Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Commonly Prescribed Drug for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common health condition in cats and an estimated 50 percent of elderly cats are diagnosed with the disease. Although cats with CKD have long been presumed to have increased gastric acid levels, recently this assumption has been called into question. However, anecdotal evidence suggests acid blockers such as omeprazole have positive effects on controlling the nausea, vomiting and anorexia associated with CKD. Researchers will validate if omeprazole effectively alleviates clinical gastrointestinal signs in cats with CKD. In this small clinical trial, cats will be treated with either daily oral omeprazole or placebo. Findings will help inform veterinarians whether cats with moderate CKD actually benefit from omeprazole therapy.