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**LClan439** · 12-20-2011, 03:12 AM

I'm not sure I'm familiar with urine values in those degrees. Specific Gravity is measured using a scale of anything between 1.020 (or less) and 1.050 (or more). Anything around 1.040 and up is usually good; dropping below 1.030 is where we start to worry.

In the urinalysis, your vet needs to be looking for a) protein content (should be none), b) leukocytes primarily, c) pH (high or low pH can cause peeing issues). I would be less concerned with liver values at this point until we know the kidneys are ok. Leukocytes would help you know if there is an infection present. But that's what the culture is for; the culture has to be sterile. You should also ask your vet about sending out a Urine Protein Creatinine ratio with the urine; you'll probably need to bring in another sample, it does not have to be sterile. For liver issues, ask your vet about bilirubin levels present in the urine (there should be none).

The in-house glucose test tests the blood glucose level of your dog at that time. It shouldn't be over 140; having blood sit overnight can alter the values, thus, if you're really testing to see if glucose levels are elevated, an in-house test is the way to go.

In the blood, you need to ask your vet about: creatinine (kidney function), BUN (kidney function), ALT (liver function), AST (liver function), AlkPhos (liver function), T4 (for thyroid) and if you're truly interested in the thyroid results especially if they're borderline, you'll need to add a test called a cTSH, which tests the thyroid stimulating hormone itself, not the T4 thyroid hormone.

For renal issues, there is also a test by a company called Heska called an E.R.D. (Early Renal Detection test) that has been, in my experience, pretty dead on with diagnosing the stages of renal failures (from none to high positive). It is not completely quantitative in that it does not tell you what is affected, but if the bloodwork and urinalysis results dictate that there should be some level of renal failure, the ERD will help determine the stage.

And, for the record, my dog is hypothyroid and was losing weight prior to the diagnosis.

12-20-2011, 03:12 AM	#20
LClan439 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 459 Senior Member	I'm not sure I'm familiar with urine values in those degrees. Specific Gravity is measured using a scale of anything between 1.020 (or less) and 1.050 (or more). Anything around 1.040 and up is usually good; dropping below 1.030 is where we start to worry. In the urinalysis, your vet needs to be looking for a) protein content (should be none), b) leukocytes primarily, c) pH (high or low pH can cause peeing issues). I would be less concerned with liver values at this point until we know the kidneys are ok. Leukocytes would help you know if there is an infection present. But that's what the culture is for; the culture has to be sterile. You should also ask your vet about sending out a Urine Protein Creatinine ratio with the urine; you'll probably need to bring in another sample, it does not have to be sterile. For liver issues, ask your vet about bilirubin levels present in the urine (there should be none). The in-house glucose test tests the blood glucose level of your dog at that time. It shouldn't be over 140; having blood sit overnight can alter the values, thus, if you're really testing to see if glucose levels are elevated, an in-house test is the way to go. In the blood, you need to ask your vet about: creatinine (kidney function), BUN (kidney function), ALT (liver function), AST (liver function), AlkPhos (liver function), T4 (for thyroid) and if you're truly interested in the thyroid results especially if they're borderline, you'll need to add a test called a cTSH, which tests the thyroid stimulating hormone itself, not the T4 thyroid hormone. For renal issues, there is also a test by a company called Heska called an E.R.D. (Early Renal Detection test) that has been, in my experience, pretty dead on with diagnosing the stages of renal failures (from none to high positive). It is not completely quantitative in that it does not tell you what is affected, but if the bloodwork and urinalysis results dictate that there should be some level of renal failure, the ERD will help determine the stage. And, for the record, my dog is hypothyroid and was losing weight prior to the diagnosis.
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