Basepaws establishes inaugural Feline Kidney Disease Awareness Month

To help spread public awareness for Feline Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Basepaws has declared the month of October Feline Kidney Disease Awareness Month. Throughout the month, Basepaws will support cat parents with tools and resources designed to help manage CKD while raising awareness. By dedicating this month to CKD, Basepaws hopes to help diagnose cats sooner.

"Our company's mission is to empower pet parents and veterinarians with a proactive approach to healthcare decisions through education and in-home predictive screening tests," said Kristin Wuhrman, EVP, business development at Basepaws, in an organizational release.

“Our focus during the month of October is to spread awareness and educate cat caregivers on the importance of spotting early signs and leveraging this with routine checkups as the key to the prevention of progressive chronic kidney disease. Early detection is key, “she continued.

Basepaws is also offering a wide range of initiatives throughout the month to help amplify the awareness of CKD, including a free cat parent webinar on October 26, 2021, at 6 pm EDT featuring feline experts Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice) and Julie Churchill, DVM, PhD, DACVN, (Nutrition). Additionally, complimentary Basepaws DNA and Dental Health Kits will be offered to owners with cats previously diagnosed with CKD.

“Caring for cats with CKD goes beyond the kidneys and beyond the veterinary clinic. The care provided for the cat by the people who know and love them the best includes medical management but needs to take the mental and emotional aspects of health into consideration as well,” said Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice), in the release.

“Teaching cat parents directly complements the consulting and education I am honored to provide to veterinary teams,” she continued.

Along with the free kits and webinar, Basepaws has compiled a checklist that veterinary professionals can provide to their clients that entails the hallmark signs of CKD and potential next steps to take if there is a diagnosis. Owners will also be able to participate in its CKD Citizen Science Program.

Basepaws is looking to better understand this connection and also identify any potential genetic contributions to feline CKD. If you are a pet owner with a cat that has been diagnosed with CKD, you can enroll in its study here. If you are a veterinarian interested in this study, please contact Basepaws at science@basepaws.com for more information on how you can participate.

Reference

Basepaws to launch 1st Feline Kidney Disease Awareness Month. News release. October 8, 2021; Basepaws. Accessed October 8, 2021. [email]