Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diagnosis of the cat with early chronic kidney disease
- Journal:
- Companion Animal
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Groves, Ellie
- Affiliation:
- Ellie Groves BA VetMB MRCVS, Veterinary Technical Affairs Manager, Nestle Purina Petcare, 1 City Place, Beehive Ringroad, Gatwick, West Sussex, RH6 0PA, UK · United Kingdom
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common and serious condition in older cats that can lead to health problems and even death. Catching CKD early and managing it properly can help slow down the disease and improve your cat's quality of life. A special diet designed for kidney health is usually the main treatment for cats diagnosed with CKD, especially once they reach a certain stage. Recently, new tests have been developed that can help detect CKD even before more severe symptoms appear, but there is still some debate about the best ways to treat these early cases. Overall, this research highlights the importance of early diagnosis and the role of diet in managing kidney disease in cats.
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent disease and common cause of morbidity and mortality in older cats. Early diagnosis and management of CKD is thought to be able to slow disease progression and impact positively on quality of life and longevity. Dietary management with a therapeutic renal diet is regarded as the mainstay of treatment for feline CKD from International Renal Interest Society stage 2 onwards. However, since the advent of markers such as symmetric dimethylarginine that have enabled clinicians to detect non-azotaemic CKD, there has been growing debate about how to best manage these patients. At this stage there are a limited number of studies investigating this. This article covers the current diagnostics used to identify renal disease. A second article looks at current understanding of therapeutic strategies and the impact this can have on progression of the disease, focusing on dietary management.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2020.0013a