109 | Here's how to make a REAL difference to your CKD patients as a busy vet nurse

In this episode, we're chatting about something every single one of us deals with, whether you're working in general practice, referral, or out-of-hours - and that's chronic kidney disease.

CKD is one of the most commonly-diagnosed conditions in our senior patients - in both cats and dogs. Despite how often we see this disease, our role as nurses in caring for these patients is often quite limited, and there's still a big disconnect between how we treat these patients in practice and what the evidence suggests about their management.

Today I'm bringing you an evidence-based overview of CKD, focusing on the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines on its management. We'll explore why CKD is so hard to diagnose early - and why it's so important that we do - alongside how we can use things like staging to plan both effective treatment AND nursing care for our patients. So you can spend less time feeling like you're just watching CKD patients sit on fluids, and more time using your skills and truly advocating for your patients.

Resources mentioned this episode:

📲 Staging CKD: https://www.iris-kidney.com/iris-staging-system

📲 Treating CKD by stage: https://www.iris-kidney.com/iris-guidelines-1

📲 Early detection of CKD: https://www.iris-kidney.com/ckd-early-diagnosis

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This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions and prescribe all treatments, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.