title: Urinalysis in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate urine variables in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera).
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine samples from 41 chinchillas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Voided urine samples were collected from clinically normal chinchillas that were exhibited during a breeder exposition. Urinalysis was performed within 1 hour after collection. Urine specific gravity (USG) was measured before and after centrifugation with a handheld veterinary refractometer. Urine dipstick analysis and microscopic sedimentation examination were performed on all samples. Additionally, a urine sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) precipitation test and quantitative protein analysis were performed on samples with sufficient volume.
  
  
  RESULTS
  17 of 41 (41%) samples had a USG ≥ 1.050, and USG ranged from 1.014 to > 1.060. The USG before centrifugation did not differ significantly from that after centrifugation. Protein was detected in all urine samples on dipstick analysis. The SSA precipitation test yielded negative results for all samples tested. Results of the quantitative protein analyses were not correlated with the results of the dipstick analyses or SSA tests. The recorded pH for all samples was 8.5, which was the upper limit of detection for the reagent strip. Glucose and ketones were detected in 5 and 6 samples, respectively. Crystals were observed in 28 of 41 (68%) samples; 27 of those samples contained amorphous crystals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinalysis results for clinically normal chinchillas were provided. For chinchilla urine samples, measurement of USG by refractometry prior to centrifugation is acceptable and protein concentration should be determined by quantitative protein analysis rather than dipstick analysis or the SSA test.
authors.forename: Grayson A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mans
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Houseright
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla / Q000652:urine*; D003116:Color; D003460:Crystallization / Q000662:veterinary; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D013046:Specific Gravity; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology