EVALUATION OF PLASMA AMMONIA LEVELS IN DOGS WITH RENAL FAILURE IN UREMIC SYNDROME.

Abstract

Hyperammonemia in dogs is usually related to abnormalities of portal vascular system or hepatic failure; however, the increase of plasma ammonia levels is also reported in cases where the liver has no pathological processes. In humans, horses, dogs and rats, hyperammonemia has been described in cases of intestinal and urinary infections by urease-producing bacteria and renal failure in uremic syndrome as well. The uremic process and the acidosis seem to inhibit the hepatic enzymes responsible for ammonia biotransformation, whose accumulation could result in gastroenteritis, stomatitis and neurological problems. In this study, 26 uremic dogs with acute or chronic renal failure were studied. The most frequent clinical signs were emesis, melena, anorexia, halitosis and prostration. Means of blood pH, bicarbonate and base excess were 7.24, 12.2mEq/L and