Note that most dehydrated cats with normally functioning kidneys will have a urine SG > 1.045. If an azotaemic animal has a urine SG less than these values then the patient must have impaired urine concentrating ability, because if the azotaemia was due to pre-renal factors only and the patient had normal renal concentrating ability, the urine SG would be >1.030 (dogs) or 1.035 (cats). If a dehydrated animal has a urine SG less than these values it has by definition inappropriate urine concentration and it must have some degree of renal dysfunction (primary structural renal dysfunction or extra-renal dysfunction). If an animal is dehydrated or hypovolaemic, the appropriate renal response is to produce urine that is concentrated to at least a SG of 1.030 (dogs) or 1.035 (cats). Always interpret urine SG in relation to the hydration status of the patient.Īlthough urine with a SG greater than 1.012 has been concentrated, the degree of concentration may not be appropriate. Normal animals may have a urine SG of any value depending on the physiological circumstances. Urine with an SG of 1.012 has been concentrated to some degree-however whether the degree of concentration is appropriate must now be determined for the patient If a patient has been confirmed as being polyuric and polydipsic and/or azotaemia has been identified, the initial and most important diagnostic step is to determine the urine specific gravity (SG)-without this information, appropriate interpretation of other pathology results can be difficult. Too often a patient with low urine SG and azotaemia is diagnosed as having renal failure-this is of course a very possible diagnosis especially in cats, but there are other disorders that impair both urine concentration and cause azotaemia that the practitioner must always consider. To view our test kit, and to purchase this very affordable test strips, please click here.Įach of these parameters are indicative of different health problems.The interpretation of urine specific gravity (SG) and serum urea and creatinine requires an understanding of renal physiology and the mechanisms that control these parameters. Our very affordable 10-in-1 test strips will check the specific gravity of urine as well as glucose, ketones, protein, blood, pH, nitrite, bilirubin as well as leucocytes. The specific gravity results are not affected by non-ionic components such as glucose.Īctive reagent: bromothymol blue (2,8% w/w). Moderate to high quantities of protein, and pH, large or equal to 8, may elevate the result. In a cationic environment, protons released by a complexing agent will cause the indicator bromothymol blue to change color from blue-green to yellow, in urine of increasing ion concentrations. The test is a measurement of the ion concentration of the urine.

Shows the concentrating and diluting ability of the kidneys.Ībnormal specific gravity values may indicative ofįurther action required if low or high specific gravity values are found in urine The results of specific gravity levels in urine Using a urine test is a quick and inexpensive way to check the specific gravity in your urine, and is one of our test kit products that can be done in the privacy of your home. When looking at the results of an urine test which tested the specific gravity of urine a person could deduce certain information regarding the health of the test subject, but any such deductions should be confirmed by further tests.

Urine specific gravity range