CREATINE KINASE; CPK

Description

The Creatine Kinase (CK/CPK) test measures the level of creatine kinase enzyme in your pet’s blood. CK is predominantly found in skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and brain tissue. It leaks into the bloodstream when muscle cells are damaged, making it a highly specific and sensitive biomarker for muscle injury in dogs and cats.

CK activity increases very rapidly after muscle injury, typically peaking within 6–12 hours, and returns to baseline within 24–48 hours after the insult stops. The half-life of CK is approximately 2 hours in dogs. Elevated CK (hyperCKemia) in dogs and cats is associated with physical trauma, seizures, prolonged recumbency, thrombosis, hypoxia, inflammatory myositis (toxoplasma, neospora, bacterial infections), muscle neoplasia, and toxin exposure.

In cats, elevated CK is also commonly associated with muscle catabolism from anorexia and critical illness. Studies show that 10% of critically ill cats have CK levels more than 20-fold above the upper reference limit, indicating severe muscle injury. CK is also used alongside AST and ALT to confirm or exclude muscle disease as a source of enzyme elevations.

At Home Petcare offers at-home Creatine Kinase (CPK) testing for dogs and cats in Hyderabad. Blood samples are collected at your home for convenience, with results from a certified veterinary diagnostic laboratory.