What can a simple urine test tell us about your pet’s health?
Your pet’s urine can tell us a lot about its overall health. Since the kidneys filter your pet’s blood 48 times a day, they are constantly exposed to many damaging substances that might be present in the blood (e.g., bacteria, toxins). Many underlying medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, dental disease, inflammatory bowel disease, immune-mediated diseases and numerous other diseases can cause kidney damage. When excess toxins or other substances are present, they can cause damage to your pet’s kidneys. This simple urine test, can tell us whether your pet potentially has kidney damage.
How does the test work?
The E.R.D.-HealthScreen® Test looks for abnormal amounts of protein leaking into your pet’s urine. If the kidneys are undamaged, the test will be negative for even small amounts of protein. If kidney damage is present, however, the kidneys will leak abnormal amounts of protein into the urine, indicating that your veterinarian should check for hidden disease. Many underlying medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and numerous other diseases can cause kidney damage.
What do the results mean?
If the test is negative for protein leakage:
— Good news! Your pet’s kidneys have no apparent damage. You can continue to monitor your pet’s good health by making the E.R.D.-HealthScreen® Test part of its regular check-ups.
If the test is positive for protein leakage:
— we may recommend other diagnostic tests to identify the specific underlying disease or illness. These tests may include a physical examination, blood work, a complete urinalysis (other urine tests in addition to the E.R.D.-HealthScreen® Test), or simply retesting for abnormal protein in a few weeks or months.
— if other evidence of advanced kidney damage is detected through blood work or the complete urinalysis, additional diagnostic tests may be needed.
Once the cause of protein leakage is identified:
— we may recommend a treatment for your pet that may include drug therapy, diet changes, or surgical intervention (such as a dental cleaning or tumor removal).
— your pet should be retested after treatment to ensure the underlying cause of kidney damage has been addressed.
— if your pet is found to have a chronic condition, we may use the E.R.D.-HealthScreen
® Test and/ or other tests to monitor your pet’s condition and treatments.