Sadie, a 17-year-old cat, is in final stages of chronic renal failure. On presentation, you anticipate that her urine specific gravity will probably be

Sadie, a 17-year-old cat, is in final stages of chronic renal failure. On presentation, you anticipate that her urine specific gravity will probably be

• A. 1.012
• B. 1.030
• C. 1.040
• D. 1.060

Answer: (C)

Chronic renal failure damages the kidney’s tubules, so its ability to concentrate urine is lost. In this situation the urine becomes isosthenuric, with specific gravity close to plasma—about 1.008 to 1.012. A normal cat’s urine is noticeably more concentrated (often around 1.035–1.060), so end-stage CRF typically presents with dilute urine rather than highly concentrated urine. Among the options, the value near 1.012 best fits the expected isosthenuric urine in late CRF. Values like 1.040, 1.030, or 1.060 would suggest more concentrating ability than is typical for advanced renal failure.

Chronic renal failure damages the kidney’s tubules, so its ability to concentrate urine is lost. In this situation the urine becomes isosthenuric, with specific gravity close to plasma—about 1.008 to 1.012. A normal cat’s urine is noticeably more concentrated (often around 1.035–1.060), so end-stage CRF typically presents with dilute urine rather than highly concentrated urine. Among the options, the value near 1.012 best fits the expected isosthenuric urine in late CRF. Values like 1.040, 1.030, or 1.060 would suggest more concentrating ability than is typical for advanced renal failure.