Study Start Date: 10/02/2024
Study End Date: 10/02/2027

The CATPAD study: Evaluation of markers of pancreatic disease in cats before and after switching to a special diet for kidney disease or diabetes mellitus

In humans and dogs with pancreatitis, a high fat diet has been associated with pancreatitis. Hence, avoiding a high fat diet is often suggested for managing or preventing the development of pancreatitis in these species. However, the association between diet content and the development of pancreatitis is less clear in cats. Senior cats often have to receive special diet that contains higher fat for managing kidney disease or diabetes mellitus. Some of them possibly develop pancreatitis afterwards, while others seem to tolerate it well. As a result, calcium content, magnesium content, or other nutrients are suspected to be associated with pancreatitis. But to date, few studies looked at this association in cats. This study aims to elucidate the role of diet on pancreas-specific serum markers in cats by evaluating the effect of switching to commercially available special diets labeled as “renal diet” or “diabetic diet”. We hope to identify the nutrients that are associated with elevated pancreatic-specific serum markers, which suggest pancreatic cell damage. And hence better understand what nutrient might possibly cause or aggravate pancreatitis and thus should be avoided in cats with or at risk of pancreatitis.

Study Design:
Prospective cohort study

Sample Size:
30 cats with chronic kidney disease
30 cats with diabetes mellitus

Inclusion Criteria:

• Currently be on a commercial diet formulated for adult maintenance (not a kitten diet or a therapeutic diet)
• Be about to be switched to a commercially available therapeutic diet intended for cats with kidney disease or diabetes mellitus
• Not have had a diet change in the 2 weeks prior to enrollment
• Not have a history of being treated with medication that might cause pancreatitis (as determined by the veterinarian)
• Not have been treated with corticosteroids or immunosuppressants within the past 3 months
• Not have concurrent diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease and uncontrolled hyperthyroidism) other than diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease
• Receiving = 90% of caloric intake as commercial diet
• Cats can be managed by the primary veterinarian and do not need to be referred to Texas A&M

Exclusion Criteria:
N/A

Study Controls:
N/A

Samples:
For each visit (two study visits in total):

• Whole blood sample
  • 2–3 air dried blood smears prepared at the time of blood collection
  • At least 1 mL of EDTA blood in a purple-top tube (label the tube with patient’s name; EDTA Blood)
  • Please prepare 2–3 air dried blood smears at the time of collection
  • Please send the whole blood as soon as possible and wrap the tube so it will not make direct contact with the ice pack during the shipment
  • If whole blood needs to be stored before shipping, store it in the fridge; please do not store it in room temperature or freezer.
• Please provide previous CBC results if possible
• Fasted serum sample
  • At least 2 mL of serum
  • Collect up to 5 mL of blood into a red-top tube
  • Spin sample down and separate serum from the clot
  • Transfer serum to a new red-top tube or tube without additives before shipping (label the tube with patient’s name: serum sample)
  • If serum needs to be stored before shipping, store serum in the freezer; please do not store it in room temperature.

Study Website:
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/gilab/research/catpad-study/

Costs/Reimbursements:
Shipping label will be provided – please contact investigators to obtain shipping labels. 

We offer the following: CBC, biochemistry, and GI panel for two study visits All shipping costs related to sending samples to our laboratory (Shipping labels will be provided). 

The owner will be responsible for costs other than the items listed above (e.g., diets, visiting fee, other medication, diagnostics performed in the clinic).

Full Disclosure information:
The study is funded by a grant from TAMU.
The investigator declared a conflict of interest: Drs. Wu, Tolbert, and Steiner are employees of the Texas AM Gastrointestinal Laboratory, which offers diagnostic tests for gastrointestinal disorders in dogs and cats on a fee-for-service basis. Dr. Steiner is a consultant for IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
The study will be published if results are negative.
The study will be reported on VIN.
The authors will acknowledge VIN if the study is published.