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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Importance of Urinalysis.

Journal:
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
Year:
2019
Authors:
Piech, Tara L & Wycislo, Kathryn L
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Population Medicine · United States

Plain-English summary

A complete urinalysis, which is a test of your pet's urine, is very important for diagnosing health issues in animals. When the results are looked at alongside your pet's medical history, physical exam findings, and other tests, it can help identify problems with the kidneys or other parts of the body. This article explains how each part of the urinalysis works, what the results mean, and some reasons why results might not be accurate. Overall, understanding urinalysis can be a key tool in keeping your pet healthy.

Abstract

A complete urinalysis is an essential diagnostic test to perform in veterinary patients. When interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical history, physical examination findings, and other diagnostic test results, a urine specific gravity, chemical analysis (often via semiquantitative dipstrip testing), and sediment examination are vital to detect both renal and nonrenal disorders. In this article, we describe the usefulness of each component of a urinalysis, the significance of and how to interpret results, and common causes of false-negative and false-positive results.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30591190/