Urinalysis + Urine culture - Best Practise and owner Investment

Really emphasizes the standard of care, especially with a stage 3 CKD pet. 

In clinic Urinalysis: 




Urine Culture- Sent out



A Vet who does urinalysis + urine culture is trying to help you not steal from you, because this approach is more thorough and safer, particularly when bacteria are seen on UA- urinalysis.

Why it matters:

  • Bacteria on urinalysis ≠ confirmed infection
  • Could be contamination, but in CKD cats it could also be a silent UTI
  • CKD cats often don’t show classic UTI signs-> No dysuria, no frequent urination, no fever 

Culture tells you:

  • If bacteria are truly present
  • Which bacteria
  • What antibiotic actually works (critical for kidneys) as they have trouble excreting and processing.  

Pros

✔ Avoids unnecessary antibiotics

✔ Prevents missing a subclinical infection

✔ Reduces post-dental complications (sepsis, renal flare-ups)

✔ Allows kidney-safe antibiotic selection


Is gold-standard care for a CKD when bacteria are noted. What happens when urine culture is not done: 

  • Assumption bacteria = contamination
  • Cat is asymptomatic
  • Time constraints before anesthesia of any emergency procedure

Risks

 -May miss a true UTI

- Empirical antibiotics may be: The cycle 

  • Unnecessary
  • Ineffective
  • Nephrotoxic
  •  Increased risk during anesthesia and post-op recovery
  • Potential worsening of kidney disease

Summery: 

  • UA + culture = proactive, kidney-protective, higher standard of care
  • UA alone = incomplete when bacteria are seen, especially in CKD cats
  • Pets deserve the best, you want to understand what your pet needs a culture would be strongly justified, not “extra.”

Resources: 

International Renal Interest Society. (2023). IRIS staging of CKD (modified 2023). https://www.iris-kidney.com


Lulich, J. P., Osborne, C. A., & O’Brien, T. D. (2016). Urinary tract infections in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 46(2), 197–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2015.10.004


Weese, J. S., Blondeau, J. M., Boothe, D., Breitschwerdt, E. B., Guardabassi, L., Hillier, A., … Sykes, J. E. (2019). International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Veterinary Journal, 247, 8–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008


Sykes, J. E. (2022). Canine and feline infectious diseases (2nd ed.). Elsevier.


Ettinger, S. J., Feldman, E. C., & Côté, E. (2017). Textbook of veterinary internal medicine (8th ed.). Elsevier.


Bellows, J., Berg, M. L., Dennis, S., Harvey, R., Lobprise, H. B., Snyder, C. J., & Stone, A. E. (2019). 2019 AAHA dental care guidelines for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 55(2), 49–69. https://doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6933


Polzin, D. J. (2011). Chronic kidney disease in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 41(1), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.09.004

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