Dark urine is typically associated with what specific gravity (SG)?

Dark urine is typically associated with increased specific gravity (SG). This is because darker urine often indicates a higher concentration of solutes, which can occur in situations where the body is dehydrated or when there is an increased excretion of waste products. When an animal is dehydrated, the kidneys conserve water by concentrating the urine, thereby increasing the SG.

In contrast, decreased SG indicates diluted urine, which is not generally associated with dark coloration. Normal SG refers to a typical concentration of urine associated with proper hydration and normal kidney function, and irregular SG would suggest variability that does not align with consistent physical properties of urine. Therefore, the link between dark urine and increased specific gravity helps in assessing hydration status and kidney function in clinical pathology.