Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical evaluation of dietary modification for treatment of spontaneous chronic kidney disease in cats.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Ross, Sheri J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This study looked at whether a special diet for cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) could help reduce serious health issues compared to a regular diet. They included 45 cats with stage 2 or 3 CKD and divided them into two groups: one group received the special renal diet, while the other group continued on a standard adult diet. Over two years, they found that cats on the renal diet had fewer episodes of uremia (a condition caused by kidney failure) and fewer deaths related to kidney problems. While there were no significant differences in weight or other blood tests, the renal diet clearly helped reduce serious kidney-related health issues. Overall, the special diet was more effective than the regular diet for these cats.
Abstract
Objective-To determine whether a renal diet modified in protein, phosphorus, sodium, and lipid content was superior to an adult maintenance diet in minimizing uremic episodes and mortality rate in cats with stage 2 or 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Design-Double-masked, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Animals-45 client-owned cats with spontaneous stage 2 or 3 CKD. Procedures-Cats were randomly assigned to an adult maintenance diet (n = 23 cats) or a renal diet (22) and evaluated trimonthly for up to 24 months. Efficacy of the renal diet, compared with the maintenance diet, in minimizing uremia, renal-related deaths, and all causes of death was evaluated. Results-Serum urea nitrogen concentrations were significantly lower and blood bicarbonate concentrations were significantly higher in the renal diet group at baseline and during the 12- and 24-month intervals. Significant differences were not detected in body weight; Hct; urine protein-to-creatinine ratio; and serum creatinine, potassium, calcium, and parathyroid hormone concentrations. A significantly greater percentage of cats fed the maintenance diet had uremic episodes (26%), compared with cats fed the renal diet (0%). A significant reduction in renal-related deaths but not all causes of death was detected in cats fed the renal diet. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The renal diet evaluated in this study was superior to an adult maintenance diet in minimizing uremic episodes and renalrelated deaths in cats with spontaneous stage 2 or 3 CKD.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16978113/