Understanding Client Concerns About Elevated SDMA Results

Before discussing an elevated SDMA result, it helps to recognize what pet parents may be thinking and feeling. Some may do their own research online, via AI or traditional nonprofessional engines. This may lead to fear, anxiety, confusion, worry, a need for reassurance and planning, or interest in being more involved in their pet's care. Understanding these concerns can improve client communication and make veterinary conversations about kidney monitoring more productive. Common client concerns include:

• Fear or Anxiety: For many clients, the word “elevated” indicates disease or bad news, triggering concern or fear for their pet.

• Confusion: In some cases, pets with an elevated SDMA appear healthy, eating normally, acting energetically, and showing no obvious signs of illness. This can make it difficult for the parent to reconcile the results they hear with their observations. This may make them question whether the finding is significant.

• Worry for the Future: After it's explained to them, pet parents may worry about what an elevated SDMA could mean for their pet’s future, including concerns possible chronic kidney disease, quality of life, treatment costs, and long-term management.

• Desire for Reassurance: In these situations, most pet parents want to know that their pet is being treated appropriately and that they aren’t facing an immediate crisis.

• Need for a Plan: Providing a plan of action, including additional testing, kidney monitoring, and follow-up care, can help pet parents know that their pet’s condition is being addressed proactively.

• Interest in Being Involved: Clients want to be involved in decisions about their pet’s care and understand the reasoning behind your recommendations.

  IDEXX SDMA testing SDMA is proven to give you early kidney disease insights so you can treat sooner and help them live longer, healthier lives.

Framing the Conversation After an Elevated SDMA Result

Effective client communication balances accuracy and reassurance. Your conversations should help pet owners understand that an elevated SDMA result may be an early signal that warrants further investigation and that it is only one piece of the overall clinical picture. Consider emphasizing the following points during veterinary conversations:

• An elevated SDMA result warrants investigation, regardless of whether the pet appears healthy or other lab values are normal.

• Additional kidney monitoring helps determine if the finding is persistent or part of a larger trend.

• Your diagnostic recommendations are based on the complete clinical picture, including history, physical examination findings, urinalysis, blood work, and follow-up testing.

• Identifying changes in kidney function early allows veterinarians and pet parents to make informed decisions before more significant disease develops. 

• Pet parents can play an important role by monitoring changes in thirst, urination, appetite, energy level, body weight, and other signs that may offer insight into their pet’s kidney health.

• The pet parents make a good decision by having their pet tested—especially if their pet appeared healthy. Testing helps the pet parent and vet know more about a pet’s health, so you can make a plan with confidence.

Answering Questions About Kidney Monitoring

Pet parents often have questions when discussing elevated SDMA results. Using simple, consistent language can help veterinarians address concerns while reinforcing the importance of continued kidney monitoring. Below are sample responses to common client questions.

'My pet seems fine; why are we worried?'

“That’s a great question. Many pets with early changes in kidney function look and act completely normal. An elevated SDMA result can sometimes help us uncover changes that may be happening beneath the surface before we see any obvious signs. This result lets us know that we should do further testing and monitor things closely.”

'Does this mean my pet has kidney disease?'

“Not necessarily. An elevated SDMA result is one piece of information, not a diagnosis by itself. We need to look at the full clinical picture, including other lab results, physical exam findings, and follow-up testing. Right now, we’re gathering information so we can make the best decision for your pet.”

'What is kidney disease?'

"Kidneys work like a filter for the body. They clean out waste and help keep the right amount of fluid inside. When a pet has kidney disease, the kidneys don't filter as well as they used to, and this problem gets a little worse over time. But finding it early and taking care of it can help pets feel better for longer."

'Why do we need more tests?'

“We want to run more tests to find out if this change is just temporary or if it's something we need to watch closely. More information helps us make the best choices for your pet. And if your pet does have kidney disease, finding it early means we can start helping right away.”

'Can we just wait and see?'

“Unfortunately, waiting can mean that we miss early changes that are easier to manage. By testing now, we’re taking a proactive approach to help us understand what’s happening so we can make the best recommendations for your pet’s long-term health.”

'What can I do for my pet?'

"Here's how you can help your pet: keep all follow-up appointments so we can check in and catch changes early. At home, watch for a few things — less eating, more drinking, or weight loss — and let us know if you notice any of them. Most of all, just keep being the great pet parent you already are. Staying involved is one of the best things you can do for your pet's health."

Key Takeaways for Clients After Elevated SDMA Discussions

Successful client communication should explain elevated SDMA results and ensure pet owners leave with a clear understanding of what the results mean and what happens next. Key takeaways for clients include:

• What SDMA Measures: Simply put, SDMA is a biomarker that helps veterinarians assess kidney function and may identify changes earlier than some traditional kidney tests.

• A Single Elevated SDMA Result Is Not a Diagnosis of Kidney Disease: While the result deserves attention, it is only one piece of the overall clinical picture. The SDMA may be temporarily elevated due to dehydration, other diseases affecting the kidneys, transient or reversible conditions, or individual variations, all of which warrant confirmation through repeated testing.

• Repeat Testing Provides Valuable Information: In stable patients, rechecking SDMA results in two to four weeks can help determine whether values are stable, improving, or increasing. 

• Early Detection Supports Proactive Care: Identifying and monitoring changes in kidney function before clinical signs develop can provide opportunities to make informed decisions about a pet’s health.

Clear, consistent explanations and confident language can transform an elevated SDMA result from a moment of anxiety into a productive conversation about monitoring—strengthening trust, improving follow-through, and reinforcing a collaborative approach to care.

 

Tags: SDMA, renal health,