CREATININE, SERUM

Description

The Creatinine Serum test measures the concentration of creatinine in the blood, a waste product of normal muscle metabolism that is filtered and excreted by the kidneys. It is one of the primary and most important tests for evaluating kidney (renal) function in dogs and cats.

Elevated serum creatinine (azotemia) in dogs and cats indicates impaired kidney function. However, creatinine levels do not rise significantly until approximately 75% of kidney function is already lost, making this test more valuable for confirming and staging chronic kidney disease (CKD) rather than early detection. According to IRIS CKD staging guidelines, serum creatinine values above 1.4 mg/dL in dogs and above 1.6 mg/dL in cats are associated with CKD stages 2 and above.

Creatinine must always be interpreted alongside urine specific gravity (USG), BUN, and SDMA. High creatinine with dilute urine confirms true kidney disease, while high creatinine with concentrated urine may indicate dehydration, pre-renal azotemia, or reduced muscle mass variations. For earlier kidney disease detection, SDMA is now recommended alongside creatinine.

At Home Petcare offers at-home Creatinine Serum testing for dogs and cats in Hyderabad, performed by certified vet professionals and analyzed at accredited diagnostic laboratories.