Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Case-Control Study of Risk Factors Associated with Feline and Canine Chronic Kidney Disease
- Journal:
- Veterinary Medicine International
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Paul C. Bartlett et al.
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 171 Food Safety Building, E. Lansing, MI 48824, USA · GB
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats and dogs and what signs their owners noticed before a vet made the diagnosis. For cats, owners often saw that their pets were drinking and urinating a lot in the year leading up to the diagnosis. In dogs, owners noticed increased drinking and urination, as well as weight loss and bad breath, with some signs appearing over six months before a vet diagnosed CKD. The study suggests that many pets could have been diagnosed earlier based on these signs, and it recommends further research to see if early treatment could help.
Abstract
An age-matched case-control study was initiated to determine the major risk factors associated with CKD in cats and dogs and to determine what clinical signs cat and dog owners observed before their veterinarian diagnosed their pet with CKD. When compared to controls, the feline cases were more likely to have had polydipsia and polyuria in the year before the owners' cats were diagnosed with CKD. In the dogs, increased water intake, increased urination, small size and a recent history of weight loss and bad breath were noticed by the dog owners before veterinary CKD diagnosis. Dog owners recognized abnormal drinking and urination behavior over half a year before their pet's veterinary diagnosis with CKD, and they recognized weight loss almost 4 months before CKD diagnosis. Bad breath was noticed 1.2 years before recognition of CKD by a veterinarian. Given that earlier CKD diagnosis should have been possible in most cases, clinical trials should proceed to measure the efficacy of early interventions.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.4061/2010/957570