SDMA
Chemistry ·Also called: SDMA, symmetric dimethylarginine, early kidney marker
What it is
Symmetric dimethylarginine is released as proteins in the body are broken down, and it is cleared almost entirely by the kidneys. Its production is steady regardless of how much muscle an animal carries, so the blood level reflects filtration alone.
Why your vet measures it
It closes the two biggest gaps in creatinine. It flags kidney decline earlier, giving time to change diet, manage blood pressure and monitor before signs appear. And because it ignores muscle mass, it catches kidney disease in the wasted senior cat whose creatinine still looks acceptable.
What a high result can mean
- Early chronic kidney disease, often before creatinine has moved at all
- Established kidney disease of any cause
- Dehydration or another reason for reduced blood flow to the kidneys
- Acute kidney injury
What a low result can mean
- Not clinically significant
Dogs and cats differ
The advantage over creatinine is largest in cats, where chronic kidney disease is common and muscle loss is a normal part of ageing. In heavily muscled dogs the reverse benefit applies: SDMA can confirm that a high creatinine is simply muscle mass rather than kidney disease.
Questions worth asking your vet
- If SDMA is up but creatinine is normal, what does that mean for my pet?
- Should we recheck in a few weeks to confirm before making changes?
- Does this change the diet or the monitoring plan?
Related terms
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