Renal osteodystrophy — bone disease secondary to chronic kidney disease — causes structural bone changes and pain in cats, representing an often overlooked welfare consequence of poorly managed CKD.
Renal osteodystrophy adds bone pain and structural weakness to the already significant welfare burden of advanced chronic kidney disease in cats. Jaw demineralisation causes pain when eating — a particularly impactful welfare consequence in cats for whom food motivation is closely linked to quality of life assessment. Preventing the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism through dietary phosphorus restriction is the most important intervention, and represents a reason why CKD dietary management extends beyond simply reducing kidney workload to actively preventing downstream pathology. Regular blood tests monitoring parathyroid hormone levels alongside standard CKD biochemistry allow early detection and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism before significant bone loss occurs.