Kidney Disease and Hypertension Clinical Trial

We ran across this clinical trial tonight. Jewel meets all the criteria and would be perfect for it.....but, there's no site near us. I wanted to let everyone else know about it though in case they have or know of a kitty who can participate at a site near them.

This clinical trial is looking for cats who have been diagnosed with kidney disease and hypertension (high blood pressure), are at least one year old, and are healthy enough to participate in a six-month-long trial.

According to the study's website, hypertension can cause serious problems in cats, such as seizures, heart disease, bleeding in the brain, and blindness.  Unfortunately, feline hypertension often has no symptoms, so it can easily go undetected.  While hypertension is often associated with kidney disease and thyroid disease, there are currently no FDA approved medications to treat hypertension in cats.

This study is investigating the effectiveness of a liquid medication on hypertension in cats.  Study sites are available across the United States in: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

You can learn more about this study on the clinical trial's website.  There, you will also find contact information for the study as well.  Please feel free to share this information with others.

Shelter Pets Viewed as Undesirable

In a survey conducted by Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, it was discovered that 46% of adults aged 18-34 were more likely to purchase a pet rather than consider adopting one.  Additionally, 46% of the young adults surveyed thought shelter pets were less desirable than those in stores or from breeders.

I think this is really sad.  The truth is, cats and dogs typically find themselves at shelters through no fault of their own.  In fact, according to Petfinder the most common reasons cats and dogs go to shelters are:

• Owners move to housing that don't accept pets.
• Owners can no longer afford the pet.
• Allergies.
• Owners no longer have time for the pet.
• Owners have personal problems.

Shelter cats and dogs make great pets.  I've adopted a few pets from shelters, and it's always been a rewarding experience for me.  

Some great reasons to adopt a shelter pet include:

• You save a life.  Sadly, about 4 million shelter pets are euthanized each year due to pet overpopulation and limited space in shelters.
• You save money on initial costs.  It's cheaper to adopt a pet from a shelter than it is to buy one from a breeder or pet store.  Most shelter pets are already spayed or neutered and vaccinated.  Some shelter pets also come microchipped.
• Shelter staff can help you find a great match.  Shelter staff have the opportunity to get to know the pets and can help you find the kind of pet you're looking for.  For instance, shelter staff will know which cats are lapcats, which ones are very playful, and which ones get along with other cats, children, and dogs. 
• Purebreds can be found in shelters, too.  If you have your heart set on getting a specific breed of cat or dog, check your local shelter.  If your local shelter doesn't have the breed you're looking for, you can often find a breed-specific shelter or organization to adopt from.
• Pets at shelters are usually housebroken or litter box trained.
• When you adopt an adult cat or dog from a shelter, you know what you're getting.  You'll know what size the pet is as well as what the pet's temperament is like.  Adopting an adult pet also allows you to skip over the puppy or kitten stage, which can be frustrating for some people.

If you're thinking about getting a pet, I hope you will check out your local shelter.  Shelter pets make wonderful companions!

Sources:

CatChannel: Shelter Cats Seen as Undesirable 

Petfinder: Six Common Misconceptions About Pet Adoption