Why Are There Microscopic Casts In My Dog Or Cat’s Urine?
Casts Seen Microscopically In Your Dog Or Cat’s Urine
Urine casts are cylindrical microscopic structures composed of cellular debris and protein that originated from the cells that line the lower portions of the tiny tubes (aka tubules) that compose much of your dog or cat’s kidneys. The presence of casts, when extensive, is unnatural, and it is thought that they form when these tubule cells are injured. Depending on their components and shape, they are called cellular, granular, waxy or fatty casts. When they are present, these casts will be found in the sediment that accumulates at the bottom of a test tube of your pet’s urine once it has been spun in a centrifuge and examined by your veterinarian or lab tech, under a microscope (cloudy or turbid urine is not, in itself, evidence that casts are present).
The fact that no casts were found is not sufficient to rule out kidney disease in your dog or cat. But the fact that casts are there is evidence that the pet has a kidney health issue.
The longer a urine specimen sits before examination, the less likely that casts that were once present will still be seen.
About The Author:
Dr. Ron Hines DVM PhD
My name is Dr. Ron Hines, and I am a retired veterinarian in Brownsville, Texas, who provides low-cost or free online consultations to pet owners worldwide.
A trusted veterinarian you can see in person in your town is as important to your pet’s health as a good airplane mechanic is to the success of your next flight. Please use this information wisely to inform yourself – not to diagnose and treat the pets you love. Don’t try to be your own mechanic.
Help Support Us
Dear reader, Besides your donations, visits to the products that Google and others display on this website help defray some of the costs of keeping my articles online to keep you informed. As you already know, sites like mine that intentionally use no AI robots and are not written to Sell You Things are getting harder and harder to find., Best wishes to you and all the little furries that depend on you. Ron Hines