Overview

• 98% of potassium is intracellular but passive and freely diffusible in and out of cells.
• Major intracellular cation.
• Changes in plasma levels reflect fluid balance, rate of renal excretion and changes in balance between intra- and extracellular fluid.

Sampling

Tests

Availability

• Widely available at commercial laboratories.

Technique (intrinsic) limitations

• Test results only significant in conjunction with other laboratory results and clinical findings.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Ardiaca M, Bonhevi C & Montesinos A (2013) Point of care Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analysis in Rabbits. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract 16 (1), 175-196 PubMed.
• Harcourt-Brown F (2013) Diagnosis of Renal Disease in Rabbits. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract 16 (1), 145-174 PubMed.
• Benson K G & Paul-Murphy J (1999) Clinical pathology of the domestic rabbit: acquisition and interpretation of samples. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract 2 (3), 539-552 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Varga M (2014) Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. 2^nd edn. Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier, UK.
• Wesche P (2014) Clinical Pathology. In: BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine. Eds: Meredith A & Lord B. pp 124-137. BSAVA, UK.
• Saunders R A & Rees Davies R (2005) Notes on Rabbit Internal Medicine. Blackwells, UK.