SDMA Blood Testing
Your cat’s kidneys play a vital role in maintaining their health. They help control blood pressure, regulate the bloodstream, produce important hormones, enzymes, and red blood cells, as well as remove metabolic waste from the blood. If their kidneys aren’t able to do their job properly, this can lead to significant and life-threatening problems, such as Kidney Failure.
The presence of kidney disease is determined using blood and urine testing. To find the underlying cause, other testing may be required such as ultrasound/biopsy. Initially, a blood test is performed to check the over all blood count, but specifically the kidney function due to the animals presenting symptoms.
Because the signs of kidney disease (eg vomiting, increased drinking and urination, decreased appetite and weightloss ) may be seen with other diseases (eg gastro, pancreatitis), we generally run a full blood profile that includes markers of kidney disease.
Blood parameters that tell us about the kidneys’ ability to remove metabolic wastes are:
Creatinine – this is a waste product of muscle breakdown and is always present in the blood at pretty steady levels unless there is a problem with kidney function, when it goes up
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) – this is a waste product of protein metabolism and is also always present in the blood, but unlike creatinine, it is influenced by factors such as dietary protein, intestinal bleeding and hydration and so is less accurate
Symmetrical Dimethylarginine (SDMA) – is a newer test that also elevates when the kidneys aren’t able to clear wastes, except this one becomes abnormal much sooner than creatinine and allows for earlier detection
When creatinine, BUN and SDMA are above normal, your cat is said to be azotaemic. If these have built up to a point where your cat is ill from them, this is a condition called uraemia. That is, it’s possible to have elevated kidney parameters and still feel okay. And all cats are different when it comes to what level they start feeling unwell.
As well as diagnosing renal disease, these parameters are used to determine the grade and stage of disease.
When booking in your cats next health check chat to the veterinarian about SDMA testing!