How is a urine dipstick test for glucose interpreted in animals?

• A. Negative.
• B. Positive for glucose indicates glucosuria; could indicate diabetes mellitus or stress hyperglycemia.
• C. Indicates kidney failure.
• D. Indicates dehydration.

Answer: (B)

Glucose in urine shows glucosuria, meaning the kidneys are letting glucose spill into the urine because blood glucose is high enough to exceed the tubules’ reabsorption capacity. In animals, the most common reasons this happens are diabetes mellitus, where chronic high blood sugar overwhelms reabsorption, or stress hyperglycemia, where acute illness or stress temporarily raises blood glucose enough to cause glucosuria. Remember, a positive dipstick indicates glucosuria but isn’t a definitive diagnosis on its own—you’d follow up with serum glucose and clinical assessment to determine the underlying cause.