There's no time
like the
present!
Until NO CATS knows the pain and suffering of Feline CKD, the mission continues!!
As we're working to raise awareness of Feline Chronic Kidney Disease, and to discover preventions, better treatments and cures, one area of significant focus is the importance of blood pressure monitoring. In both of the studies we have completed thus far, each cat* received free blood pressure measurements at every checkup. Hypertension and Feline CKD exist in a vicious cycle, each having the ability to cause and/or worsen the other. So inextricably linked are these two disorders that The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS), in addition to their basic Feline CKD staging guidelines, provides Feline CKD substaging based on degree of hypertension. Additionally, The International Society of Feline Medicine recommends blood pressure measurement at least yearly for cats aged 7 and older, The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine recommends screening at age 9 years and older, and the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends screening for cats over aged 10 years.
The ongoing feedback that we've been receiving from veterinarians, as well as from our supporters who are actively caring for feline family members with CKD is that, despite all of these recommendations, blood pressure monitoring is rarely offered in clinical practice. Even when requested by clients, vets will often refuse to perform the procedure, typically citing "white coat syndrome", also known as situational hypertension, and/or the general inability/unwillingness of cats to comply with the exam. Blood pressure measurements are most often not recommended until there are signs of unbridled hypertension, such as blindness, by which time great damage has already been done to various organs, often including the kidneys.
Two recently published studies, one based in Portugal, the other in the United Kingdom, both based on detailed questionnaires posed to veterinarians, closely reflect the feedback we've been receiving. In addition to the vets' own reluctance to perform blood pressure monitoring, they have also expressed that, even when they do recommend it, clients are sometimes reluctant to follow through, usually due to financial concerns, or doubts that the procedure is truly necessary. It's very frustrating that such a critically important diagnostic tool, one of the very few currently available that can have a positive impact on the incidence and management of Feline CKD, is being vastly underutilized.
To that end, having accumulated sufficient informal data to demonstrate survey study viability, we are pleased to report that we are now working with Dr. Danielle Gunn-Moore of the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Sarah Chaney of Vet Professionals UK to create a large-scale, publishable survey to help discover what specifically is standing in the way of clinical feline blood pressure monitoring. Both of these outstanding veterinarians have extensive research experience, including design and data analysis of studies utilizing the survey format. We are also actively seeking a statistician with medical research experience to assist with the project. One advantage that we anticipate is that the results will translate into solutions that can be readily implemented to improve the quality and frequency of feline blood pressure monitoring, and thereby help improve quality of life and longevity for cats living with CKD.
We are also continuously vetting opportunities for additional research projects that meet our criteria. There are several avenues under consideration, and many areas that merit investigation, including additional work on inflammation and it's relationship to CKD, autoimmune reactions that may cause or exacerbate CKD, and CKD issues related to gut microbiome, which is an emerging topic of interest in various aspects of both feline and human medicine. There are so many factors to consider; to receive our support, projects must be evidence-based, well-designed, and calculated to keep us steadily moving towards better treatments and cures. Finances are also a huge consideration; Feline CKD is a complex disease--research is never fast or easy, and we need to ensure that this mission is sustainable.
* We will not fund any research that harms or exploits animals. Blood and urine samples utilized in our studies are routine samples provided by companion cats during the course of their regularly scheduled veterinary visits. The samples, after being used for the cats’ own necessary diagnostic purposes, are then preserved for use in our studies with the consent of the cats’ human family members.
The ongoing feedback that we've been receiving from veterinarians, as well as from our supporters who are actively caring for feline family members with CKD is that, despite all of these recommendations, blood pressure monitoring is rarely offered in clinical practice. Even when requested by clients, vets will often refuse to perform the procedure, typically citing "white coat syndrome", also known as situational hypertension, and/or the general inability/unwillingness of cats to comply with the exam. Blood pressure measurements are most often not recommended until there are signs of unbridled hypertension, such as blindness, by which time great damage has already been done to various organs, often including the kidneys.
Two recently published studies, one based in Portugal, the other in the United Kingdom, both based on detailed questionnaires posed to veterinarians, closely reflect the feedback we've been receiving. In addition to the vets' own reluctance to perform blood pressure monitoring, they have also expressed that, even when they do recommend it, clients are sometimes reluctant to follow through, usually due to financial concerns, or doubts that the procedure is truly necessary. It's very frustrating that such a critically important diagnostic tool, one of the very few currently available that can have a positive impact on the incidence and management of Feline CKD, is being vastly underutilized.
To that end, having accumulated sufficient informal data to demonstrate survey study viability, we are pleased to report that we are now working with Dr. Danielle Gunn-Moore of the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Sarah Chaney of Vet Professionals UK to create a large-scale, publishable survey to help discover what specifically is standing in the way of clinical feline blood pressure monitoring. Both of these outstanding veterinarians have extensive research experience, including design and data analysis of studies utilizing the survey format. We are also actively seeking a statistician with medical research experience to assist with the project. One advantage that we anticipate is that the results will translate into solutions that can be readily implemented to improve the quality and frequency of feline blood pressure monitoring, and thereby help improve quality of life and longevity for cats living with CKD.
We are also continuously vetting opportunities for additional research projects that meet our criteria. There are several avenues under consideration, and many areas that merit investigation, including additional work on inflammation and it's relationship to CKD, autoimmune reactions that may cause or exacerbate CKD, and CKD issues related to gut microbiome, which is an emerging topic of interest in various aspects of both feline and human medicine. There are so many factors to consider; to receive our support, projects must be evidence-based, well-designed, and calculated to keep us steadily moving towards better treatments and cures. Finances are also a huge consideration; Feline CKD is a complex disease--research is never fast or easy, and we need to ensure that this mission is sustainable.
* We will not fund any research that harms or exploits animals. Blood and urine samples utilized in our studies are routine samples provided by companion cats during the course of their regularly scheduled veterinary visits. The samples, after being used for the cats’ own necessary diagnostic purposes, are then preserved for use in our studies with the consent of the cats’ human family members.
PLEASE HELP KEEP THE MISSION MOVING FORWARD!! THANK YOU!!
