[meleagris]

I have a question for any of you with some experience with this. I have 3 dogs (the three males..haven't tested Skimmer) that have now come up with elevated BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen). The first tested high ~ a month ago...the second two this week. I am told the normal range for dogs this ~8-28 mg/dl. Two dogs have tested at 35mg/dl and the third was 45 mg/dl. The creatine levels were within normal levels.

I've read and read on the internet and can't really find how "elevated" these levels are. At this point we are going to switch their food to a prescription diet. The first dog returned to a "normal" level of ~25 mg/dl with a month of the prescription food. I'm just wondering with creatine levels being normal if these elevated levels of BUN are a result of stress or something else. The only common factors are food (eukanuba large breed)and stress (not getting the training they want) as they are different ages (2,5,6) and completely different breedings.

Any thoughts would be appreciated,

Thanks,

John
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LovelyWendie99

 

[EdA]

I have 3 dogs (the three males..haven't tested Skimmer) that have now come up with elevated BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen). The first tested high ~ a month ago...the second two this week. I am told the normal range for dogs this ~8-28 mg/dl. Two dogs have tested at 35mg/dl and the third was 45 mg/dl. The creatine levels were within normal levels. John

There are non-renal causes for BUN elevations

BUN elevations pre-renal

1. high protein diet
2. inadequate perfusion of the kidney (e.g. Addison's disease or cardiac disease)
3. intestinal bleeding
4. dehydration

most commercial laboratories reference value for canine BUN is low to mid 30s

the dog with the BUN of 45 might merit further investigation

1. urine protein:creatinine ratio
2. urinalysis with a water deprivation specific gravity
3. fecal occult blood
4. abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the kidneys
5. ACTH response test to evaluate adrenal gland function

the dogs on performance diets who have BUN values in the mid 30s are normal

 

[ErinsEdge]

Thanks for the references on normal dogs on Euk Performance Dr Ed. I have an older male that was on Euk Performance and had a BUN 28 and 1.6 creatinine but was also slightly dehydrated at the time. We did the protein creatinine ratio and after a long weekend of thinking he going into renal problems and the ratio was normal. A year later he had tests run and his BUN was 12, creatinine 0.8 and he had been switched to adult.

 

[meleagris]

the dogs on performance diets who have BUN values in the mid 30s are normal

Thank you. I had wondered if something like this was possible.

John
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Lovely Wendie99