What does an elevated BUN level mean for a dog?
BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen and is the primary end product of protein metabolism. High levels indicate kidney failure or disease, dehydration, shock, high protein diet, certain toxin ingestions, poor circulation to the kidneys and urinary obstruction.
What happens when BUN levels are high?
High values A high BUN value can mean kidney injury or disease is present. Kidney damage can be caused by diabetes or high blood pressure that directly affects the kidneys. High BUN levels can also be caused by low blood flow to the kidneys caused by dehydration or heart failure.
What level of BUN indicates kidney failure in dogs?
Normal BUN levels in dogs seldom reach higher that 25 to 30 mg/dl. (Mg/dl means milligrams of material per 100 milliliters of blood.) Many patients presented in renal failure have BUN levels of 90 or higher!
How do you lower high BUN levels?
Proper hydration is the most effective way to lower BUN levels. A low-protein diet can also help lower BUN levels. A medication wouldn’t be recommended to lower BUN levels. However, abnormal BUN levels don’t necessarily mean you have a kidney condition.
What causes elevated BUN in dogs?
However, BUN levels can be elevated for other reasons. If the dog wasn’t fasted for at least 12 hours before testing, BUN is likely to be high. A dog that has been on a high-protein diet or is slightly dehydrated can also have slightly elevated BUN results. Stress can also contribute.
What causes high BUN levels in dogs?
High levels of creatinine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) in dogs is usually a sign of poor health. Most commonly, these levels are associated with the kidneys and can indicate that your dog is experiencing kidney disease or even kidney failure.
What is a normal BUN for a dog?
Levels of BUN in Animals. BUN levels in dogs are measured to assess the kidney function and the normal levels are between 8 to 28 mg/dL. Many of the veterinarians take the help of BUN test to diagnose kidney problems in dogs.
What causes elevated creatinine in dogs?
If a dog has high creatinine in their blood serum, urine or even saliva test results, it is because the kidneys are not functioning properly. This means the cause of elevated creatinine levels in dogs is also the cause of kidney damage.
