FAQs

Here are some common questions we receive about the ThePetCheckup product. Click/tap on a question to see the answer.

ThePetCheckup health screen is an at-home urinalysis test for your dog or cat. It is inexpensive, easy to use, and helps you protect the good health of your animal friend by detecting possible illnesses before symptoms or problems even appear. We recommend that you do this 60-second test on your pet’s urine on a monthly basis to stay on top of any abnormalities that may occur. An easy-to-read results chart tells you if there are any abnormalities present. If there are abnormalities, we recommend you consult with your veterinarian.

Each complete ThePetCheckup kit comes with 8 tests and an instruction guide. Refills are available in packages of 6, 12, and 24 tests.

ThePetCheckup screens for imbalances that can be an indication of kidney disease, kidney infections, bacterial infections, urinary tract disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, urinary bladder disease, auto-immune disease, Cushing’s disease, prostrate disease, and hepatitis and liver conditions.

A urinalysis test checks for levels of specific chemicals in your pet’s urine. Abnormal levels of certain chemicals can be a sign of specific illnesses. To perform the test, you apply drops of your pet’s urine to a test strip and wait 30-60 seconds. The areas where you placed the urine will change color and an easy-to-read chart will let you know if there are abnormalities present.

A one-time abnormal result on urinalysis test may not be cause for concern. However, persistent results outside of the normal range indicate the need for professional care. Results from ThePetCheckup test should be used as an initial step in evaluating your animal’s health. Your veterinarian may want to do further testing to provide a medically accurate diagnosis.

Urine reagent strips are sensitive to the elements. Exposure to heat, moisture, light and even air lessen the accuracy of the strips. Once opened, a bottle of test strips will remain effective for just a few months. This is not a consideration in a veterinary clinic as the strips are used up quite quickly. ThePetCheckup test strips are individually packaged so that each strip will remain effective until the expiration date printed on each pouch. You simply tear open a new pouch each time you perform a test. There is no need to be overly concerned about the elements, although it is best not to do the test in direct sunlight.

ThePetCheckup differs in several ways. Most importantly, if there is an imbalance in the test results, you will be able to see the degree of imbalance – whether trace, moderate or large. You will also be able to see how this imbalance changes from month to month and what degree of change. Additionally, working with your veterinarian, you will be able to establish what each of your cat’s “normal” baseline is (like people “normal” may vary from animal to animal), and then see if that baseline changes from month to month.

ThePetCheckup will give you very specific information on the current state of health of your cats as well as clues to any tendencies your cats may have to develop an illness over time.

ThePetCheckup is an essential tool to add to your health care routine because it can detect imbalances in your animals even before symptoms appear. Annual veterinary exams, good food, and exercise are extremely important. However, because changes in your pet’s health can happen in a very short time, it is important to add a monthly ThePetCheckup home test to your pet care routine. Veterinarians agree, early detection is the most powerful tool for protecting the good health of your pet.

Early detection of imbalances through a monthly ThePetCheckup screen alerts you that your animal needs medical attention, even when symptoms are not yet apparent. At this point, your veterinarian has the best chance of treating the disease effectively, or even curing it. If the problem is caught early enough, your veterinarian may be able to prevent an imbalance from becoming a disease. In a study conducted in 2000 by the Pet Health and Nutrition Center in Corning, NY, it was estimated that, when detected early, 74.7% of the common diseases in dogs and 63% of the common diseases in cats can be prevented by dietary modifications alone over a one-year period.

So, just as with humans, animals have the greatest chance at recovery, comfort, and longevity when problems are found early.

We recommend that you test each of your pets once a month. If the test shows an imbalance, retest the animal within 48 hours. If you still find an imbalance, we recommend that you consult your veterinarian.

Each ThePetCheckup kit comes with individually sealed tests. Use a separate test for each dog or cat. We recognize that you have more than one animal who could benefit from ThePetCheckup, and offer discounts on multiple product orders. See ThePetCheckup order page for reordering more test materials.

Getting a urine sample from your pet is easier than you may think. We offer several suggestions and tips in our manual. You will probably want to start by watching your animal’s habits to determine the best time to collect a sample. You need only a tiny amount-about a teaspoon. And remember, if for some reason you are not able to collect a sample on your first attempt, just try again the next day. You will soon discover the method that works best for you and your pet.

Most of us have probably not given urinalysis tests before, but it is extremely easy. By the time you are doing your second test, you will feel like a pro. ThePetCheckup manual guides you through the 4 Easy Steps-from collecting the urine sample to reading and recording the results. The whole test takes about 5 minutes, with plenty of time for each step.

Yes. Most veterinarians routinely use urinalysis tests in their clinics, and they are extremely familiar with the importance of early detection. They may not, however, be familiar with ThePetCheckup, or the fact that an in-home urinalysis test for animals now exists. In developing this product, we spoke with many veterinarians across the country. They were very supportive of this product because they depend on early detection in their treatments. It is a win-win-win situation: for you, your animal, and your veterinarian.

No, it does not screen for cancer, tumors, heart disease, respiratory problems and other illnesses. This is why we strongly recommend that you take your animal to a veterinarian for an annual check up, as well as any time you notice anything unusual in your animal’s behavior or appearance. However, ThePetCheckup does screen for the presence of many of the most common illnesses that can affect your pet, so it is an important addition to the care you provide your animals.

Each of the individually sealed tests in every ThePetCheckup product is date-stamped, so you know exactly when it expires. If for some reason, you have an expired test, simply contact us and we will ship you replacement tests at no charge to you.

Absolutely. Lily&Me offers an unconditional money-back guarantee. Simply contact us and let them know you want to return ThePetCheckup. You will be given instructions for shipping back your unused product and will receive a prompt refund.

No. ThePetCheckup is designed for dogs and cats and cannot be used on any other animals.

Some of the most common illnesses that veterinarians see affect young animals. For example, even puppies and kittens are susceptible to urinary tract disease. When caught early, this illness is easily treatable, but if left untreated, it can become painful and potentially life-threatening.

Currently ThePetCheckup is only available online from our shopping page. However, the product will soon be available through veterinarians, pet stores and catalogs. If you know of a veterinarian, store or catalog that would like to carry ThePetCheckup, please contact us.

Yes. Some of the most fulfilling feedback we hear from our customers is that using ThePetCheckup creates an even deeper “bond” with their animals. As one of our customers reported, “There is a peace of mind that comes from knowing I am doing everything I can to protect the health of my lab mixes, Sammy and Emma. With ThePetCheckup, I am now able to provide a new level of care for them, and I think they understand this, too.”

All of us at ThePetCheckup are very involved with animal welfare. We care about the lives of animals and work hard to help them live happier and healthier lives.

The President of the company served as spay/neuter coordinator for the local shelter in SE Iowa for several years and ran campaigns promoting spay/neuter and low-cost assistance for spay/neuter surgeries. She also oversaw a monthly column in the Iowa Source on the human/animal bond. When she got the idea for ThePetCheckup, she ran focus groups (thank you to Yale Business School) and spoke with many veterinarians, animal welfare groups and animal caregivers throughout the country to determine how best to present ThePetCheckup in a manner that would be most helpful for caring pet owners who want to take a more preventative stance in protecting the health of their dogs and cats.