# I need to buy litmus paper/Ph testing strips **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447 "2012-09-02T15:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/1 "2012-09-02T15:14:10Z")
2 of my three dogs have bladder and/or kidney issues and my vet suggested I start testing the Ph of their urine at home. there is nothing available locally so I am shopping online and it’s confusing. every product I find on amazon has at least some reviews about how inaccurate it is - what can I buy that is reliable? even once I find something I know it will be a challenge to get a reading on Bunny - the boys will pee on anything another dog has and they “aim” up - so I can still the paper in there. but Bunny? I tried getting a sample from her once with a soup ladle and she indicated she would hold it forever before she’d pee with that thing coming up behind her. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/2 "2012-09-02T15:25:18Z")
Just buy some urinalysis test strips from a chemists. They’re cheap, reasonably accurate and GPs use them as an indicator test for UTI. You aren’t going to get an “accurate” pH reading without a pH probe, and they take some skill to use. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/3 "2012-09-02T18:02:58Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > 2 of my three dogs have bladder and/or kidney issues and my vet suggested I start testing the Ph of their urine at home. there is nothing available locally so I am shopping online and it’s confusing. > > every product I find on amazon has at least some reviews about how inaccurate it is - what can I buy that is reliable? > > even once I find something I know it will be a challenge to get a reading on Bunny - the boys will pee on anything another dog has and they “aim” up - so I can still the paper in there. but Bunny? I tried getting a sample from her once with a soup ladle and she indicated she would hold it forever before she’d pee with that thing coming up behind her. :dubious: How big a dog is she? I am thinking that you could pad train her like a puppy, and sort of sop the litmus strip against her wet spot. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/4 "2012-09-02T18:46:22Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > Just buy some urinalysis test strips from a chemists. > > They’re cheap, reasonably accurate and GPs use them as an indicator test for UTI. > > You aren’t going to get an “accurate” pH reading without a pH probe, and they take some skill to use. I live in a tiny town, far from civilization and I called the three places locally that have a “drugstore” : _nobody_ has anything like that. I need to get something online. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/5 "2012-09-02T18:49:24Z")
Aruvqan she is a small dog (10 pounds) and we do have the pads for in the house…kind of hit or miss. thanks for the thought. it’s going to be something like that - sopping her “spot” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/6 "2012-09-02T19:06:20Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I live in a tiny town, far from civilization and I called the three places locally that have a “drugstore” : _nobody_ has anything like that. I need to get something online. They sell them on Amazon, [here](http://www.amazon.com/Response-Parameter-Urinalysis-Reagent-Strips/dp/B001EUAXZM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346612618&sr=8-1&keywords=Urinalysis). ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/7 "2012-09-02T21:30:49Z")
I got [these](http://www.amazon.com/Solid-Gold-Supplements-pH-Strips/dp/B0048ZE5SG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346620343&sr=8-2&keywords=solid+gold+test+strips) from Amazon. I test my dog once a month. I also recommend a cranberry supplement. I picked up some NaturVet Cranberry Relief at the local pet store, although Amazon has it as well. It’s a powder you can mix with food or water. I started using it after my dog had to have a bladder full of stones surgically removed. Her urine tests between 6.5 & 7 now. To be fair, I don’t know what it was before the surgery, but I like where it is now. ETA: I stick a plastic container underneath her and capture some urine, then just stick the test trip in the container. Also, test the urine 1st thing in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hero_From_Sector_7G)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-litmus-paper-ph-testing-strips/633447/8 "2012-09-02T21:45:10Z")
Use red cabbage water! > **[Make Your Own pH Indicator With Red Cabbage](https://www.thoughtco.com/making-red-cabbage-ph-indicator-603650)** > > Making pH indicator solution using cabbage is easy, exhibits many colors, and can be used to make pH paper strips. Learn how here.