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Diagnostic
Tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what is wrong with your horse, in order to reach a diagnosis.

Cost: Under $100

These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.

YOUR VET MAY PERFORM

Urinalysis

Cost: Under $100

These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.

Summary

Urinalysis is sampling and laboratory analysis of urine. It provides important information about the health of the urinary tract and can provide invaluable diagnostic information about urinary tract diseases.

Urine can be collected "free-catch." This requires good timing or luck. It can also be collected via urinary catheterization. In the mare, a short catheter can be used to enter the bladder. In the male horse, a 1 meter long tube called a stallion catheter is passed through the end of the penis and rearward over the pelvic floor to the bladder.

Urine is collected and usually evaluated within a few hours, usually in-house. Some specialized urine tests and urine culture may need to be performed at a remote lab.

A whole battery of tests can be performed on urine. Practical testing commonly uses a multi-test strip.

A few notable values that are determined in equine practice include the specific gravity of the urine, the presence of blood, white blood cells, and protein.

Why A Vet Chooses This Diagnostic

BENEFITS
A quick and helpful diagnostic test that provides important information about general health as well as the health of the urinary tract.

LIMITATIONS

Urine samples are only stable for a few hours and so must be evaluated quickly.

Author: Doug Thal DVM Dipl. ABVP