? Leukocytes in Mia's urine

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by FurBabiesMama, Jul 13, 2018.

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  1. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    Jul 6, 2017
    Hi. Mia's glucose numbers have been high the last few days. So, I have been checking everything I can. She does not have ketones. I use PrettyLitter when I have concerns to see if the urine changes the litter color indicating an issue. I put some out a few days ago, and it was yellow she went and when Willow went, so I stopped controlling access to the room where it is and was just letting them use it as they wish until it is ready to be thrown out.

    When I scooped it yesterday morning, there was blue/green litter. The litter info says if you see a color change once to monitor for 24 to 48 hours to see if it persists. I put out fresh PrettyLitter and begin controlling access again. When Mia has gone, it has been just slightly greenish (compared to Willow's that is just very yellow.) The litter info says yellow to a light 'olive green' is okay. So, supposedly, it is okay, but when I have used this to test in the past, it was always just yellow. So, I ordered PetConfirm Urine Collection Cat Litter and UTI test and had it shipped to me overnight. It came today, and I did a test. It shows positive for Leukocytes but negative for blood and Nitrites. When i started looking up info, it sounds like maybe the Leukocytes do not matter so much??? Her glucose numbers so far today look so much better... could she have had an issue that cleared up on it's own?

    Can someone who knows about this stuff PLEASE help me? I don't want to overreact, but I also do not want to ignore a warning sign. Should I call the vet's office and ask if I can take in a urine sample for them to test? Should I take her in? Should I wait and see, maybe test again in a day or two?

    MiaUTITest.jpg
     
  2. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    I wish I knew enough to help. Maybe it's worth waiting until tomorrow and keeping a close eye on her?
     
  3. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    In cats the leucocyte pad/granules on urine dipsticks is 99+% false positive. Unless Mia has symptoms of urinary problems I would not do anything
     
  4. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    Thanks @Larry and Kitties Why do they even put it on these things then? The only indication of an issue I have had with her is her BG all the sudden running higher. And, this is the first time her urine has turned anything other than completely yellow in the PrettyLitter.

    I called the vet's office earlier and asked if they would do a urinalysis for me if I bring in a urine sample tomorrow, and the lady said yes. Mia has not had one since November. I wanted her to have one at her May visit, but the vet said her bladder was empty. So, if she will cooperate as well as she did today, and I can get a urine sample, I think I will get the urinalysis just for peace of mind.
     
    Kris & Teasel likes this.
  5. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    I appreciate the desire to help. :bighug: I would not know what to even watch for other than for her BG to go high again. I have not seen any symptoms as far as issues with her litter box use or amount of urination or anything like that.
     
  6. Rachel

    Rachel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 25, 2013
    Peace of mind is priceless. I'd do the same thing...it never hurts to just have them check it out and you'll feel better knowing. The good thing is you know she CAN pee and doesn't seem to be in pain. Something good to focus on until you can get that sample tested.:bighug:
     
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  7. StephG

    StephG Well-Known Member

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    Sep 8, 2016
    I've had a positive reading after a round of antibiotics. Urine culture was negative. I've also had the opposite happen too.
     
  8. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    Jul 6, 2017
    Mia seems to have decided she does not need to pee this morning. :banghead: The vet's office is open 4 hours...one has passed, three to go... come on Mia!
     
  9. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    Jul 6, 2017
    Mia finally came through about an hour and a half before the vet's office closed. They said she does not have a UTI.. there is no bacteria present.

    I am confused about these Leukocytes. I asked for a copy of the results. They show 'Leuk 500' (I think it is 500, could be 300... they wrote in the results on everything by hand). I have been 'Googling' Leukocytes. I have seen several sources say that the dipstick tests are very inaccurate for cats and sediment evaluation is better. The doctor's overall notes say 'Sediment: No significant findings'. So, I am wondering if the 500 is from a dipstick test or the sediment evaluation. (If dipstick tests are very inaccurate, surely they would not bother with that.. right??) I tried to find a 'normal' range for this, but what I found was that cat urine should not contain any Leukocytes, and that they can be an indication of inflammation or infection.. even saw the dreaded 'cancer' mentioned. :eek:

    I had some concerns after Mia's bloodwork in May; I posted about that: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...ork-results-gurus-please.195827/#post-2192489 "The only thing that is out of the reference range is Monocyte which is 864. It was only 170 back in November. Everything else is in the ranges, but my concern is the differences between her Nov results and now. On the Labs tab, I highlighted the things that I noticed. (For example, Neutrophils are down from 12,410 to 8,750; Basophils are up from 0 to 25.) I really did not know what these things are so I have been looking up info, and it seems that, at the very least, she may have some chronic inflammation."

    So, here I am again... another test where the vets say everything is fine, yet something is obviously at least slightly off from Mia's past normal. Why would she keep having these little indicators of something being off (at least inflammation) if everything is 'fine'. Are little warning signs being ignored?
     
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  10. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    I just had a UA ran for my BunBun, the results were done by the Antech Lab, leucocytes is not even listed. Looked at another done in-house and it listed ++.
    As I said, the pad/granulars are not accurate for cats. I would just ignore it. The microscopic examination would list the number of WBC/leukocytes per High Power Field (HPF), one lab report says 1-3 are normal
     
    FurBabiesMama likes this.
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