There are times in the course of pet ownership when you might have to do something unpleasant for the health of your four-legged family member. Collecting a urine sample for the vet, for example, is just such a task. So, should your vet ask you for a sample of your dog's urine for medical analysis, don't shrink from the procedure: It may be important for the health of your beloved dog.
Collecting a urine sample
Since your dog is probably not trained to pee on command, or into a container, collecting a urine sample can seem like a confounding task. Ideally, urine samples should be collected by your vet, as this is not an easy task for many pet owners.
If you do have to collect a urine sample, there is a trick that will cause you and your dog little discomfort: Take a yardstick, ruler, or any long, thin implement, and tape a clean plastic cup to the end. Then, the next time you take your dog for a walk and he starts to urinate, slide the cup into his urine stream and collect a sample.
Your vet will probably only need a small amount, so don't worry if you don't collect a large volume. Be sure to store the sample in a clean, dry container; then cover it and bring it immediately to your vet for analysis. Test results may not be accurate if the sample is allowed to sit, even if it is refrigerated.