TITLE:
Pilot Study Evaluating the Use of a Commercially Available Oral Nutritional Supplement in the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
AUTHORS:
Crystal M. Cooley, Jessica M. Quimby, Stacie Summers, Michael R. Lappin
KEYWORDS:
Chronic, Kidney, Disease, Feline, Phosphate, Binder
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine,
Vol.12 No.2,
February
28,
2022
ABSTRACT: Purpose: To determine if cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) would
willingly consume an oral nutritional supplement formula (NS-CKD) and to assess
associated effects on select clinical and biochemical parameters. Methods: Client-owned cats with CKD classified as
International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage 2 (n = 7), IRIS stage 3 (n =
12), or IRIS stage 4 (1 cat) were classified by the owners as having normal or
variable appetites. The cats were offered 30 ml NS-CKD
for 14 days concurrently with a meal in a separate bowl and the amount of the NS-CKD
consumed daily was recorded. Bodyweight, physical examination, and serum
biochemical profiles were assessed on Days 0, 7, and 14. Results: Greater than
50% of the NS-CKD was consumed by 14 of 20 (70%) cats and 12 of 20 cats (60%)
consumed >80% of the NS-CKD. The total volume of NS-CKD consumed
over the course of the study was statistically
greater for the cats classified by owners as having normal appetite (P =
0.046). Increases in body weight were noted for 9 of 14 cats (64.3%) that ingested >50% of the NS-CKD and 1 of 6 cats (16.7%), that ingested ≤ 50% (p = 0.1409) and the group mean % change
in body weight was greater in the cats that ingested >50% of the NS-CKD
(P = 0.023). The volume of NS-CKD consumed correlated to the % change increases in serum bicarbonate
concentration (R = 0.4998; P = 0.02) and was weakly correlated to % change
decreases in serum phosphorus concentration (R = 0.0406; P = 0.08). Conclusions:
In this pilot study, the NS-CKD was accepted by most cats, no adverse effects were noted, and several
findings suggest that the product was associated with ameliorating some metabolic
complications which suggest it could be considered in the management of cats
with CKD.