Vetinerary Assistant Practice Exam

What can an increase in BUN levels indicate?

1. Kidney impairment

2. Dehydration

3. Normal kidney function

4. Viral infection

The correct answer is: Kidney impairment

An increase in Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels can indeed indicate kidney impairment. BUN is a waste product formed in the liver after protein metabolism and is normally eliminated from the body through urine. When the kidneys are functioning properly, they efficiently filter out urea from the bloodstream. Elevated BUN levels can suggest that the kidneys are not filtering waste effectively, which can occur in various forms of kidney dysfunction, such as acute or chronic kidney disease. While dehydration can also lead to increased BUN levels due to concentrated blood urea, it is not the only factor that contributes to rises in BUN. Therefore, while dehydration is associated with BUN elevation, it does not inherently point to kidney impairment as directly as the condition itself. BUN levels alone do not confirm normal kidney function; they must be interpreted in conjunction with other parameters, such as creatinine levels and urine output, to assess kidney health accurately. Additionally, a viral infection typically affects other blood values and does not have a straightforward correlation with BUN levels. Thus, while BUN can be influenced by several factors, a direct association with kidney impairment is the most critical interpretation in a veterinary context.