The authors

Theresa E. Rizzi, DVM, DACVP (Clinical Pathology), is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Oklahoma State University, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.

Amy Valenciano, DVM, MS, DACVP (Clinical Pathology), is a Clinical Pathologist at IDEXX Laboratories in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Mary Bowles, DVM, DACVIM, is an emeritus Associate Professor and former Small Animal Medicine Section Chief in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Oklahoma State University, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.

Rick Cowell, DVM, MS, MRCVS, DACVP (Clinical Pathology), is a Clinical Pathologist at IDEXX Laboratories Inc. in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.

Ronald Tyler, DVM, PhD, DACVP (Clinical Pathology and Anatomic Pathology), DABT, is consulting pathologist and toxicologist to U.S., European, and Chinese pharmaceutical companies, contract laboratories, and regulatory agencies with adjunct appointments in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Oklahoma State University, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA and Department of Pathology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Chennai, India.

Dennis B. DeNicola, DVM, PhD, DACVP (Clinical Pathology), is Chief Veterinary Educator at IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook, Maine, USA.

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1 Sample Collection and Handling 3

Collection of Urine Samples 3

Free-Catch Urine Collection 3

Transurethral Catheterization 15

Cystocentesis 37

Urine Sample Handling 44

Culture 44

2 Initial Assessment: Physical Characteristics 47

Volume 47

Color 47

Clarity/Turbidity 48

Odor 48

Urine Specific Gravity 49

3 Urine Chemistry 53

Urine pH 53

Protein 54

Glucose 60

Ketones 61

Blood (Occult Blood, Heme) 63

Bilirubin 64

4 Urine Sediment 67

Preparation for Microscopic Examination 67

Casts 67

Hyaline Casts 68

Cellular Casts 71

Granular Casts 73

Waxy Casts 78

Fatty Casts (Lipid Casts) 79

Hemoglobin Casts 81

Mixed Casts 82

Pseudo Casts 85

Crystals 86

Crystals Associated with Urolith Formation 86

Crystals Not Typically Associated with Canine and Feline Urolith Formation 120

Drug-Induced Crystals 130

Cells 131

Transitional Epithelial Cells 131

Squamous Epithelial Cells 136

Renal Tubular (Cuboidal) Epithelial Cells 140

Leukocytes 141

Erythrocytes 145

Atypical (Neoplastic) Cells 148

Organisms 157

Bacteria 157

Fungal Hyphae 161

Yeast 163

Dioctophyma renale Ova 165

Capillaria plica (now Pearsonema plica) and Capillaria felis cati Ova 166

Microfilaria 168

Miscellaneous Findings and Artifacts 169

Pollen 169

Fungal Spores 170

Mucus 172

Lipid Droplets 173

Sperm 174

Air Bubbles 176

Starch Granules (Glove Powder) 177

Fiber 178

Reference 181

Index 183