Which blood test is commonly used to assess renal function in pets?

The Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) test is a commonly used diagnostic tool for assessing renal function in pets. BUN measures the amount of nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea, a waste product formed in the liver as protein is metabolized. The kidneys are responsible for filtering urea and excreting it through urine. Therefore, elevated levels of BUN indicate that the kidneys may not be functioning properly, which can be a sign of kidney disease or impairment.

In contrast, the Complete Blood Count (CBC) primarily evaluates the overall population of blood cells and can indicate infections, anemia, and other hematological conditions but does not specifically assess kidney function. The ALT test is related to liver function and is used to detect liver damage rather than renal issues. The glucose tolerance test is aimed at assessing how well the body metabolizes glucose and is not relevant to renal function. Thus, the BUN test is the most appropriate choice for evaluating kidney health in pets.