3 must-sees on nephrology

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent among older felines. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, approximately 30% to 40% of cats over 10 years old develop CKD.¹ Moreover, the condition affects 81% of cats older than 15 years.¹ For canines, studies show that 1 in 10 of these animals will be impacted by kidney disease.² Given the proliferation of the disease, it is important for veterinary professionals know how to diagnose, treat, and care for these patients.

Watch the following 3 videos to gain more knowledge on specific areas of nephrology:

• Oxidative stress and EPO synthesis in CKD patients: Christopher G Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ, sat down with dvm360 to discuss the effect oxidative stress has on the kidneys, explaining the mechanics of how this condition can harm kidney tubular cells and result in additional kidney damage. Byers also talked about CKD and its relationship with the kidneys' ability to produce erythropoietin (EPO), a vital hormone for the production of red blood cells.
• Technician care for acute kidney injury: In this video, Lucy Sumners, RVT, VTS(ECC), shared takeaways from her lecture on the management of acute kidney injury, which she presented at the 2024 Southwest Veterinary Symposium in Fort Worth, Texas. Sumners explained her goal of empowering veterinary technicians to recognize early signs of kidney issues in patients. She also shared specific basic monitoring techniques that veterinary technicians should use to assess kidney function in their patients and emphasized the important of patient care. 
• Diagnosing chronic kidney disease in feline patients: In an interview with dvm360, Natalie L Marks, DVM, CVJ, Elite FFCP-V, dives into how to manage CKD in felines, especially when acute injuries complicate their condition. In this video, she discusses importance of low colony urine cultures to identify certain types of infections and testing for feline leukemia and feline infectious peritonitis, as well as the role of monitoring thyroid levels and blood pressure.

References

1. Weir M, Panning A, Ward E. Chronic kidney disease in cats. VCA Animal Hospitals. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/kidney-failure-chronic-in-cats#:~:text=Chronic%20kidney%20disease%20used%20to,signs%20of%20chronic%20kidney%20disease?
2. Carr J. Kidney Disease in Dogs: What Dog Owners Should Know. PetHealth Network. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/kidney-disease-dogs-what-dog-owners-should-know