Research
Cat urine may hold an early warning of kidney disease
Earth.com · By Sanjana Gajbhiye ·
The Brief
- Kidney disease is common in cats but is often diagnosed late.
- The usual blood test may still look normal after a cat has lost more than a third of its kidney function.
- Researchers report that a protein called MMP-7 was higher in cat urine, a possible early warning sign.
Why it matters
If validated, a urine marker could allow kidney disease in cats to be detected before blood tests show it, giving earlier chances to intervene.
Who’s affected
- veterinarians
- cat owners
- #cats
- #kidney disease
- #veterinary medicine
- #biomarkers
- #urine test
Kidney disease is common in cats, but vets often find it late. The usual blood test may still look normal after a cat has lost more than a third of its kidney function. Now, researchers have found a possible early warning sign in cat urine . A protein called MMP-7 was higher in…