What is High Levels of Blood Nitrogen?
Your veterinarian may refer to high levels of blood nitrogen in your cat as azotemia or uremia. Both are serious symptoms of underlying conditions only a veterinary professional is qualified to treat. If you suspect your cat has excess nitrogenous waste in her blood, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Several compounds in your cat's blood may contain nitrogen, such as creatinine, urea, and other byproducts of protein digestion. Levels of nitrogen-containing substances in the blood that are too high may indicate excessive dietary intake of protein, dehydration, or abnormal kidney function.
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Symptoms of High Levels of Blood Nitrogen in Cats
Since blood circulates through and delivers nutrients to all parts of your cat's body, high levels of blood nitrogen can affect many systems and lead to some seemingly unrelated symptoms. Signs your cat may be suffering from azotemia or uremia include:
- Dehydration
- Nausea and vomiting
- Breath that smells like urine
- Excess salivation
- Change in volume or frequency of urine output
- Coat that has lost luster
- Weakness, confusion or stupor
If you suspect your cat may be suffering from azotemia or uremia, seek veterinary attention immediately. These symptoms could be indicative of acute renal failure or a serious condition such as chronic kidney disease.
Causes of High Levels of Blood Nitrogen in Cats
The most common cause of high levels of blood nitrogen in cats is abnormal kidney function. If the kidneys are unable to filter waste products from the urine, waste will be resorbed back into the bloodstream. The kidneys may also fail to produce hormones necessary for nitrogen excretion, leading to the buildup of these products in the blood.
A diet that is too high in protein or the overproduction of nitrogen-containing substances can also elevate levels of blood nitrogen in cats. Dehydration can cause nitrogenous waste products to concentrate in the blood, artificially elevating blood nitrogen. Symptoms of chronic renal disease or diabetes, such as excess urination, excessive thirst, or rapid weight loss can also lead to elevated nitrogen in the blood.
Diagnosis of High Levels of Blood Nitrogen in Cats
Diagnosis of high levels of blood nitrogen will begin with a thorough physical examination of your cat, including the collection of all relevant medical history. Urine and blood samples will be collected by your veterinarian in order to perform relevant tests, such as a urinalysis, a complete blood count, and a chemistry profile. These tests will show whether nitrogenous waste is being excreted efficiently by the kidneys. It can also show what kind of nitrogen is present in the blood so that your veterinarian can determine the cause of the azotemia or uremia.
In addition to confirming the presence of nitrogen in your cat's blood, your veterinarian will determine the cause of this buildup. Imaging such as x-rays and ultrasonography, urine cultures and tissue biopsies may be performed in to rule out chronic kidney disease or acute renal failure. The specific gravity, or concentration of particles, in your cat's urine may be measured to determine whether dehydration or excessive urination (polyuria) are contributing to the concentration of waste products in your cat's blood.
Treatment of High Levels of Blood Nitrogen in Cats
Your veterinarian will target the cause of high nitrogen levels in your cat’s blood when determining her course of treatment. For end-stage chronic kidney disease, your veterinarian may recommend dialysis or a kidney transplant. Alternatively, lifestyle modifications may be recommended to ease pain and symptoms of kidney disease, including the discomfort that results from high levels of nitrogen in the blood.
For acute kidney disease, your veterinarian may administer rehydration fluids or place a temporary feeding tube. A catheter may be placed to promote the excretion of nitrogenous waste as urea in the urine. Prompt treatment of acute renal failure may restore some or all kidney function.
Your cat's prognosis will also vary depending on the cause of her azotemia or uremia. Cats with high levels of blood nitrogen secondary to dehydration, for example, can expect a full recovery. Cats newly diagnosed with late-stage chronic kidney disease or acute renal failure will require aggressive treatment, lifestyle management, and ongoing veterinary supervision to prevent relapse.
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Recovery of High Levels of Blood Nitrogen in Cats
Cats diagnosed with chronic kidney disease or acute renal failure will require intensive management throughout life. Your veterinarian may prescribe changes to your cat's diet, limiting fluid intake, medication, and ongoing monitoring of urine output. It is recommended cats in early stages of kidney disease follow-up with a veterinarian two or three times per year without symptoms. Cats in the late stages of kidney disease should be examined by a veterinarian every one to two months.
High Levels of Blood Nitrogen Average Cost
From 332 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
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High Levels of Blood Nitrogen Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Short haired domestic
Josie
9 Years
18 found this helpful
18 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Dehydration
Anorexia
Vommiting
My cat, short-haired domestic, 9yo female, has underwent lab work after she stopped eating. Her BUN level is 218 and her creatinine level is 17.6; we have suggested euthanasia, however, the vet highly recommends we begin aggressive treatments, and suggests our cat may be able to live another three to five years if treatments are successful. What is her realistic outcome? We don't want to prolong her suffering if it is not very good.
