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Kidney disease therapies investigated in cat study
"Chronic kidney disease is debilitating for many cats and significantly lessens their quality of life" - Silke Salavati, senior lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
Study will investigate three products designed to be added to food. 

Researchers at The University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies are researching the effect of therapies created to alleviate chronic kidney disease in cats.

Aiming to help limit the debilitating impact of chronic kidney disease in cats, the researchers will investigate ways to prevent toxins that develop in the gut of cats with kidney disease from entering the bloodstream.

Three products which are designed to be added to food will be investigated. One is a probiotic supplement aimed at limiting the formation of gut toxins, and the other two comprise small carbon particles designed to bind to toxins in the gut. 

“Simple interventions to bind toxins that originate in the guts of cats affected by chronic kidney disease, to limit the progress of the condition, may offer a viable route to alleviating the impact of the disease in millions of cats,” said Marina Domingues, resident in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Edinburgh's School of Veterinary Studies. 

A small group of healthy cats will be studied first, receiving each treatment in turn, and will then be monitored for effects on health and behaviour – while urine and faecal samples will be analysed to check for changes in gut microorganism composition changes. 

The second part of the study will see cats with chronic kidney disease studied, with owners given the option to administer one of the three products to their cat's food. All cats will be monitored for adverse effects, including urine and faecal testing. 

Supported by the Fiona and Ian Russell Seed Corn Fund, and the Clinical Study Fund of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the study hopes to demonstrate whether the treatments are effective. 

 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.