Ortega, Louise Alysson C.

DVM5

Veterinary Clinical Orientation – Clerkship

Laboratory Exercise 5
FECAL EXAMINATION AND URINALYSIS

Desired Learning Outcomes

At the end of the class, the students can:
1. Name the different fecal examinations that can be used for companion animals.
2. Describe the procedures for urine analysis for pets.
3. Discuss how these laboratory tests are necessary in coming up with a diagnosis for
companion animals.

Introduction
Fecal examination for parasite eggs is the more commonly performed diagnostic tests
to determine presence of internal parasites. Freshly collected fecal samples preferably
collected from the animal during the act of defecation or from the rectum using a fecal loop
during the physical examination would be the best sample to use. Direct fecal smear and
fecal flotation are the routine examinations in checking feces for internal parasites in pets.

Urinalysis, on the other hand, is another important laboratory test that is considered as
necessary in veterinary practice. It is useful to document various types of urinary tract
diseases and may provide information about other systemic diseases, such as liver failure
and hemolysis. If with fecal material sample, freshly collected is more recommended, urine
may be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or submitted to an outside diagnostic laboratory;
however, this may result in crystal precipitation. Refrigeration does not alter urine pH or
specific gravity.

These two laboratory tests are equally important and readily performed as in the
practice there will always be patients and cases of this nature. So, understanding these two
laboratory tests are of value.

Materials
Powerpoint presentation / Report
Pens
Papers
Reference materials
Videos
Learning Activities
1. Summarize and differentiate the two common fecal examinations that can be performed
among small animals. Differentiate them based on indications, sample needed and the
procedure of each of these tests.

A. Direct Fecal Smear

Procedure:
1. Place a drop of saline on the center of the left half of the slide and a drop of Lugol’s
solution on the center of the right half of the microscopic slide.
2. With a wooden applicator stick or match, pick up a small portion of the stool
specimen and mix with a drop of saline to form suspension.
3. Similarly, pick up a small portion of the stool specimen and mix with Lugol’s
solution to form a suspension.
4. Cover each drop with a cover slip by holding the cover slip at an angle, touch the
edge of the drop and gently lower the cover slip onto the slide to reduce the
possibility of air bubbles in the smear.
5. Put the slide under a light microscope with 10x objective. Examine the entire cover
slip area by moving the slide systematically backwards and forwards, or up and
down.
6. Switch up to 40x objective lens when suspected parasites are seen.

Fecal smear technique is easier and a simpler way to detect intestinal parasites or
any problem/abnormality in the animal’s feces. After this test, the sample can be
placed under the microscope for further detection and observation.

B. Flotation Technique
Procedure:
1. Weigh or measure using a recalibrated teaspoon approximately 3g of feces and put
into container 1.
2. Pour 50ml of flotation fluid into container 1.
3. Stir or mix feces and flotation fluid thoroughly with a tongue blade or fork.
4. Pour the fecal suspension through a tea strainer or double layer of cheesecloth
into container 2.
5. Pour the fecal suspension into test tube supported in a stand or rack from
container 2.
6. The test tube is gently topped off with the suspension leaving a convex meniscus
at the top of the tube.
7. Carefully place a coverslip on top of the test tube.
8. Leave the test tube to stand for 20 minutes.
9. Carefully lift the coverslip off the test tube together with the drop of fluid together
with the drop of fluid adhering to it. Place the coverslip on a clean slide.
10. Examine using a compound microscope at 10 x 10 magnification.
 The flotation technique is not very accurate when it comes to detection of parasites.
But the technique does provide a cleaner and clearer sample of the organisms being
observed in the feces.

2. Research and get eggs from fecal exam of common internal parasites of dogs and cats.
Get pictures from 3 different worms of companion animals and identify their distinct
characteristics. Fill them in the table below.

PICTURE OF WORMS DOGS OR CATS DESCRIPTION/DISTINCT

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORM
Hookworms in Dogs
The worm is pinkish white in color. Adult
male hookworms’ range in size from 8-11
mm long, whereas adult females range
in size from 10-13 mm long. This species
is dimorphic, with the males having
bursa characteristics and needle-like
spicules with small tips, which are
distally fused.

Roundworms in Dogs
Roundworms (ascarids or nematodes)
are common parasites that live inside a
dog’s intestines. They feed on partly
digested food. They’re usually white or
light brown in color and can be up to a
few inches long.

Whipworm in Cats

Feline whipworms are intestinal

parasites. They are about ¼ inch long and
live in the cecum and colon of cats,
where they cause severe irritation to the
lining of those organs.
3. For cats, what possible disease will require you to request urine examination as
laboratory tests? Enumerate at least 2 and give the etiologic agent and other clinical signs.

