I’m not a huge fan of the urine test specifically for identifying PSS, although we always have a routine urine test on the same day we do blood work on puppies and annually on our adults. Urine shows lots of things that general blood work might miss. So, I think every dog should have a urine sample and blood chemistry each year. … I am also not a huge fan of urine samples taken by owners rather than a vet or tech…. any other method other than cystocentesis (needle extraction) cannot be void of contaminations. Contaminations can be from the vagina / prepuce, hair and skin (even if the urine is “caught” as it is excreted), or the container in which the sample is collected. Once contaminated, it is no longer a diagnostic specimen, just yucky pee in a cup
. That said, uncontaminated diagnostic urine samples have shown to be very useful in identifying liver enzymes in lots of mammals and suggest possible PSS along with other hepatic issues. The most adequate test is certainly a serum bile acid test. If you are really concerned about PSS, start with the Serum test… If she's not shown any symptoms of PSS such as Neurological dysfunction (hepatoencepholopathy), poor appetite, very sleepy / lazy, vomiting or diarrhea occasionally, and poor coordination to full on seizures after meals, the urine test will probably be fine. However, if even one of the symptoms have presented, opt for the serum test.
All new parents should have a full blood chemistry done and a urine analysis if your breeder does not do this prior to pick up (ask for documentation to occompany your puppy if in doubt)