FrançaisWhat a urinalysis includes
A urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) and a urine culture are separate tests, often added when the urinalysis raises a question.
| Part | What it measures | Example lines |
|---|---|---|
| Specific gravity | How concentrated the urine is, a reflection of kidney function [1]. | USG, SG |
| Dipstick | Protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, blood (heme) and pH [2]. | PRO, GLU, KET, BIL, BLD, pH |
| Sediment | White and red cells, epithelial cells, crystals, casts and bacteria seen under the microscope [3, 4]. | WBC/HPF, RBC/HPF, crystals |
How the urine was collected matters
- Free catch (voided). Easy and painless, but it can contain cells and bacteria from the genital tract and skin; squamous cells are common contaminants [3].
- Cystocentesis. A fine needle into the bladder. It avoids contamination, which is why the ISCAID guidelines prefer it for urine culture [5]. It can add a few red cells to the sample [3].
- Timing. Urine should be examined soon after collection: cells break down and crystals form when it waits. If there is a delay, it should be refrigerated and brought back to room temperature before testing [6].
How to read the specific gravity line
Here is an example line from a dog whose creatinine is high.
- Abbreviation USG or SG, measured with a refractometer [1].
- Result 1.014: denser than water (1.000) but poorly concentrated.
- Unit Specific gravity has no unit.
- Laboratory interval There is no fixed interval. In a dog with high BUN or creatinine, Cornell considers above 1.030 an adequate concentration (above 1.040 in a cat) [1].
- Flag Too dilute for a dog with high kidney values: this points to a kidney cause rather than dehydration alone [1].
Urine specific gravity in dogs and cats
| Species | Possible values | Typical values | Adequate concentration if BUN or creatinine is high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | 1.001–1.065 | 1.015–1.045 | above 1.030 |
| Cat | 1.001–1.085 | 1.035–1.060 | above 1.040 |
A fixed value between 1.008 and 1.012 (isosthenuria) means the kidneys neither concentrate nor dilute the urine. The kidneys lose their concentrating ability when about two thirds of their filtering units are lost, before BUN and creatinine rise [1].
The dipstick lines
- Protein: always read with the specific gravity; trace protein in very concentrated urine can be normal, but not in dilute urine. A positive result is usually followed by a UPC. See protein in urine [2].
- Glucose: appears when blood glucose exceeds the kidney threshold, about 180–200 mg/dL in dogs and 280–290 mg/dL in cats [7]. See blood sugar in dogs.
- Bilirubin: small amounts can be normal in concentrated dog urine, but not in cats [2].
- Blood (heme): positive with red cells, hemoglobin or myoglobin; the sediment tells them apart [2, 3].
- Leukocyte pad: considered inaccurate in dogs and cats; white cells are counted in the sediment instead [2].
The sediment: cells and crystals
- White cells: fewer than 5 per high-power field (HPF) is commonly accepted as normal. More (pyuria) indicates inflammation somewhere along the urinary or genital tract [3].
- Red cells: up to 5/HPF is generally acceptable, depending on the collection method. Cystocentesis can add microscopic blood [3].
- Crystals: can be seen in healthy animals. They also form in the tube when urine cools or waits, so their meaning depends on a fresh sample [4, 6].
- Bacteria: a urine culture, ideally from a cystocentesis sample, is used to confirm a bacterial infection [5].
Results often read with the urinalysis
En français : l’analyse d’urine du chien et du chat.
White cells and bacteria in the urine: see urinary tract infections in dogs and cats.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
- How was the urine collected, and how long did it wait before analysis?
- Is the specific gravity appropriate for my pet’s kidney values?
- Does the protein result need a UPC?
- Do the white cells or bacteria justify a urine culture?
- Should the test be repeated on a fresh morning sample?
Get the urinalysis explained together with the blood work.
AI DiagAnimals reads specific gravity, the dipstick, the sediment and the kidney values together, using your laboratory’s intervals, and prepares the questions for your vet. The service opens soon: leave your email to be told first.
Frequently asked questions
What will a urinalysis show in a dog or cat?
How well the kidneys concentrate urine, protein, sugar, ketones, bilirubin, blood, inflammation, crystals and sometimes bacteria. It is interpreted with the blood work [6].
What is cystocentesis?
Collecting urine with a fine needle passed through the belly wall into the bladder. It avoids contamination from the genital tract and is preferred for urine culture [3, 5].
What urinalysis results suggest a urinary tract infection?
Many white cells, sometimes red cells and bacteria in the sediment. A urine culture, ideally from a cystocentesis sample, confirms a bacterial infection [3, 5].
What is a normal urine specific gravity for a dog?
It varies with what the dog drinks, usually between 1.015 and 1.045. In a dog with high kidney values, above 1.030 shows the kidneys still concentrate [1].
Sources
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Concentrating ability: urine specific gravity. eclinpath.com/urinalysis/concentrating-ability
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Chemical constituents. eclinpath.com/urinalysis/chemical-constituents
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Cellular constituents. eclinpath.com/urinalysis/cellular-constituents
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Crystals. eclinpath.com/urinalysis/crystals
- Weese JS et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Urinalysis overview. eclinpath.com/urinalysis/overview
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Glucose. eclinpath.com/chemistry/energy-metabolism/glucose
Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.