If you have dogs, odds are at some point you’ll be required to obtain a urine sample from your dog. Do you wonder how to do that?
I mean it’s not like you can hand your dog a cup and ask them to pee in it. And try and slip that specimen cup in the land down under and you could come up with a wet hand or even worse.
Well guess what?
Urine luck, (see what I did there?)
Today I’m going to give you a simple, $2 solution which will make getting that urine sample super simple.
The first time I was told to bring in a urine sample for Delilah, I asked, “How am I supposed to do that?”
I was told to use a disposable pie pan and slip it under her when she squatted down to pee.
Right.
That was a fucking challenge. Delilah didn’t take too kindly to me following around behind her and trying to slip a pan under her ass. Eventually I somehow must have prevailed but knew there had to be a better way.
I can’t remember where I first heard about the urine ladle (I think it was Jen at My Brown Newfies,) and let me tell you, it’s been a life saver!
At first I used this little tiny ladle that I scarfed up from some catered event.
It’s like those little ladles you find in the dressing bucket at the salad bar. Yes there is some tape on it that says dog pee. Just in case someone finds it and tries to use it serve food at one of our family dinners.
The problem with this is, it’s little and tiny. Not only is the scoop part of the ladle tiny, but the handle is short as well, which means you are bending down really close to your dog’s business to get that sample.
A couple of months ago, I went to the Dollar Store and picked up a ladle along with a package of four containers.
I put these in a bag called Dog Specimen Collection kit and I put it in one of my kitchen cabinets.
Because no-one should start the morning with dog pee on them.
The great thing about this full-size ladle is the ‘bowl’ of the spoon can hold quite a bit of urine and the long handle lets you just dip down, catch the pee and move along.
Who says the cheap ladles aren’t good for something?
It works like a dream with Delilah. Even if the bottom of the ‘bowl’ touches the ground, you are not cross-contaminating the urine.
Last week I needed to get a sample from Sampson in order for the vet to check it.
Some of you with male dogs will know this, and this might be a news flash to others. But not all male dogs lift their legs to pee.
Some male dogs lift, some squat and then there are the ones who are bi-urinators. (I know Jen made that shit up, but you have to admit, it’s funny.)
Sampson is a bi-urinator. I’m never sure if he will squat or lift.
We have lift-off!
And that’s where the beauty of the ladle comes in. Here’s how it works.
I take a container and remove the cover and slip the cover and container inside my jacket pocket. I hold the ladle in one hand and the leash in the other.
We walk outside and when the dog squats or lifts, like a pee Ninja, I slide the ladle into the urine stream. Once I’ve got enough in the ‘bowl’ of the ladle, I have the dog wait while I take out the container and transfer the urine from the ladle to the container. Once you’ve done that you can even toss the ladle on the ground while you get the cover on the container.
I then shake the ladle off and carry it back into the house. Word to the wise, watch where you shake that thing if it’s windy, and make sure it’s not too close to your body, or your face. Another piece of advice, don’t spit into the wind.
I rinse it off in the sink, then let it sit there. When I’ve finished all the dishes, I take a paper towel, dip it in the dish washing solution and wash and rinse the ladle. I set it to dry on a separate piece of paper towel and once it has dried, I put it back inside the bag, until it’s needed again.
Once you’ve procured your dog’s urine, you will need to store it until you can get it to the vet’s office, because you know, they want that first specimen of the morning, but the vet’s office is rarely open that early.
The first thing to do is to take a plastic bag and label it with a Sharpie. I suggest putting the dog’s name, and the time you took the sample.
Ziplock Sandwich bag…just in case it tips.
Then I take a paper towel, wrap it around the container and place it in the refrigerator until I’m ready to go.
Take my advice, don’t tip this shit over or you’ll have a real mess on your hands, because the lids on these containers are tight, but they definitely are not spill proof.
I put it in the cup holder of the car to keep it from tipping over. Of course if I roll the car, it’s all over. hehehe, boy I’m full of them today. 😉
And THAT my friends is how to get a urine sample from your dog. Male or female, squatter or lifter, single or bi-urinator.
Ladle = $1
4 little containers = $1
Not having to stick your face in your dog’s junk = priceless.
Nice work. So far we have never had to try this. I think it would be quite difficult though.
I kind of remember having to do this once, but it was a long time ago so I don’t even remember how I attempted it. This is really great!! Next time I’m at the dollar store, I’ll pick this stuff up. It’s best to be prepared, right?
Brilliant! I do remember Jen posting about this, but it was awhile ago. Sharing this because you’ve made it so simple 🙂
This info literally made my day – Thanks so much – I will be hitting the Dollar store this week. BTW – I really enjoy your blog!
I’ve never had to do this. I thought “bring in a urine sample from your dog” was just veterinarian humor. But thanks for instructions,
I use old yoghurt containers (Blueberry Noosa to be precise). I simply walk behind Blueberry into the yard (no leash required!) and as she is squatting I smoothly (that’s right, I’m a pee Ninja too) place the yoghurt container under her and voila! No muss, no fuss. No one was more surprised than I that this worked the first time I tried it. I think she was happy to have me accompany her during her morning pee and wasn’t at all bothered by the placement of the container. I will have to do this on Friday before her annual senior exam. Let’s pray that the urine collection goes well this year too.
That is a good idea. Whenever I have needed a sample, they have wanted a sterile sample so I had to take the dog or cat in so they could get that.
My dogs shut off the flow if they see me coming anywhere near them! Plus, they are so busy distributing precisely 3 drops(conservation, baby! There’s a lot to mark on a couple mile walk!) on each item they want to mark that it’s hard to get enough even if I am lucky and catch it before the shut-off valve activates.
YOU are the priceless one, Jodi! 😂
We might have to invest in one of these!
Great advice but now she’s peeing on pee pads in her bed, any advice on that? Would love to take a specimen to her vet to check for any UTI thanks
Love your title and really good idea for getting pee!!
Priceless! I am still laughing. All kidding aside that is how I do it too but yes was first told to do the pie pan and every time I would try to get it under one of the girls they would move. Great idea to keep a kit handy.
That is such a good idea! You’re right the metal pan thing is just awkward!! I had to have UA on Zoe last year and it wasn’t fun collecting the pee.
By now we’ve become quite the dog urine collecting pros. We too got ourselves a ladle, long handle and a straight cup for lesser chance of spillage. We ca collect murine in our sleep. LOL
Just when I think you have nothing further to teach me 😉
This was a awesome post! I like how you put your kit together and labeled it. It was also so smart to put the time on the bag and keep it in the refrid. most people don’t do this and we like to know how old the urine is.
So much awesomeness in this post! The title made me die laughing this morning! And great advice on the kit! My urine collecting stuff is scattered all over the garage I’m sure, totally contaminated. Brilliant with putting the time of collection on the sample too!
OMD!! You’re a genius!! I love this post and you had me laughing. Thankfully I’ve never had to do this…yet… but i’m sure it’ll be in our future too. 🙂
This is fantastic advice! I used to work as a CVT and they had these ridiculous plastic flat containers I was supposed to use to collect samples and then one tech showed me this trick! It saved me from having to always do a cysto with a dog — unless it had to be sterile… GREAT tip for folks that have to collect frequently!
Just love your idea! Cheap and easy! A lot of people are like you and don’t know how to collect a urine at home so this was very helpful.