Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) in
rabbits
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Urea is a nitrogenous waste product formed during the
protein degradation in the liver. It circulates in the blood in the form of
urea nitrogen, and is transported to the kidneys in order to be filtered and
excreted by the kidneys. In healthy well-hydrated rabbits,
most urea nitrogen will be filtered and excreted with the urine. The presence of urea nitrogen in the blood can be measured by the BUN test (blood urea nitrogen). Reference level in a healthy rabbit: 13-30 mg/dl. Unlike other animals, the level of BUN can be easily
influenced by physiological or environmental factors in rabbits. It may
reflect the state of stress of a rabbit at that specific moment (hydration
status, transport, foreign persons and/or environment, unusual smells,
barking dogs). It can be affected by the diet, the period of time that the
sample is taken during the day (higher levels of BUN are observed in the late
evening) or by medication (e.g. chloramphenicol,
streptomycin, gentamycin, tobramycin, diuretics and corticosteroids). Further
factors affecting the level of BUN relates to the presence of parasites like
coccidiosis or to bacterial catabolism, by the bacteria of the cecum that use
nitrogen during metabolic breakdown-reactions or during food abundance. If the BUN level is found to be elevated, it is
advisable not to rapidly conclude that the rabbit is suffering from kidney
failure, unlike for cats and dogs. A second sample should be taken once the
rabbit is well hydrated (but not over-hydrated) and be compared with the
previously obtained result. An elevated
BUN level can be caused by: ·
kidney failure; ·
low volume of
blood/plasma due to diarrhea (hypovolemia); ·
blockage of
the urinary tract by a kidney or a bladder stone, a tumor or a polyp; ·
a heart disease; ·
bleeding in
the digestive tract; ·
toxic insults. A low
BUN level can be caused by: ·
over-hydration; ·
malnutrition; ·
liver disease or damage; ·
medication; ·
gestation. X-rays or ultrasound can be made to detect
enlargement of the kidneys, presence of stones, malignant tumor, cysts, fibrosis. Exterior
signs of kidney disease are a decrease in appetite, a loss of weight,
lethargy, anemia, a need to urinate often, a need to drink much more than
usual. |
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