Diagnostic5 connections · 2 sources
Creatinine
Creatinine is a by-product of muscle metabolism that is continuously removed by healthy kidneys. When kidney function declines, creatinine accumulates in the blood. It is the primary marker used to stage chronic-kidney-disease via the IRIS system.
Key Facts
- By-product of muscle breakdown, always present in small amounts
- Rises when kidneys cannot adequately filter it
- Central to IRIS staging: Stage I (<1.4 dog / <1.6 cat), Stage II (up to 2.8), Stage III (2.9-5.0), Stage IV (>5.0 mg/dl)
- Severely ill patients may present with values of 10+ mg/dl
- A sudden spike can indicate ureteral-stones obstruction
- Species: dogs and cats (different reference ranges per IRIS)