Dubai: A new test that screens cats and dogs for kidney disease is now available to all veterinarians in the UAE.
Studies have shown that over one in three cats and one in ten dogs will get kidney disease in their lifetime. With no visible signs of the disease in its early stages, vets are only able to detect the disease in its later stages when treatment options are limited.
The new screening test, known as the IDEXX SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) test, was introduced by IDEXX Laboratories to detect kidney disease in pets months to years earlier, when the kidney function is still intact.
Elie Atieh, Doctor in Veterinary Medicine, told Gulf News in an exclusive interview that early diagnosis allows vets to adapt the animal’s diet and limit the kidney injury, giving pets a better chance of a healthy, long life even with the disease.
He explained that SMDA is a methylated form of the amino acid arginine that is released into the circulation during intranuclear protein degradation and is excreted by renal filtration.
“Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a common disease in dogs and cats and the test is a biomarker for kidney function. The SDMA increases with both acute and active kidney injury and chronic disease, allowing vets to intervene earlier for more successful outcomes,” said Atieh.
Described as the ‘heart disease of pets,’ kidney disease is the leading cause of suffering and death in cats and dogs. Studies have shown that more than half of cats over the age of 15 years are affected with the disease. The likelihood of cats developing the disease also increases with age.
Through the test, vets can identify kidney issues through raised levels of SDMA.
“The SDMA test can be run on any IDEXX Catalyst Chemistry analyser in any equipped veterinary clinic. The vet will need a very small amount of blood and will get the results in eight minutes,” said Atieh.
For cats in particular, the test is crucial as they often mask their disease, even when advanced as a natural defence against predators. Even when suffering, cats appear normal, which may serve them in the wild, but makes it very difficult for their owners and vets to identify when they’re sick.
Once CDK is diagnosed through the IDEXX SDMA test, a vet will develop the most appropriate and cost-effective treatment plan, tailored to the pet’s individual needs. This can include management options such as specific diets, cautious use of potentially nephrotoxic drugs, and considering the use of kidney supportive drugs and renal protective drugs.
Owners of diagnosed pets are recommended to monitor the disease by returning to the vet two weeks after the initial check-up to determine progression. They should also follow up with another check-up two to three months after if they are stable.
