A Sample for the Veterinarian
A dog can add a whole lot of fun and joy to your life. However, as a responsible dog owner, there will always be a few not so pleasant things you need to do for your dog’s benefit. For example, your veterinarian may ask you to bring a “sample” of your dog’s output to your next visit. What’s that about, anyway?
A urine sample is helpful for detecting early signs of disease or identifying the cause of illness. Urine samples should be taken once a year, or more often if a problem exists or is suspected. Your veterinarian will check the sample for a variety of things like bacteria and crystals.
If bacteria is found, this might mean that your dog has a urinary tract infection, or UTI. A UTI is one of the most common reasons for housetraining accidents by a previously trained dog. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for this type of infection.
Crystals form in the urine whenever minerals bind together. Crystals can be painful and may even require surgical removal, so early detection of the problem can prevent serious complications for your dog. There are several different types of crystals, and these are frequently treated with special prescription diets.
How do you get a urine sample from your dog? You need a clean (though not necessarily sterile) plastic container. You may find it easiest to tape the container to the end of a yard stick. While your dog is doing his business, get the container underneath his urine stream. To get a sample from smaller breeds, a disposable pie plate can be slid underneath the dog. Although your dog may look at you like you’ve lost your mind, you can usually get a decent sample of urine with one or two tries. The vet will want as fresh a sample as possible. If you will not be taking the sample to the vet right away, keep it refrigerated.
