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Post by pj on Jan 14, 2013 2:42:09 GMT 10
hi tom,
do you have any topics here on taking a urine test and results plus when best time to take one etc
thanks pj
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Post by Tom Meulman on Jan 14, 2013 5:48:02 GMT 10
Hi PJ, There is THIS post that explains a little bit about each substance tested for in a dip stick urine test. However it is a scientific explanation and assumes some basic knowledge on the part of the reader. Because I was always more interested in the recovery rate of the greyhound after strenuous exercise that I initially tested the urine 8 hours after a run, or first thing in the morning after a run or race. This meant checking the specific gravity to see how the kidneys were coping with the run, and mainly to check that there was no blood or myoglobin in the urine. If there was anything wrong I would apply whatever treatment I believed the greyhound needed, and then re-test 24 hours later. While there are test strips available that include a test for specific gravity, I generally used what is known as a portable refractometer. These are a very simple scientific instrument specifically designed to test specific gravity of fluids, and not all that expensive to purchase. Cheers, Tom
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Post by pj on Jan 14, 2013 7:42:08 GMT 10
thanks tom,
if there was blood in the urine what treatments would you give to clear it up so you could re-test it the next day...
pj
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Post by Tom Meulman on Jan 14, 2013 8:50:22 GMT 10
Hi PJ,
Blood in the urine generally shows as spots on the test strip surface unless the bleeding was really severe, while Myoglobin generally shows as a complete change of colour on the whole of the area.
Blood means damage to the kidneys or urinary tract and would warrant a trip to the Vet and possibly a course of antibiotics, Myoglobin would mean that the run was just too hard, severe stress, and possibly severe muscle damage such as a tear to the top of the left thigh, and would require oral fluid therapy, or if showing signs of severe stress such as weight loss around the coupling or tight skin over the spine, urgent IV fluids and other injections to provide support such Tridenosen.
The worry would be at that point in time the greyhound could lapse into water diabetes/coursing thirst and suffer permanent kidney damage unless rapid and appropriate treatment was undertaken immediately.
Cheers, Tom
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