All FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Kidney Health - For Cats

What is the function of the Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test for Cats and Dogs measures urea levels in your pet’s saliva in just two minutes, helping identify changes in kidney health. 

  • Urea, a waste product from protein breakdown, is a crucial indicator of kidney function. If you notice elevated levels on your pet’s test, we encourage you to speak with your veterinarian about further testing.

Is the Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test a substitute for blood work?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test for Cats and Dogs complements regular lab work but doesn't replace it. 

  • Elevated results suggest consultation with a vet for further testing. High levels of urea in your pet’s saliva can result from various conditions.

How do I administer the test?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test is a saliva test. To collect a sample and get your results, remove one of the test strips from the package, and rub the pad of the test strip along your cat’s gumline for 5 seconds on each side of the mouth to get it fully wet. 

  • Start a timer for 2 minutes. When time is up, immediately compare the color of the test strip pad to the color-scoring scale on the test package to get your Final Result and our recommendation. 

  • Do not leave the test strip unattended in your cat’s mouth. Avoid damaging the pad on your cat’s teeth or tongue. If the pad does become damaged, repeat the test with a new test strip.

When is the best time to collect a saliva sample from my cat?

  • The best time to collect a saliva sample is first thing in the morning, before feeding.

  • Food particles can contaminate the sample and make your results less accurate. Avoid meals and treats at least 10 minutes prior to testing.

How long does it take to get my results?

  • After you collect your cat’s saliva sample, it takes exactly 2 minutes for the test strip to work its magic, then you can read your results.

How do I interpret the results?

  • Compare the color at the center of your test strip pad to the color-scoring scale on your test package. 

  • The number of the color that matches your test strip will tell you your Final Result (Green, Yellow, or Red). 

  • For each possible Final Result, recommendations are included on the testpackage.

  • If you’re unsure of the color, repeat the test with a new strip.

Can I bring my test results to my veterinarian?

  • We do not recommend bringing your test strip into your veterinarian as the results are no longer accurate after 5 minutes.  

  • If you’d like to review your results with your veterinarian, we recommend taking a photo of your test strip against the color-scoring scale. Keep in mind, however, poor lighting can affect how the results appear in your picture.

Why does the test come with 2 test strips?

  • Cats can be funny. They can try to gnaw on the test strip, put up a good fight, or simply be dehydrated when you try to collect a sample. 

  • We provide you with 2 test strips in each package, so you can try again if something happens to the first test strip, or you can do a quick retest later that day to double check your results.

How long after opening the packaging can I use the test strips?

  • Store your test strips in their packaging in a cool, day place until you’re ready to administer the test.

  • After you open the packaging, we recommend administering the test immediately.

  • Do not reuse test strips. If 3 months have passed since you opened the test strip packaging or the expiration date on the packaging has passed, we recommend disposing of the tests strips as they may no longer be accurate or reliable.

How often should I retest my cat’s kidney health?

  • That depends on your Final Result. The recommendation can be retest in 3-6 months, retest in 1 month, or contact your veterinarian immediately. 

  • If your cat was stressed or dehydrated while taking the test, you may want to wait a month and retest to confirm the results. 

  • If your pet continues to get Green as their Final Result, we suggest retesting your cat every 6 months if they’re younger than 7 years and every 3 months if they’re older than 7 years.

Does the test require me to download an app?

  • No, all the information you need to administer the test and get your results is available on the test package and our Petivity website. 

  • We don’t currently have an app associated with our Petivity Health Tests. If you have any questions, please contact our Petivity Support team.

Is it okay to test on cats of all life stages?

  • From kittens to senior cats, pets of all ages can benefit from a Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test to establish a baseline for their Final Result and track changes over time. 

  • As your cat ages, the chances of developing kidney health issues tend to increase, so monitoring results over the life of your precious cat can help you stay proactive in your pet health care.

Can I test my cat’s kidney health even if they are missing some (or all) of their teeth?

  • Yes, since you’ll be collecting a saliva sample along their gumline, our test is still valuable for cats that are missing teeth.

Does this test replace a visit to the vet?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test is not a replacement for regular visits to the veterinarian. 

  • It’s ideal for testing in-between routine visits or as directed by your veterinarian for frequent kidney health testing.

