New JAVMA data support earlier renal diets in cats with CKD

A new JAVMA study led by IDEXX researchers adds fresh evidence for starting therapeutic renal nutrition earlier in cats with chronic kidney disease. In a retrospective review of medical records from US and Canadian practices, investigators analyzed 1,430 cats with early-stage CKD and found that those continuously treated with a veterinary therapeutic renal diet had slower progression and longer survival than untreated cats. Stage 1 cats on a renal diet had a 45% lower hazard of progression, and across the full early-CKD group, treated cats had a restricted mean survival time of 31 months versus 26 months for untreated cats, a five-month difference over three years. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study helps quantify the value of a recommendation that's often hard to sell when cats are still clinically well. The data suggest diet alone may buy meaningful time in IRIS stage 1 and 2 disease, while also underscoring a practice gap: only about one-third of diagnosed cats were reported as consistently receiving renal diet therapy in IDEXX's summary materials. That could strengthen conversations with pet parents about early screening, earlier nutritional intervention, and the need to monitor acceptance, body condition, and phosphorus-related markers as cases evolve. (ca.idexx.com)

What to watch: Expect this paper to feed into ongoing debate over how aggressively clinicians should use renal diets in IRIS stage 1 cats, especially as IRIS guidance has traditionally emphasized kidney diets most clearly for stages 2 through 4, with stage 1 decisions shaped by the full clinical picture. (iris-kidney.com)