NT-proBNP (Heart Strain Marker)

A blood marker that rises when the heart is under strain.

About this test

The heart releases NT-proBNP when its walls are stretched. A high result points to heart disease worth looking at with an echocardiogram. It is a first screen for heart-muscle disease in cats and in breeds such as Dobermanns, and helps tell heart from lung causes of a cough or fast breathing.

What it measures

NT-proBNP

Good to know

A normal result doesn't rule out every heart problem: rhythm disorders need an ECG instead.