Page 15 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2024

GENERAL NEWS

Trailblazing kidney disease:

RVC’s founding members of small animal

nephrology and urology college

Professor Rosanne Jepson, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine and Nephrology

VC staff Professors of renal replacement therapy (dialysis) The academic year 2023-2024 was
Jonathan Elliott, Harriet and minimally invasive procedures for a particularly prolific year, seeing the
Syme, Rosanne Jepson stone disease and urinary incontinence. fruition of clinical studies established
Rand Dr Rebecca Geddes, The recent purchase of a new laser during the challenges of COVID-19
have become founding members of the machine will enhance the work of and exploring risk factors and
American College of Veterinary this team further by bringing a new era interventions for high calcium levels
Nephrology and Urology (ACVNU). and kidney mineralisation in cats
of ‘stone dusting’ to the QMHA. The
The new specialty discipline provides procedure that breaks urinary tract with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
advanced training and education as stones down to dust without the need This work included offering
well as drives innovative research in for any surgery. kidney ultrasound evaluation to cats
all aspects of kidney and urinary tract attending the clinics, to check for
disease in cats and dogs. RESEARCH AND HEALTH mineralisation and stones, together
SCREENING with validation of this method using
In September 2023, as one of only research technologies available
two certified centres in Europe, the Innovations in nephrology and urology at the Camden Campus
QMHA welcomed its first ACVNU are supported by a comprehensive e.g. micro-computed tomography.
resident, Dr Jack Lawson, Lecturer in clinical research programme. As part of
Small Animal Internal Medicine, helping this, the team also sustain longitudinal Based on that, recently published
to build a sustainable future for the health screening for senior cats > 9 work from the group has
discipline and specialist college. years at the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal demonstrated the important role
Hospital and the Peoples’ Dispensary for that magnesium plays in the control
The ability of the team to offer this Sick Animals, in a programme that has
training programme builds on the been running for over 30 years. of calcium levels in cats with CKD –
RVC’s established clinical expertise and that dietary magnesium
and research portfolio. The QMHA The health screening programme supplementation could be beneficial
is one of only a limited number of is offered free of charge to clients to prevent kidney mineralisation.
It is hoped this novel strategy will be
centres worldwide able to offer and their cats through generous research
comprehensive care for small animals support from grant funding, industrial incorporated into nutritional strategies
with urinary tract problems, inclusive collaborators and donations. for cats with CKD in the future.

Professor Jonathan Elliott Pictured left to right – Hattie Syme, Rebecca Geddes, Jack Lawson, Rosanne Jepson

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