Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Body condition linked to survival in dogs with chronic kidney disease
By Parker, V J & Freeman, L M·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2011·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association between body condition and survival in dogs with acquired chronic kidney disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were overweight or had a moderate body condition score lived longer than those who were underweight. In this group of 100 dogs, those classified as underweight survived an average of just 25 days after diagnosis, while dogs with a moderate body condition lived about 190 days, and overweight dogs lived up to a year. This suggests that maintaining a healthy weight could be important for dogs with CKD. If your dog has been diagnosed with CKD, discussing their weight and diet with your veterinarian may help improve their chances of a longer life.
People also search for: dog chronic kidney disease survival · overweight dog CKD treatment · how to help my dog gain weight with kidney disease
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obesity in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with longer survival. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between body condition score (BCS) and survival in dogs with CKD. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Higher BCS is a predictor of prolonged survival in dogs with CKD. ANIMALS: One hundred dogs were diagnosed with CKD (International Renal Interest Society stages II, III or IV) between 2008 and 2009. METHODS: Retrospective case review. Data regarding initial body weight and BCS, clinicopathologic values and treatments were collected from medical records and compared with survival times. RESULTS: For dogs with BCS recorded (n = 72), 13 were underweight (BCS = 1-3; 18%), 49 were moderate (BCS = 4-6; 68%), and 10 were overweight (BCS = 7-9; 14%). For dogs with at least 2 body weights recorded (n = 77), 21 gained weight, 47 lost weight, and 9 had no change in weight. Dogs classified as underweight at the time of diagnosis (median survival = 25 days) had a significantly shorter survival time compared to that in both moderate (median survival = 190 days; P < .001) and overweight dogs (median survival = 365 days; P < .001). There was no significant difference in survival between moderate and overweight dogs (P = .95). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Higher BCS at the time of diagnosis was significantly associated with improved survival. Further research on the effects of body composition could enhance the management of dogs with CKD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22092621/