Digital Transformation in Animal and Agricultural Sciences
Authors: Martina Jezik (University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna) , Peter M. Roth (University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna)
In veterinary medicine, urine specific gravity (USG) is among the most commonly
used indicators of renal function, typically assessed by means of manual refrac-
tometers. However, accurate readings require a trained eye and adequate lighting
conditions, limiting their use outside of clinical settings. This study investigates
whether digital refractometers can serve as a reliable alternative, and in particular
whether pet owners are able to use them independently for continuous at-home
monitoring of their animal’s USG. With a mean deviation of 0.0014 ± 0.0008
between devices, the results demonstrate that digital refractometers yield measure-
ments comparable to those of manual devices, paving the way for broader at-home
use by pet owners.
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How to Cite: Jezik, M. & Roth, P. (2026) “Measuring the Specific Gravity of Urine of Dogs Using Digital Refractometers”, Proceedings of the Austrian Symposium on AI, Robotics, and Vision. 3(1).