Feline Chronic Kidney Disease: Novel Approaches to Treatment Strategies and Supportive Care

Steve Dale, well-known pet advocate and host of Steve Dale's Pet World is Master of Ceremonies of the  35th annual Winn Feline Foundation Symposium. He introduces Jessica Quimby, DVM, DACVIM, a clinical scientist from Colorado State University, presents information on two Winn funded studies related to feline chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is a common progressive disease in elderly cats that currently had no cure other than a kidney transplant. Novel treatment strategies and options for supportive care are important in treating this disease. The presentation focuses on the potential use of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of feline chronic kidney disease as well as the use of appetite stimulants for supportive care. It begins with a review of stem cell therapy principles and potential application to kidney disease and then discusses clinical trial results. Nutritional management of cats with kidney disease is discussed as well as the recent results of the mirtazapine appetite stimulant clinical trial. The presentation was delivered on June 27, 2013 at the 35th Winn Feline Foundation Symposium on Feline Health in Vancouver WA.