

It’s often done for:

• Annual senior screening, especially for pets 8 + years.
• Symptoms like increased thirst, urination, accidents, or blood in the urine.
• Managing diabetes, Cushing’s, kidney, or liver disease.
• Monitoring crystals or stones—diet or meds may follow.

🛠️ How Owners Can Support

• Ask A Vet: Quick virtual consults to review results and next steps.

🚨 When to Call Your Vet

• Straining to urinate or inability to urinate
• Visible blood in urine or severe odor
• Frequent accidents or house soiling
• Excessive drinking or urinating
• General lethargy, fever, or poor appetite

🏁 Final Thoughts

Urinalysis is a cornerstone of veterinary diagnostics—quick, affordable, and loaded with health insights. In 2025, advances in collection methods and interpretive tools make this test more accurate and accessible than ever. With supportive tools from Ask A Vet, pet owners can confidently participate in their animal’s care journey. Your pet's urine offers a window to their health—don’t close it! 🐾❤️

Need personalized help or want to discuss results? Visit Ask A Vet or use the app for expert advice anytime. 🩺✨