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Urgent care is for pets who are unwell, in discomfort, are in urgent situation or are not acting like themselves and should be assessed within 24 hours.
Can wait 24-48 hours?
Wellness, routine, or general care is for pets needing vaccines, preventive care, or ongoing monitoring who can safely wait at least 24 hours.
Urgent and ongoing care in Stittsville, Kanata & West Ottawa. Unwell today? Call 343-463-8787, option 1 during clinic hours or check wait times. Stable bookings: option 2. One-off urgent visits welcome.
Urinalysis for Dogs and Cats
Urinalysis examines urine concentration, chemical findings and material in the urine sediment.
Overview and the key decision
Urinalysis examines urine concentration, chemical findings and material in the urine sediment. It can help investigate urinary signs, kidney-related concerns and systemic illness. It is different from a urine culture, which investigates bacterial growth.
This guide explains decisions to discuss with your veterinarian. The right plan depends on your pet’s current condition, examination and medical history.
Illustrative photograph; it does not show a confirmed diagnosis or this procedure. Dog lying on sofa.jpg by Whiskydo — CC BY-SA 4.0. Unmodified.
When this guide is useful
Frequent urination, accidents, discomfort or visible blood
Increased drinking or urination
Interpreting kidney values, glucose changes or a monitoring plan
What this guide cannot determine
An online guide cannot establish your pet’s diagnosis, choose a test or procedure, or replace an examination. The information below does not provide a medication or home procedure protocol.
Related symptoms and care guides
- Frequent Urination in Dogs (Pollakiuria) – Causes, Warning Signs & Urgent Care
- Male Cat Straining to Urinate or Not Peeing or Peeing in Drops
- Female Cat Not Peeing – When to See a Vet: Causes, Warning Signs, and Urgent Care
- Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box – Could It Be Medical? (Causes, Warning Signs, and Urgent Care)
- Dog Not Eating – When to Worry and What to Do
- Cat Not Eating – Is This an Emergency?
What the assessment or procedure involves
The collection method depends on the question. A sample may be obtained by free catch, from the bladder using a needle, or by another clinically appropriate method. The team assesses appearance, concentration, chemical findings and sediment; not every method is equally suitable for every test.
What the findings can tell us
Urine concentration adds context to hydration and blood kidney values. Sediment may contain cells, crystals, casts or organisms. Protein and blood results need interpretation alongside these findings and the collection method.
Important limits of the findings
Crystals do not automatically mean bladder stones, and stones can occur without crystals being seen. Urinary signs do not automatically mean bacterial infection. A culture may be needed when infection is a clinical concern.
Preparation and useful records
Ask the clinic whether to bring a sample or let the team collect one. Freshness, storage and collection method matter; record the collection time and follow the instructions provided for your pet's test.
When to call urgently
Repeated attempts to urinate with little or no urine, especially with pain, vomiting or weakness, require immediate assessment. Do not wait to collect a sample at home.
If SKVH cannot receive your pet promptly or the clinic is closed, contact an open emergency hospital. Do not wait for a routine message response when urgent signs are present.
How the care plan is chosen
The examination and urine findings determine whether culture, blood tests, imaging or protein quantification adds useful information. Testing is selected to distinguish causes that can produce similar outward signs.
Risks and alternatives to discuss
Collection risks depend on the method. A bladder needle sample can introduce a small amount of blood; the veterinarian considers the individual pet's safety and explains alternatives when necessary.
Follow-up and unanswered questions
Ask how the sample was collected and whether the result answers the original question. Follow-up may involve a repeat sample, culture, imaging or a disease-monitoring plan rather than treating one urine flag in isolation.
Care at SKVH and next steps
SKVH combines appointment-based urgent assessment during clinic hours with wellness, diagnostics, surgery, dentistry and ongoing care for dogs and cats in Stittsville, Kanata and West Ottawa. One-off urgent visits and continuing care are both welcome.
Findings, medically appropriate options and an individual estimate are discussed before proceeding. Test and procedure availability, monitoring needs and referral are considered for the individual case; this guide does not promise every test or treatment is available in-house.
Urgent concerns: call 343-463-8787, option 1 · Live urgent-care wait times and visit information
Stable bookings and non-urgent questions: option 2 · Wellness and ongoing care · Relevant SKVH service information
Clinical background: Veterinary reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why might a veterinarian recommend urinalysis?
Urinalysis examines urine concentration, chemical findings and material in the urine sediment. It can help investigate urinary signs, kidney-related concerns and systemic illness. It is different from a urine culture, which investigates bacterial growth. The examination and urine findings determine whether culture, blood tests, imaging or protein quantification adds useful information. Testing is selected to distinguish causes that can produce similar outward signs.
What are the limits of urinalysis?
Crystals do not automatically mean bladder stones, and stones can occur without crystals being seen. Urinary signs do not automatically mean bacterial infection. A culture may be needed when infection is a clinical concern.
How should I prepare for a discussion about urinalysis?
Ask the clinic whether to bring a sample or let the team collect one. Freshness, storage and collection method matter; record the collection time and follow the instructions provided for your pet's test.
When should I seek urgent help rather than wait?
Repeated attempts to urinate with little or no urine, especially with pain, vomiting or weakness, require immediate assessment. Do not wait to collect a sample at home.
What follow-up questions should I ask?
Ask how the sample was collected and whether the result answers the original question. Follow-up may involve a repeat sample, culture, imaging or a disease-monitoring plan rather than treating one urine flag in isolation.