• Bacterial Cystitis (caused by FLV, FIV, taking long-term steroid drugs, diabetes
mellitus, thyroid disease, etc.)
Clinical Signs:
- Frequent urination
- Painful or difficult urination
- Urinating in inappropriate places
- Presence of blood in urine

• Urethral Obstruction (caused by uroliths)

Clinical Signs:
- Frequently tries to urinate but produce only a fine stream, a few drops, or nothing
- Depression
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Arrhythmias
- Coma and death (if severe)

4. What physical appearance of urine that should be check as part of the urinalysis in pets?
Fill up the table and give brief descriptions of each.

URINE APPEARANCE DESCRIBE AND INTERPRET

Normal urine is typically transparent and yellow or amber

on visual inspection. The intensity of color is in part related
to the volume of urine collected and concentration of urine
produced; therefore, it should be interpreted in context of
urine specific gravity. Significant disease may exist when
urine color is normal. Abnormal urine color may be caused
Color
by presence of endogenous or exogenous pigments, but it
does not provide specific information. Interpretation of
semiquantitative reagent strips, which are colorimetric
tests, requires knowledge of urine color because discolored
urine may result in a false-positive result.

Urine is typically clear but may become less transparent

Clarity with pigmenturia, crystalluria, hematuria, pyuria, lipiduria, or
when other compounds such as mucus are present.
 Depending on the cause, increased turbidity may disappear
with centrifugation of the sample.

Normal urine has a slight odor of ammonia; however, the

odor depends on urine concentration. Some species, such as
cats, have pungent urine odor because of urine composition.
Odor Bacterial infection may result in a strong odor due to pyuria;
a strong ammonia odor may occur if the bacteria produce
urease.

5. Discuss what specific gravity is in urine analysis and what its importance and what it
indicates in an animal.

Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the weight of a volume of liquid to the weight of
an equal volume of distilled water; therefore, it depends on the number, size, and weight
of particles in the liquid. It is different from osmolality, which depends only on the number
of particles in the liquid; measurement of osmolality requires specialized instrumentation.

The urine specific gravity (SG) is determined using a refractometer designed for
veterinary samples, which includes a scale calibrated specifically for cat urine. SG for
species other than cats should be determined using the scale for dogs. In healthy animals,
SG is highly variable, depending on fluid and electrolyte balance of the body. It is normally
at least 1.015. interpretation of SG, therefore, depends on the clinical presentation and
serum chemistry findings. An animal that is dehydrated or has other causes of prerenal
azotemia will have hypersthenuric urine with an SG >1.025-1.040 (depending on species).
Dilute urine in a dehydrated or azotemic animal is abnormal and could be caused by renal
failure, hypo- or hyperadrenocorticism, hypercalcemia, diabetes mellitus,
hyperthyroidism, and diuretic therapy. In cases of diabetes insipidus, values <1.010 can be
expected. Glucosuria increases the SG despite increased urine volume.

6. Research and look for sample pictures of the different urine sediments/crystals
commonly seen in companion animals. Identify these different urine sediments/crystals
usually seen microscopically during analysis.

Hyaline casts are proteinaceous and may be

observed normally, with proteinuria or with mild
renal disease.
 RBC casts may occur with hemorrhage, can mean
that there is a microscopic amount of bleeding from
the kidney. They are seen in many kidney diseases.
Renal tubular epithelial cell casts reflect damage to
tubule cells in the kidney.

Struvite crystals and struvite are a normal finding in

urine, at low levels. In some pets, however, these
struvite crystals come together to form an actual
stone within the urinary tract. These stones can
irritate the urinary tract and have the potential to
cause a urinary obstruction.

References
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/clinical-pathology-and-procedures/diagnostic-
procedures-for-the-private-practice-laboratory/parasitology
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/clinical-pathology-and-procedures/diagnostic-
procedures-for-the-private-practice-laboratory/urinalysis
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ancylostoma_duodenale/
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/roundworms-dogs
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/veterinary/cat-owners/kidney-and-urinary-tract-
disorders-of-cats/urinary-stones-uroliths,-calculi-in-cats
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/veterinary/cat-owners/kidney-and-urinary-tract-
disorders-of-cats/infectious-diseases-of-the-urinary-system-of-cats
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/cat-owners/kidney-and-urinary-tract-disorders-of-
cats/detecting-disorders-of-the-kidneys-and-urinary-tract-of-cats/
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/clinical-pathology-and-procedures/diagnostic-
procedures-for-the-private-practice-laboratory/urinalysis
https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/