Dogs and cats with acute-on-chronic kidney disease have worse outcomes than those with acute kidney injury following renal replacement therapy.

Clinical Context

Peer-reviewed veterinary literature continues to shape everyday decision-making for feline patients, especially when new evidence clarifies diagnosis, treatment selection, monitoring, or clinical outcomes.

What the Study Evaluated

A study published in Frontiers in veterinary science in 2026 evaluated dogs and cats with acute-on-chronic kidney disease have worse outcomes than those with acute kidney injury following renal replacement therapy..

Key Findings

To compare survival to discharge and long-term outcomes in dogs and cats with acute-on-chronic kidney disease (ACKD) compared to acute kidney injury (AKI) treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT) and to identify factors associated with outcome. Retrospective observational design. Single referral hospital. 136 client-owned animals (67 dogs and 69 cats) treated with RRT between 2017 and 2024. This retrospective observational cohort study reviewed medical records from a referral hospital. Animals were classified as having ACKD ( n = 66) or AKI ( n = 70). Short-term survival was evaluated as survival to discharge, restricted mean survival...

Why It Matters for Veterinary Professionals

For veterinary professionals, the practical value of this work lies in how the findings may support more structured clinical assessment, clearer monitoring, and more informed decisions for feline patients.

Practical Interpretation

The results should be interpreted in the context of the study design, population, inclusion criteria, and clinical setting. Application in practice should consider patient-specific risk factors, available diagnostics, local standards of care, and clinician judgment.

Clinical Takeaway

Overall, the study adds useful evidence for clinicians seeking to align daily practice with current veterinary research while maintaining a balanced, case-by-case approach.

• Read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42603023/