Drug-Dosing Adjustment in Dogs and Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Adjusting drug dosages in dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be challenging in clinical practice due to the lack of specific indications in the current literature; moreover, the evaluation of renal function through the measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is unanimously considered as a requisite for most adjustment strategies, is often hard to perform in clinical settings. Therefore, the present review aims to provide practical guidelines for dosage adjustment in CKD patients through an overview of the available literature. ABSTRACT: Chronic kidney disease is a common kidney disorder in adult and aged dogs and cats; the management of associated complications and comorbidities generally requires a life-long medical treatment to ensure a good quality of life of affected patients. However, indications and the literature on drug dosing in dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease are often lacking. The aim of this review is to revise the current literature on drug dosing in canine and feline patients with renal impairment, with a special focus on the most commonly used medications to manage chronic kidney disease and possible comorbidities.