What Can You Do for a Cat With High Urea & Creatinine?

When a cat's kidneys fail to function correctly, his levels of metabolic waste products like creatinine and urea are not filtered out of the body correctly. This leads to an elevation of these chemicals in the cat's blood. If your cat's blood work indicates elevated levels of creatinine and urea, have your veterinarian examine your cat for signs of kidney disease and devise a treatment plan for him.

  1. Identification

    • Creatinine is a waste product that is formed as a byproduct of muscle and filtered out of a cat's body through the kidneys. Urea is formed as a byproduct of the digestion of protein and also filtered out of the kidneys. It is measured by the amount of nitrogen it produces in the cat's blood, referred to as blood urea nitrogen. Both creatinine and BUN blood levels become higher when the kidneys are not capable of filtering them out of the system, due to injury or the onset of a disease such as chronic kidney disease. A high creatinine level is a more definitive marker of kidney disease than a high BUN, which can be caused by dehydration or a high-protein diet.

    Causes

    • If you notice that your cat is drinking water more frequently and urinating excessively, these may be signs of kidney disease. These symptoms, along with a decrease in appetite, vomiting, weight loss, constipation and bad breath, require the care of a veterinarian to perform a blood test and urinalysis on your cat. If the levels of BUN and creatinine are elevated in these tests, along with the urine showing as dilute, up to 70 percent of your cat's kidneys may not be functioning, according to the Feline CRF Information Center. Other possible causes for elevated creatinine and BUN are ketoacidosis from diabetes, a kidney infection, kidney stones or high blood pressure, according to Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease.

    Treatment

    • Treatments for elevated creatinine and BUN in a cat's system depend on the cause. If kidney disease is diagnosed, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet to reduce the strain on the kidneys. These diets are lower in phosphorus, sodium and protein; the diets contain more calories, potassium, fiber, water, B-vitamins and omega fatty acids, according to the Cat Thyroid Center. In addition, medication to control the blood flow through the kidneys, such as an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, may be recommended along with a phosphorus binder, vitamin D supplement and fiber, according to Ron Hines, DVM of the 2ndchance.info website. Most important are the administration of fluids orally and under the skin if necessary to assist the kidneys in the removal of toxins.

    Considerations and Warnings

    • While elevated creatinine and BUN levels usually indicate kidney disease of some kind, further tests will be needed to determine the cause. Consult a veterinarian to evaluate your cat's condition and particular symptoms. If your cat is diagnosed with kidney disease, the elevation levels of creatinine and BUN determine what stage the disease is in, using a one-to-four scale. The most serious, level four, indicates end stage renal disease, diagnosed with a creatinine level over 5.0, and can be imminently fatal. Stage four patients may require hospitalization to administer intravenous fluids and drugs to treat nausea, and to ensure that the cat gets sufficient calories, according to The Cat Thyroid center.