What Are the Causes of High Potassium in Dogs?
Potassium in a dog’s body is important in all body functions on a cellular and non-cellular level. If potassium levels become too high for any reason (hyperkalemia), animals can suffer consequences to both their cardiac and respiratory systems. • Function • Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral that is stored in the dog’s body to maintain the water and acid-base balance in cells. Sodium and potassium combine to create osmotic pressure that keeps the body’s cell walls permeable and able to accept and transfer nutrients and other substances. Working with other minerals, potassium forms alkaline salts that are necessary in certain body processes, including sodium resorption in the kidneys. Potassium, calcium and sodium must be properly balanced in the dog’s blood plasma for normal cardiac function. • Disease • Hyperkalemia can occur because of decreased renal excretion due to acute or chronic renal failure or bladder obstruction (urolithic cystitis). The kidneys normally excrete
