What are two values associated with kidney function?

The values associated with kidney function, specifically blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA), are crucial indicators for assessing how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. BUN is a measure of the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood, which is a waste product formed from protein metabolism. Elevated levels of BUN can indicate impaired kidney function, dehydration, or high protein intake.

Creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism that is typically excreted by the kidneys. Measuring creatinine levels allows veterinarians to evaluate kidney function. An increase in creatinine levels can signal kidney dysfunction as the kidneys are unable to remove it effectively from the bloodstream.

In clinical practice, BUN and creatinine levels are routinely tested to evaluate renal health and to diagnose potential kidney issues, making them the standard values associated with kidney function.