title: ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Feline Chronic Kidney Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases in older cats. In most cats, CKD is also a progressive disease and can be accompanied by a wide range of clinical and clinicopathological changes. These ISFM Consensus Guidelines have been developed by an independent panel of clinicians and academics to provide practical advice on the diagnosis and management of this complex disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Although CKD is a common clinical problem in cats, the manifestations of disease vary between individuals. Thus there is a need for careful and repeat evaluation of cats with CKD and adjustment of therapy according to individual needs. In addition to addressing problems arising from CKD and improving quality of life (QoL) for the patient, therapy may also target slowing the underlying progression of disease and hence prolonging life. While maintaining QoL is of paramount importance in our patients, this can be challenging when multiple therapies are indicated. In some cases it is necessary to prioritise therapy, given an understanding of what is likely to most benefit the individual patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  In preparing these Guidelines, the Panel has carefully reviewed the existing published literature, and has also graded the quality of evidence for different interventions to help to provide practical recommendations on the therapeutic options for feline CKD. This is a field of veterinary medicine that has benefited from some excellent published clinical research and further research findings will undoubtedly modify the recommendations contained in these Guidelines in the future.
authors.affiliation: International Cat Care/ISFM, UK andy@icatcare.org.
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sparkes
authors.affiliation: Vet Professionals, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caney
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chalhoub
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Bristol Renal, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.affiliation: Willows Referral Service, Solihull, UK.
authors.forename: Isuru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gajanayake
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langston
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT), France.
authors.forename: Hervé P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Colorado State University, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quimby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats; D032921:Consensus; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012955:Societies, Medical