Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low-dose meloxicam effects on cats with chronic kidney disease
By KuKanich, Kate et al.·Published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery·2020·Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA, United States·View original on Crossref →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Effects of low-dose meloxicam in cats with chronic kidney disease
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 21 cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were given either a low dose of meloxicam, a pain medication, or a placebo for six months to see if it would help their kidney function. While the meloxicam did not seem to harm their kidneys, some cats experienced gastrointestinal side effects, and those on meloxicam had higher levels of protein in their urine, which can indicate worsening kidney health. Because of these concerns, it's important for pet owners to discuss the risks and benefits of meloxicam with their veterinarian if their cat has CKD.
People also search for: cat kidney disease treatment · meloxicam for cats · chronic kidney disease in cats · cat protein in urine · side effects of meloxicam in cats
Abstract
Objectives Meloxicam therapy may benefit cats with degenerative joint disease, and retrospective studies suggest it could slow kidney disease progression and increase survival. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the renal effects of low-dose meloxicam treatment (0.02 mg/kg/day) over 6 months in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods Twenty-one cats with stable International Renal Interest Society stage 2 or 3 CKD were recruited and randomized to placebo or meloxicam groups. Cats were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months, including blood pressure, chemistry, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinalysis, urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC), urine transforming growth factor-beta (β):creatinine ratio, urine clusterin, urine cystatin B and serum inosine. Results No statistical difference was observed in systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, SDMA, GFR, urine transforming growth factor-β:creatinine ratio, urine clusterin, urine cystatin B or serum inosine in cats receiving meloxicam vs placebo. Mean UPC was greater in the meloxicam group (0.33) than the placebo group (0.1) at 6 months ( P = 0.006). Four cats had meloxicam discontinued owing to potential (mainly gastrointestinal) adverse effects. Conclusions and relevance No decline in renal excretory function was observed when meloxicam was administered to cats with CKD. However, gastrointestinal adverse effects were observed, and cats that received meloxicam had greater proteinuria at 6 months than cats that received placebo. As proteinuria is associated with negative outcomes (progression of azotemia and hypertension) in cats with CKD, this finding suggests that meloxicam should be used with caution in cats with CKD and UPC monitored. Until further research is available, clinicians should weigh the risk of potential increased proteinuria against quality of life benefits when considering meloxicam for analgesia in cats with renal disease.
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 on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x20935750