Practically speaking though, an untrained dog can be sampled either immediately or later, after exercise (even if strenuous). Exercise: Exercise may increase blood creatinine concentration in greyhounds (by about 20% in the 60 minutes following exercise), but apparently not in sled dogs.Time of sampling: There is no known variation in blood creatinine throughout the day in dogs, but the possible effects of meals should be considered (see below).(graph reproduced with kind permission of J Aasen, R Heiene, C Trangerud and E Teske) In a recent study this effect is also observed in dogs of different breeds. Breed: Blood creatinine is generally higher in large dog breeds.However, there are wide differences in concentration between dogs of similar size and considerable overlap between smaller and larger dogs (Figure I).In contrast, muscle atrophy in cachexia may decrease blood creatinine values. Large muscle mass may explain moderately increased blood creatinine concentration. Body weight: Blood creatinine increases with the body weight in dogs.

In healthy geriatric dogs, blood creatinine is similar to that observed in young adults. Age: Blood creatinine increases during growth in the puppy up to one year.What physiological factors affect blood creatinine concentration? Cephalosporins may increase blood creatinine values determined by Jaffé's method by up to 50%. With assays based on Jaffé's reaction (still largely used in human laboratories, but not in veterinary practice), high concentrations of bilirubin, lipids, and glucose may lead to overestimation of blood creatinine concentrations. Analytical interferences: Haemolysis has no effect on blood creatinine.At -20☌, stability is excellent (at least eight months). Storage: Creatinine is stable at 20☌ for up to 24 hours in blood without anticoagulant and up to three days in plasma or serum.plasma: Creatinine concentrations are similar in serum and plasma. What are the optimal analytical conditions?

Intestinal absorption of exogenous creatinine (some creatine in meat is converted to creatinine during cooking).

Reduction in extracellular fluid volume: dehydration may increase blood creatinine concentration when dehydration exceeds 5%.

High muscle production of creatinine, especially in dog breeds with large muscle mass, such as boxers, greyhounds, sled dogs, etc.

'Azotemia' refers to an increases in either or both of these analytes, but the focus here is on creatinine, because of its central role in the IRIS protocols for Staging CKD and for Grading AKI.Īlthough hypercreatininemia occurs with substantial renal dysfunction, some other possibilities have to be considered as well, because moderate hypercreatininemia could also be related to: When renal function decreases beyond a certain point, an increase in blood creatinine concentration (hypercreatininemia) ensues, usually accompanied by increased urea concentration. in either plasma or serum) is principally interpreted in relation to renal elimination. The concentration of creatinine in blood (i.e. What does an increase in blood creatinine concentration indicate? The main reasons are to detect and/or monitor acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Once it reaches the blood stream, creatinine is filtered freely by glomeruli and is neither reabsorbed nor secreted significantly by renal tubules. This occurs at an almost constant rate, such that about 2 % of the body's creatine and phosphocreatine pool (mostly present in muscle) is converted to creatinine each day. R Heiene, Oslo, Norway Where does creatinine come from?Ĭreatinine is produced in vivo by an irreversible, non-enzymatic process. Interpreting blood creatinine concentration in dogs (revised 2022)

Creatinine normal range