Kidney Health - For Dogs

What is the function of the Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test for Cats and Dogs measures urea levels in your pet’s saliva in just two minutes, helping identify changes in kidney health.

  • Urea, a waste product from protein breakdown, is a crucial indicator of kidney function. If you notice elevated levels on your pet’s test, we encourage you to speak with your veterinarian about further testing.

Is the Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test a substitute for blood work?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test for Cats and Dogs complements regular lab work but doesn't replace it.

  • Elevated results suggest consultation with a vet for further testing. High levels of urea in your pet’s saliva can result from various conditions.

How do I administer the test?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test is a saliva test. To collect a sample and get your results, remove one of the test strips from the package, and rub both pads of the test strip along your dog’s gumline for 5 seconds on each side of the mouth to get it fully wet.

  • Start a timer for 2 minutes. When time is up, immediately compare the color of the test strip pads to the color-scoring scale on the test package to get your Final Result and our recommendation.

  • Do not leave the test strip unattended in your pet’s mouth. Avoid damaging the pad on your pet’s teeth or tongue. If either pad does become damaged, repeat the test with a new test strip.

When is the best time to collect a saliva sample from my dog?

  • The best time to collect a saliva sample is first thing in the morning, before feeding.

  • Food particles can contaminate the sample and make your results less accurate. Avoid meals and treats at least 10 minutes prior to testing.

How long does it take to get my results?

  • After you collect your pet’s saliva sample, it takes exactly 2 minutes for the test strip to work its magic, then you can read your results.

How do I interpret the results?

  • Compare the color at the center of both test strip pads to the related color-scoring scale on your test package.

  • The number of the color that matches your test strip for the A pad plus the number for your B pad will tell you your Final Result (Green, Yellow, or Red).

  • For each possible Final Result, recommendations are included on the test package.

  • If you’re unsure of the color, repeat the test with a new strip.

Can I bring my test results to my veterinarian?

  • We do not recommend bringing your test strip into your veterinarian, as the results are no longer accurate after 5 minutes.

  • If you’d like to review your results with your veterinarian, we recommend taking a photo of your test strip against the color-scoring scale. Keep in mind, however, poor lighting can affect how the results appear in your picture.

Why does the test come with 2 test strips?

  • Dogs can be funny. They can try to gnaw on the test strip, put up a good fight, or simply be dehydrated when you try to collect a sample.

  • We provide you with 2 test strips in each package, so you can try again if something happens to the first test strip, or you can do a quick retest later that day to double check your results.

  • It is not recommended to save a test strip for 3-6 months after taking it out of the package

How long after opening the packaging can I use the test strips?

  • Store your test strips in their packaging in a cool, day place until you’re ready to administer the test.

  • After you open the packaging, we recommend administering the test immediately.

  • Do not reuse test strips.

  • If 3 months have passed since you opened the test strip packaging or the expiration date on the packaging has passed, we recommend disposing of the tests strips as they may no longer be accurate or reliable.

How often should I retest my pet’s kidney health?

  • That depends on your Final Result. The recommendation can be retest in 3-6 months, retest in 1 month, or contact your veterinarian immediately.

  • If your pet was stressed or dehydrated while taking the test, you may want to wait a month and retest to confirm the results.

  • If your pet continues to get Green (0/1) as their Final Result, we suggest retesting your pet every 6 months if they’re younger than 7 and every 3 months if they’re older than 7.

Does the test require me to download an app?

  • No, all the information you need to administer the test and get your results is available on the test package and our Petivity website.

  • We don’t currently have an app associated with our Petivity Health Tests. If you have any questions, please contact our Petivity Support team.

Is it okay to test on dogs of all life stages?

  • From puppies to senior dogs, pets of all ages can benefit from a Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test to establish a baseline for their Final Result and track changes over time.

  • As your pet ages, the chances of developing kidney health issues tend to increase, so in monitoring results over the life of your pet can help you stay proactive in your pet’s health care.

Can I test my pet’s kidney health even if they are missing some (or all) of their teeth?

  • Yes, since you’ll be collecting a saliva sample along their gumline, our test is still valuable for dogs that are missing teeth.

Does this test replace a visit to the vet?

  • The Petivity At-Home Kidney Health Test is not a replacement for regular visits to the veterinarian. It’s ideal for testing in-between routine visits or as directed by your veterinarian for frequent kidney health testing.