Overview

• Primarily absorbed from GI tract, especially colon. Lower levels from muscle metabolism.
• Increased levels may be seen with impaired liver function or portosystemic shunt.
• Used in investigation of hepatic encephalopathy Hepatic encephalopathy.

Sampling

Tests

Availability

• Contact commercial laboratory to confirm availability.
• Available with some in-practice analysers.

Technique (intrinsic) limitations

• Only significant in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical findings.

Technician (extrinsic) limitations

• Specialized test.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from VetMedResource and PubMed.
• Sterczer A, Meyer H P, Boswijk H C & Rothuizen J (1999) Evaluation of ammonia measurements in dogs with two analysers in use in veterinary practice. Vet Rec 144, 523-526.
• Hitt M E & Jones B D (1986) Effects of storage, temperature and time on canine plasma ammonia concentrations. Am J Vet Res 47, 363-364.

Other sources of information

• Ettinger S J & Feldman E C (2000) Eds. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 5th edn. W B Saunders & Co, USA.
• Kaneko J J, Harvey J W & Brass M L (1997) Eds. Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals. 5th edn. Academic Press, USA.
• Duncan J R, Prasse K W & Mahaffey E A (1994) Veterinary Laboratory Medicine. Clinical Pathology. 3rd edn. Iowa University Press, USA.