Your dog’s urine can play an important role in confirming his or her good health, as well as investigating a cause for many health concerns – including vomiting, weight loss, increase in water drinking, blood in urine, and many more situations.  Obtaining a urine sample from your dog can seem like a confounding task! However, there are a few tips and tricks that can assist you.

* Pick the right time

Dogs will generally urinate first thing in the morning, after dinner in the evening, and almost always on a walk.

* Pick a suitable container

It is often easiest to collect a urine sample in a large plastic container (perhaps even taping a ruler to it so it’s easier to lower to the ground) or an old frypan or soup ladle.  We can also provide you with a specimen jar.

* How to collect it

In some cases, the collection process may be a 2-person job.  As your dog squats or lifts their leg and begins to urinate, slowly and gently slide the container into the urine stream and collect the sample.  Try not to be too quick as that can frighten them.  You may have a dog who is very private about going to the toilet – the trick here is to keep them indoors for an extended period.  Then when they are let out, they will urinate for a longer time than normal, allowing you get into position to collect a small amount.

* How much to collect

We don’t need a lot of urine – often a tablespoon will suffice.  Once you’ve been successful in collecting a urine sample, try and get it to the clinic within 1 hour.  If you’re not able to get it to us straight away, keep it in the fridge for up to 12 hours.

And if all else fails

We’re here to help!  Keep your dog indoors for a few hours before bringing them in to see us.  We’ll be ready here with a friendly nurse and a collection dish.  A short stroll up the street with all the nice smells they will encounter, and your dog will hopefully oblige with a urine sample.