Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low blood sodium-to-potassium ratio in dogs and cats: causes
By Oriel, Justine et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2026·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence, Associated Disease Mechanisms, and Outcome of Dogs and Cats With Low Blood Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 711 dogs and 159 cats had low blood sodium-to-potassium ratios, which can indicate serious health issues. In dogs, kidney disease was the most common cause, affecting about 30% of those with low ratios, while in cats, kidney disease and urinary tract problems were prevalent. Some pets showed severe electrolyte imbalances, with 3% of dogs and 31% of cats having dangerously high potassium levels. Identifying the underlying causes of these low ratios can help veterinarians choose the best treatment options for affected pets.
People also search for: dog low sodium potassium ratio · cat kidney disease symptoms · high potassium levels in cats treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, underlying disease mechanisms, and outcome for dogs and cats with a low blood sodium-to-potassium concentration (Na:K) ratio. DESIGN: Retrospective study from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Seven hundred eleven dogs and 159 cats. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Low blood Na:K ratio was identified in 711 dogs (prevalence of 6.7%) and in 159 cats (prevalence of 6.6%). The most common identified primary diseases were kidney disease (30% of dogs, 52% of cats) and hepatobiliary disease in dogs (19%) and lower urinary tract disease in cats (30%). Hypoadrenocorticism was uncommon, occurring in 2% of dogs. Urinary tract disease and low effective circulating volume were the most commonly identified underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. The median (25th-75th percentile) blood Na:K ratio for all dogs was 25.6 (range: 24.3-26.4) and for cats was 23.4 (range: 19.1-25.8). Severe hyperkalemia (>7.0 mmol/L) was evident in 21 of 711 (3%) dogs and 50 of 159 (31%) cats. Severe hyponatremia (<130 mmol/L) was evident in 28 of 711 (4%) dogs and six of 159 (4%) cats. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of a low blood Na:K ratio in dogs was higher than previously reported, and this finding cannot be assumed to be due to hypoadrenocorticism. Understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for these electrolyte abnormalities in individual patients may help guide therapeutic decision-making.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41934435/