How Much Does a Dog Urinalysis Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

A urinalysis is a process of performing a physical, chemical, and microscopic analysis of the dog’s urine.  This test can be used to reveal several diseases that may have gone unnoticed because they do not produce any signs or symptoms.  Dogs may also undergo a urinalysis for help when evaluating certain illnesses.  In general, the results will show if bacteria is present.

 Dogs that exhibit abnormal urine frequency, production, or urination that causes pain or contains traces of blood are usually a candidate for a urinalysis.

dog by canmustafaozdemir, on Flickr
dog” (CC BY 2.0) by canmustafaozdemir

How much does a dog urinalysis cost?

The average cost for a urinalysis only is between $30 to $60.  This wouldn’t include the vet office examination fee, which would be another $35 to $65, bringing the grand total to $65 to $125.  The cost of a dog’s urinalysis will depend on your geographical location, the vet and how the urine is collected.

Members on TheNest.com talked about the costs of a dog urinalysis and said you should be prepared to budget about $50 to $100 based on their experiences.

Dog urinalysis overview

When the vet orders a urinalysis, the estimates mentioned above will include taking the sample and the reading of the results.

According to VCA Hospitals, there are four parts to a urinalysis:  they will assess the appearance color, measure the density of the urine and pH, analyze the chemical composition and examine the cells.  To do this, the urine sample will be spun at a very high speed to allow the solid material and cells to settle at the bottom.  This material is then collected and analyzed under a microscope.

Ways to obtain your dog’s urine

Free catch

The free catch process is, as the name implies, attempting to catch some of the dog’s urine when it goes to the bathroom naturally.  This is the only way for a sample to get obtained without being charged extra.

Cystocentesis

Cystocentesis is the process of using a sterile needle and syringe to collect the urine from the bladder.  When the bladder is full, this needle will pass through the abdominal wall, allowing the vet to withdrawal a sample of the urine.  This type of sample will be used to detect a bacterial infection.

Catheterization

The catheterization method will use a narrow catheter, which will be passed up the lower urinary passage into the bladder.  The syringe, which is attached to a catheter, will be withdrawn from the bladder and is often used if the dog doesn’t offer a voluntary sample.

What are the extra costs?

As mentioned above, there are a few ways to perform a urinalysis.  One way is via a catheter that is inserted into the tip of the urethra, which is then carefully threaded to the bladder for a urine sample.  A urinary catheter, if needed, can increase the costs.  Another method is via a needle aspirate, which is done with a syringe that is equipped with a long needle.  This needle can be inserted directly into the bladder for a quick sample.  If the collection method is through cystocentesis, there will also be additional costs to be considered as well.  Both of these methods, regardless of which one is used, can often add another $50 to $100 to the total.

If bacteria is found, then the vet will want to perform a urine culture to know which bacteria is causing the infection.  A sensitivity test, if ordered, will show the vet which antibiotic should be used to get rid of the bacteria.  These two tests, when combined with a urinalysis, will often add $25 to $100 to the total bill.

If a urinary tract infection is found, for instance, medication may be prescribed afterward, increasing the fees.  Treating an infection can cost upwards of $1,000, depending on the severity of the infection.

An emergency vet clinic can cost 100 to 200 percent more if you were to take your dog in after hours.

How can I save money?

If you cannot afford the payment in full, most offices are more than happy to offer some sort of financial assistance or allow you to make monthly payments.

Collecting your dog’s urine naturally will always be the cheapest way to have its urine tested.  If you know your vet is going to request a sample, try your best to collect a sample in a container you can bring into the office.


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Average Reported Cost: $132.17

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Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k

How much did you spend?

Was it worth it?  

  1. KO (Newark,  Delaware) paid $87 and said:

    Needed immediate results to start antibiotics, so urine was tested in vet’s office. If urine was sent out to lab for analysis, testing would have cost less but results would not have been available for another two days due to holiday. Suspected a urinary tract infection so dog needed antibiotics asap-could not afford to wait or misdiagnose.

    Was it worth it? Yes

  2. Lena (Westfield,  Indiana) paid $85 and said:

    Test was done at my vet’s to diagnose a urinary tract infection. It was worth it to get a quick diagnosis but overall this is quite expensive for this area.

    Was it worth it? Yes

  3. Patricia Curran (Antioch,  California) paid $97 and said:

    $96.50 was the cost of the urinalysis, as part of a yearly visit, etc. Anything I do to take care of my pets is worth it. The total bill for the 2 little dogs was $1,114.50…. and they weren’t even sick. That included Heartgard and some very expensive once-a-month pills for flea and tick control.3/24/17

    Was it worth it? Yes

  4. Laura (Kailua Kona,  Hawaii) paid $181 and said:

    Of course outrageous!!! I caught the urine sample and took it in; they kept us waiting for 45 minutes then charged us $48.00 for a consultation plus $65.00 for the urinalysis and then $60.04 for 9 pills of Baytril 136mg tablets plus tax!

    Was it worth it? Yes

  5. Will (Templeton,  California) paid $164 and said:

    Uranalysis w/culture IF

    Was it worth it? Yes

  6. Susan (Sacramento ,  California) paid $179 and said:

    I collected the urine myself and dropped it off. There was no Dr. visit. I feel this is ridiculous. This was a retest because her urine was clear and I took in first pee of the day.

    Was it worth it? Yes

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