From:
sheziwa@gis.net
Date: 2006-04-25 01:14:48 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Urine specific gravity
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
One of my kids has been on constant watch for renal failure for a
couple of years now because when he pees it seems to be large
quantities of very light-colored urine.
Urine specific gravity is an indicator of the kidney's ability to
concentrate urine (conserve body water) or dilute it (get rid of
excess). Urine leaving the kidney is more or less watery due to the
work of the kidney. So, very concentrated dark urine AND very
watery clear urine show a functioning kidney at work to maintain
proper hydration status, regardless of moisture content of diet. But
that does mean that if the diet is very high in moisture, the animal
may have to urinate more than an animal on a kibble diet (who may
be drinking more, in comparison).
The failing kidney loses the ability to properly concentrate or dilute
the fluid going through it, so the specific gravity of urine leaving the
kidney is within the same range as when it entered that kidney.
This same in/same out status is Isosthenuria.
The isosthenuric range is well documented for dogs and cats but
no-one's been able to furnish me with hard info for ferrets. In
general ferrets seem to normally concentrate their urine far more
than dogs and somewhat more than cats--but that's just my
observation. My own ferret's USG hovers around 1.028--which I
consider somewhat low. I would be concerned about a consistent
USG as low as 1.012 persisting through a few rechecks.
Ultrasound can be useful for examining kidney's status as
shape/size/texture can indicate disease.
skyla
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