Sept. 19, 2018
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Black cat
Nano
3 Years
6 found this helpful
6 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Renal Failure
Renal Failure Creatine 3.8 ,Bun 81
My cats creatinine level was 4.8 and BUN was 132 but now after 21 days of IV and Subcutaneous drips his creatinine is 3.8 and BUN is 81 ...but I am not sure what type of diet should I give him ...he only wants to eat meat and chicken organs as he is used to eat this...but today he vomits and didn't pass the urine whole day though I am giving him Subcutaneous drip as my vet prescribed ...em so much worried for him ...please suggest me some renal diet that can control his Creatinine and BUN levels...
Aug. 7, 2018
6 Recommendations
There are many different commercially available renal diets available from different companies (Hills, Royal Canin etc…) which offer high quality but low quantity protein and are nutritionally balanced; home mixing of foods especially when there is an underlying condition isn’t recommended. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 7, 2018
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tuxedo long hair
Mr.Kitty
25 Years
5 found this helpful
5 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Runs, Pee Alot, Eats And Losses Wei
Runs, Pee Alot, Eats And Losses Los
Our cat is 25 years old and on no medication. He has shown high level of nitrogen in his blood panel. Problem, losing weight. He is all bones and has a monster appetite. He will swipe stuff off your plate. They don't really have any solid answers. They tested for all the stuff they thought it could be and it wasn't. What's going to really change regardless? If it was something common or easy or treatable that's one thing, but this isn't so we just let him enjoy whatever time he has left. He eats 4 tins of cat food Fancy Feast He gets the runs, he has soft and some normal bowel movements. He often steps in his runny poop and that creates a horrible mess. we are looking for a more suitable diet.
May 22, 2018
5 Recommendations
In a cat Mr. Kitty’s age, there are many possible causes for the symptoms which are presenting; I’m sure your Veterinarian tested for all the usual causes but some issues like digestive disorders or malabsorption can be difficult to diagnose. Possibly trying to move Mr. Kitty over to a simpler easily digestible diet may help but it may take some trial and error to find a suitable diet for him. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 23, 2018
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Persian
Princess
16 Years
8 found this helpful
8 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Famished...Restless....High Bun....
My kitties bun level is 60...although sdma, creatinine and glucose are normal...does this point to kidney issues or something else? For the last 3 weeks she has been just famished....eating twice what she normally does...and seemingly not her usual self...seems distressed...restless...thyroid values normal...has had heart murmur all her life...heart is enlarged because of it...going to get a utinalysis tomorrow....what is going on? Getting scared
May 3, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
8 Recommendations
When we look at lab work, we look at the entire clinical picture, including any relevant history to try and give us an idea as to what might be going on. BUN by itself can be indicative of kidney disease, or bleeding into the intestines. Since I do not know more about Princess, I have a hard time commenting on what might be going on, but depending on her signs, an ultrasound might be a good idea. You can discuss that with your veterinarian at your recheck, as they are able to assess her more fully, and the results of the urinalysis will help point to any problems, as well. I hope that she is okay!
May 3, 2018
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Abyssinian
Sheba
14 Years
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
No Obvious Symptoms
Our cat, Sheba, recently had a bout of pancreatitis, from which she has now recovered with the help of some antibiotics.
The vet took some blood and urine samples at the first visit, and some more at a subsequent visit. Nothing showed on their local tests of the blood so the 2nd sample was sent to a specialist laboratory.
Because she was drinking a lot of water when she was sick, and both the urine samples were coming back with low concentrations, they wanted to check her kidneys were ok.
The specialist's result came back with only an elevated BUN. All other markers (phosphorous, potassium, etc) came back normal.
Her drinking has returned to normal, and she isn't using her litter box as frequently.
Still, they believe she has CKD, and want to put her a special diet. Are they correct in their diagnosis? Could the high BUN be just a case of being dehydrated due to her pancreatitis?
Just to note, she was diagnosed with a malignant lung tumour last November. At the time we were feeding her a cat milk (no lactose), and we switched her to water only to remove carbs from her diet. She is on Redipred to reduce the symptoms of the tumour which was causing sneezing fits and coughing fits.
She was also diagnosed with hypertension at the recent vet visits. Is on half tablet of Amlodipine.
April 11, 2018
3 Recommendations
If there are concerns regarding whether or not there is kidney disease, you should speak with your Veterinarian about a SDMA test (if not already performed) which is a kidney specific biomarker which is more specific to kidney disease than BUN or creatinine. The interpretive summary in the second link below goes over the possible causes for an increase in BUN on page 2 of the document. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.idexx.com/en/veterinary/reference-laboratories/sdma/
www.idexx.eu/globalassets/documents/parameters/8071-us-bun-interpretive-summary.pdf
April 12, 2018
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Domestic shorthair
Charlie
19 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Appetite Loss
Cat diagnosed with C.K.D about 8 years ago--started vomiting. Blood work showed creatinine-10, BUN->130--Start IV drip 4 days ago--Creatinine-6.6, BUN->130--RBC-4.57, HCT-18.2%--We are considering adding Epogen to try and elevate RBC--Do you have any recommendations of what else to try?
High Levels of Blood Nitrogen Average Cost
From 332 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000
Average Cost
$800
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