Urine physical properties

What are the physical properties of urine

Those made without a microscope or chemical reagents

Physical properties of urine

Color, volume, odor, transparency, specific gravity.

Pollakuria

Frequent urination

Polyuria

Increased urine production

daily urine output dogs and cats

20-40 milliliters/kg

Polyuria urine appearently and SG

Low specific gravity, pale or light yellow colored.

Oliguria appearance and SG

High SG, very concentrated

What can anuria occur with

Urethral obstruction, urinary bladder rupture, and renal shutdown.

What are the pigments in urine called

Urochoromes

Normal urine color

Light yellow to amber

Dark yellow urine

More concentrated, higher specific gravity.

Lighter color urine

Less concentrated, lower specific gravity.

Yellow or brown urine

Contains bile pigments.

Red or brownish

Presence of RBCs (hematuria) or hemoglobin (hemoglobinuria). Because of muscle cell lysis would be myoglobin.

Can drugs affect urine color?

Yes

Hematuria

Presence of RBCs in the urine

Hemoglobinuria

Presence of hemoglobin in the urine

How to observe clarity of urine

Against a letter print background. Noted as clear, slightly cloudy, cloudy, turbid (flocculent)

What is normal urine in horses and rabbits?

Cloudy in horses and milky in rabbits, bc of of calcium carbonate crystals and mucus

Odor meanings

Ammonia odor can occur with cystitis or if sample is left standing too long. Sweet or fruity may indicate ketones.

Specific gravity definition

Weight of a quantity of liquid compared with that of an equal amount of distilled water

Normal specific gravity of dogs

1.025

Normal specific gravity of cats

1.030

Does a refractometer need to be calibrated

Yes

Increase SG causes

Decreased water intake with normal renal function, fluid loss through sweating, panting, diarrhea. Acute renal injury, dehydration, and shock

Decreases SG causes

Kidneys cannot absorb water, Pyometra, diabetes insipidus, psychogenic polydipsia, liver diseases, renal disease, diuretics.

Isosthenuria

When the SG approaches that of glomerular filtrate: 1.008-1.012

What does isosthenuria indicate

Lost kidney function, chronic renal disease.