Urinalysis in small animals Flashcards
How soon should a sample preferably be looked at after collection?
One hour post collection
If it is not possible to look at a sample immediately, what should be done before using it for urinalysis?
Refrigerate, then warm up to room temperature
What should you check on a macroscopic exam of urine?
1.
2.
3.
Colour, odour, transparency
What are you looking for microscopically when you examine a urine sample? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Sediment, tubular casts, epithelial cells, bacteria
How would you go about examining urine sediment? (5 steps)
Spinning the sample, remove the liquid portion, stain the sediment and re-suspend, take a drop of the sediment and look at under slide
Crystalluria are normal to see, true or false?
True, the presence of crystalluria does not indicate the presence or predisposition to the formation of urinary calculi
What increases the liklihood that crystalluria will form in a sample?
Being examined at a cold temperature or prolonged storage
What are renal tubular casts?
Plugs of proteinaceous mucoprotein that accumulate in the distal portion of the renal tubule
The presence of renal casts in low number indicates renal tubular disease, true or false?
False, low numbers can be normal, but there an increase in numbers relates to tubular disease
Is it normal to see small numbers of epithelial cells on a urinalysis slide, true or false?
True
Where are transitional cells found in the urinary tract?
Renal pelvis, ureter, bladder and proximal 2/3 of ureter
The lack of bacteria on a slide rules out a UTI, true or false?
False
If bacteria is present in a slide, it can only be from the urinary tract, true or false?
False, it can be from contamination of sample handling.
How would you obtain a urine sample for culture and sensitivity?
Cystocentesis
What container would you use to hold urine in before sending a sample off to the lab?
Boric acid container
Name the three main tests that can be done on chemical examination of urine:
1.
2.
3.
Dipstick test
USG
pH
What is the normal USG?
1.008-1.012
Indications for urinalysis include: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Animals presenting with signs of renal disease
Animals with UTI
Animals with many medical problems with multi-systemic signs
Part of a geriatric or pre-anesthetic screen
Name the three methods of urine collection:
1.
2.
3.
Micturition
Cystocentesis
Catheterisation
How can urine be collected using micturiation?
1.
2.
Naturally voided into a litter tray with inert beads or collected by holding a tray underneath
Manual expression of the bladder
Why does care need to be taken during manual expression of the bladder?
Prevent iatrogenic damage to the bladder that can cause haematuria which can give innaccurate results in urinalysis.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using micturition to get a urine sample?
Adv:
Easy generally if dog voids themselves and can be left to owner, non-traumatic
Dis:
Risk of non-compliance and resentment, especially with manual expression
Risk of iatrogenic damage to the bladder, variable volume expelled, high risk of sample contamination meaning it will be unsuitable for culture
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using cystocentesis to obtain a urine sample?
Adv:
Quick, no need to wait for spontaneous urination, aseptic collection with no urethral contamination so ideal for culture, easy to perform, lower risk of iatrogenic haematuria c.f. catherisation, can also be used to decompress a severely distended bladder
Dis:
Requires experience
Need moderatly full bladder to obtain decent sample, possibility of iatrogenic micro/macroscopic haemorrhage
What are the contraindications for cystocentesis?
If the animal has a severely disease bladder that is at a high risk of rupturing, if the animal has clotting problems
What are the problems associated with inserting a catheter in the female cat and dog?
Visualisation is difficult in the bitch and insertion is blind in the queen
What are the advantages of catheterisation?
No need to wait for spontaneous micturition, relatively free of bacterial contamination, usually an ample sample volume
What are the disadvantages of catherisation?
Some experience is required to catheterise the bitch, risk of iatrogenic infections, haematuria and mucosal damage, cost of equipment and catheters
Sampling urine first thing in the morning or after fasting would give the highest yield of cells, casts and bacteria, true or false?
True
A very concentrated sample taken early morning or after fasting is useful for evaluating concentrating ability, true or false?
True
Glucosuria is more obvious in an early morning sample than a post prandial sample, true or false?
False, more obvious in post prandial sample
Cells are altered in a sample taken early morning due to prolonged exposure to variations in pH and osmolarity, true or false?
True
Post prandial samples are better for looking at cells in the urine, true or false?
True
Samples may be more dilute as in a post prandial sample, and animal may have just drunk, so it is more difficult to assess the concentrating ability of the kidneys, true or false?
True
More dilute urine samples do not effect cells, true or false?
False, more dilute samples can cause cell lysis.
What can be added to a sample to preserve it, especially if it is being looked at for microbiology?
Boric acid
When would formaldehyde be used in a urine sample?
When cytology is going to be observed.
