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Reading Urine Test Stick

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Piggly

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Ok, so I've just been waiting for Eddie to wee which he has finally done :) and I've tested it using a stick the vet gave me. She did write a guide for it on an envelope for me but I think I've lined it up wrong. The photos are a before and after. As there are colour changes on it, could somebody help me out to see what they mean?

Before:


After:
 
To me, if i'm reading it right, the top has turned purple which means infection, and the middle has turned dark green which means blood in urine. Blood in urine can be caused by an infection. If i'm reading it right that is!
 
Thats how it seems... but only if I'm not lining it up properly. If that is the case that might explain his pain.
 
Doesn't she need them to see if he has an infection or not?
 
Urine test or not - it sounds to me like you think your guinea pig is in pain
 
He's already on baytril for 7 days. I requested the urine stick as I wanted a clearer picture of whether he had a lingering infection or anything, but he had an empty bladder at the vets!
 
Piggly said:
He is, this is part of the process to find out why. He has some degree of kidney failure.
Click to expand...

poor thing .

I don't think the results of the urine test are too bad - will post an attachement in a min
 
http://learn.parallax.com/reference/urinalysis-test-strip-color-chart

From how I am reading the strip , the 1st square would have gone very purple if positive

on your result, it is the 5th square which has gone green - which is the PH square
.. and the 7th square has gone green - which is specific gravity

the 6th square ( blood)
and 10th square ( glucose) haven't changed

Personally. I would say your guinea's urine test is OK but I am not a qualified vet so think it would be discussing the results with your vet
 
The chart says the 6th square will turn green if there is blood. But your 6th square is yellow. I would take a photo of the stick on your phone so you can show the photo to vet or you could email photo to vet
 
I think those results look fine tbh. The only thing that looks like a tiny possiblility is maybe trace leukocytes, but it looks like a good set of results to me?
 
PiggieOwner said:
http://learn.parallax.com/reference/urinalysis-test-strip-color-chart

From how I am reading the strip , the 1st square would have gone very purple if positive

on your result, it is the 5th square which has gone green - which is the PH square
.. and the 7th square has gone green - which is specific gravity

the 6th square ( blood)
and 10th square ( glucose) haven't changed

Personally. I would say your guinea's urine test is OK but I am not a qualified vet so think it would be discussing the results with your vet
Click to expand...

Very helpful, thankyou! Sounds hopeful, I'm especially happy he has no sign of blood. I'll take everyones advice and take it back to the vets for their thoughts.
 
Assuming these are Bayer/Siemens Multistix 10SG:From the bottom up:
Glucose negative
Bilirubins - negative
Ketones - negative
SG/Density - 1`-1.01 (ie quite concentrated wee)
Blood/HB - negative
pH - 8.5 - normal - piggie urine is quite alkaline
Protein - trace/1+ - could be an effect of the concentration of the wee but one to keep an eye on as can be indicative of kidney issues
Urobilinogen - going to assume negative (square looks a bit yellow but a positive would be rose pink)
Nitrites - low positive (also indicates bacterial infection)
Leucocytes - Trace/1+ - indicates inflammation and infection


Based upon the results my guess is she would treat for an infection with antibiotics.
HTH
x
 
Fantastic, thankyou everyone for the help! @Pebble the protein showed up 5 months ago too, presumably related to the kidney problems. Hes also already on baytril to make sure he doesn't have an infection which is causing him the pain, which it looks like he may have a little.
 
You will need to monitor his wee after the baytril has finished. There are now baytril-resistant bugs around and your vet might have to choose another one because baytril won;t work
Although for most UTI's septrin is often the abx of choice now...there is some concern it causes crystals to form in the urine leading to interstitial cystitis. (Some bugs have also developed resistance to septrin as well as baytril).

If the baytril doesn;t work and if you don;t want to spend weeks trying different abx, I suggest you discuss with the vet keeping him off abx for 2 weeks after the baytril finishes and then getting a sterile urine sample cultured for sensitivity - this would mean taking urine directly from his bladder via a needle (cystocentesis).
However not all vets are happy to do this (or owners!) and in discussion with your vet, if you can find a means to express his urine into a sterile container without it becoming contaminated (by palpating his bladder) that might be a first way forwards (albeit less reliable in terms of validity of results).

Paws crossed the baytril does the trick
x
 
Perfect advice from Pebble as always :) I was going to say I have these sticks & it doesn't show any blood present (I am too familiar with the 6th one down having a bladder piggy myself!) The test will not be of any use to the vet now, they deteriorate very quickly after use unfortunately. However note what Pebble has said & take that & also show your vet the pic you took, as that will be the best guide to give him/her. Generally you need to place the piggy in a sterile container, wait for them to wee then suck the urine up in a sterile syringe & drop a drop on each colour. You need to read the strip within a minute, usually if there is blood no 6 will turn green fairly quickly.
 
Fab advice, thankyou. I will continue his course of baytril and test his wee again after as you advise. I won't try septrin just yet but will get another stick to take the test again when his course is up.
 
Please idenitfy the manufacturer of the urine sticks next time...the colours (and therefore interpretation) can vary.
Also photographs can slightly affect the colour...and as already stated the results need to be read imnmnediately and can't be save for future accurate or reliable interpretation

One of my concerns about your photos is that there appears to be a very contrary yellow overtone to them (partic for your bilirubin and urinbilogen - which for a negative result on a Bayer/Siemens strip should look cream or pale salmon pink respectively)
x
 
Do you know what brand of stick you have? Different brands may not all read the same and may not all have the test bands in the same order (after having three kids and a lifetime of bladder/kidney issues, I've peed on a lot of these myself! LOL! However, I'm only used to reading them with the legend right in front of me.)
 
I can see Siemans written on the strip so am pretty sure these are the

Siemens Multistix 10 with ID band urinalysis strips
 
I would not rely on sticks. They are ok to give a bit of an idea but generally the consensus is not to rely on these things, it's often better to analyse the urine on a microscope. Great advice by all though.

x
 
Abi_nurse said:
I would not rely on sticks. They are ok to give a bit of an idea but generally the consensus is not to rely on these things, it's often better to analyse the urine on a microscope. Great advice by all though.

x
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more .

Urine test strips should only be used as a guide.
 
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