What Your Vet Wishes You Knew.. Why bringing in a urine sample to be tested is not the same as bringing in a fecal sample.

We have clients bring in fecal samples fairly often to be checked for parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, giardia and whipworms. As long as a pet has had an exam within the last few months, we can usually just treat for the parasitic infection with oral medications. But recently we had a few clients bring in urine samples looking to check for a urinary tract infection. We want to explain why these two scenarios are not the same. An exam is very important in cases with urination issues. The doctor will palpate the bladder and also examine the genitalia and skin around the genitals. The doctor will ask a variety of questions to rule out if the symptoms are caused by polyuria and polydipsia (increased thirst and urination), incontinence, kidney stones, or metabolic issues that can cause weird urinary behavior. Also urinary tract infections can be secondary to other medical conditions. Bringing in urine is not like bringing in a stool sample because positive or negative results are not the whole picture of what is going on with the pet. A full physical exam is required to get the whole picture and the whole picture ensures your pet will get the proper course of care for the quickest relief. So whenever your pet is having urination issues, let us know by giving us a call to schedule an exam first.