Urinalysis and Fecal Diagnosis

At Westbridge Veterinary Hospital, recommend annual urine testing. Sometimes more frequently for certain conditions. Urine testing can give us important information, such as changes in kidney function and other organs. It can also show us when there is an infection present and whether or not crystals are forming. Crystals can be a painful and sometimes fatal condition if the pet becomes blocked.

Why are canine fecal examinations recommended yearly?

Annual fecal exams are recommended to ensure your pet is parasite free. Worms and other parasites can be very common and easily treated, once diagnosed. Although some parasites, such as roundworms and tapeworms, can be visible to the naked eye, others are microscopic and can only be detected by doing a fecal test. Treatment of these parasites is of paramount importance to us, as some parasites are transmittable to humans.

If my dog’s urine test reveals a urinary tract infection, what can I do?

If a urinalysis test shows us that there is an infection, we will also run a culture of the bacteria to ensure that the correct antibiotics are prescribed. We will prescribe a Dr directed course of antibiotics and then retest the urine prior to finishing the medication to ensure that the infection is clearing, or has completely resolved.