Mission RENAL 4: Medications for Pets with Chronic Kidney Disease
Release Date: 01/08/2026
One Health Heroes: Flea-Borne Typhus in Los Angeles, Raw Milk Cheese and E. coli, Update on Bird Flu and New World Screwworm
Your Vet Wants You to Know
In this episode of One Health Heroes, Dr. Mandy Sorensen, communications specialist with the American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians, joins us to deliver important One Health updates. Avian influenza remains an ongoing global concern, with millions of birds affected and increasing spillover into vulnerable marine mammal populations along the California coast. While New World Screwworm has not yet crossed into the U.S., cases continue to rise just south of the border, prompting updated national response plans and new treatment options. The episode also explores an...
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Strong Skin Happy Pets: How to Repair the Skin Barrier
Your Vet Wants You to Know
In the second episode of the Strong Skin Happy Pets series, board-certified veterinary dermatologist Dr. Mollie Mesman how in allergic dogs and cats with itchy skin or recurrent infections, skin barrier repair may be a key part of treatment. Learn how bathing, topical therapy, nutrition, and long-term home care can help allergic pets stay more comfortable. The series is proudly sponsored by Dechra, a leader in veterinary dermatology solutions that support skin barrier health. Episode page with pictures and video: Find a veterinary dermatology specialist near you: Our vision is for...
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One Health Heroes: Tick Maps, Raw Milk Illness, Avian Influenza in Elephant Seals. April 1, 2026
Your Vet Wants You to Know
10 million birds. Marine mammals infected. What’s happening right now. A continued surge in avian influenza cases has led to over 10 million birds affected in just 30 days and new spillover into marine mammals along the California coast. New World Screwworm threats increase as cases rise in northern Mexico, driven in part by warming temperatures that favor parasite survival. A concerning raw milk–associated E. coli outbreak underscores ongoing food safety risks, particularly for young children. New maps from the Companion Animal Parasite Council increase tick-borne disease awareness,...
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Sasquatch Husbandry, Preservation and General Care
Your Vet Wants You to Know
What if your next patient wasn’t a dog, cat… or even remotely domesticated? In this very special April Fools episode of Your Vet Wants You to Know, we welcome Dr. Dave, a highly specialized (and highly questionable) expert in Sasquatch husbandry, preservation, and general care. From navigating dense woodland “practice settings” to treating elusive, blur-prone patients, this episode explores what it might take to care for the most mysterious mammal on earth. Along the way, we discuss the unique behavioral traits of Sasquatch, creative (and ethically debatable) capture techniques, and...
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Strong Skin Happy Pets: Understanding Skin Barrier And Allergies In Dogs
Your Vet Wants You to Know
In the first episode of the Strong Skin Happy Pets series, board-certified veterinary dermatologist Dr. Mollie Mesman joins to explore the foundation of healthy skin: the skin barrier. She breaks down what the skin barrier is, how it functions, and why it plays such a critical role in dogs and cats with allergies. Using real-life examples and practical explanations, this episode helps pet owners understand why chronic itch, infections, and flare-ups often keep coming back. The series is proudly sponsored by Dechra, a leader in veterinary dermatology solutions that support skin barrier health....
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083 Pet Insurance
Your Vet Wants You to Know
Pet insurance can make a significant difference in the medical options available for pets when illness or injury occurs. In this episode, we sit down with veterinary critical care specialist, Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, to discuss how pet insurance works, what it covers, and how it can affect both pet owners and veterinary teams. Through real clinical stories, she explores the pros and cons of insurance, common misconceptions, and why enrolling pets early can make a major difference in coverage. The conversation also highlights how insurance can reduce the moral stress veterinarians feel when...
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One Health Heroes, Mar 1, 2026: Outbreak in Cali, Emerging Zoonotic Diseases, Avian Influenza and Screwworm Updates
Your Vet Wants You to Know
This episode of One Health Heroes highlights several fast-moving public health stories that illustrate how closely human, animal, and environmental health are intertwined. From the accelerating spread of avian influenza to proactive containment efforts against New World Screwworm, the conversation highlights both the scale of current threats and the science being deployed to address them. A leptospirosis outbreak in California emphasizes how urban wildlife, weather patterns, and vaccination decisions intersect in everyday veterinary practice. These disease outbreaks inspire broader reflection...
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Your Vet Book Club: A Compassionate Calling by Dr. Marie Holowaychuk
Your Vet Wants You to Know
We’re launching the very first Your Vet Book Club with a heartfelt conversation about A Compassionate Calling by Dr. Marie Holowaychuk. In this episode, we explore the emotional realities of veterinary medicine, from exhaustion and burnout to empathy, grief, and resilience. Dr. Holowaychuk shares evidence-based research through her personal stories to reveal both the struggles and the hope within the veterinary profession. We also discuss the growing role of veterinary social work, the impact of autonomy on burnout, and how pet owners can better understand the human side of veterinary care. ...
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One Health Heroes: Solar Sheep Grazing
Your Vet Wants You to Know
In this episode of One Health Heroes, Dr. Hannah Varnell, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and specialist in veterinary preventive medicine, explains the rapidly growing world of solar sheep grazing. This innovative practice integrates livestock production with renewable energy infrastructure, creating measurable benefits for animal welfare, soil health, pollinators, and local communities. Dr. Varnell explains how managed intensive grazing under solar panels improves carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity — while also opening new opportunities for veterinarians in preventive...
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Mission RENAL 6: Nutrition and Diet for Chronic Kidney Disease in Pets
Your Vet Wants You to Know
In this final Mission RENAL episode, veterinary nutritionist and scientific communications nutritionist at Royal Canin, Dr. Megan Shepherd, explains how nutrition supports pets with chronic kidney disease. They discuss why kidney diets are formulated differently, the importance of phosphorus restriction, protein quality, hydration, GI health, and omega-3 fatty acids. The episode also addresses common myths about toppers and home-cooked diets while offering practical strategies for managing picky eaters. Dr. Shepherd emphasizes that early dietary intervention can improve both quality of life...
info_outlineIn Part 4 of Mission RENAL, a series on Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in pets, Dr. JD Foster, small animal internal medicine and nephrology expert joins to explain treatments for hypertension, proteinuria, high phosphorus, and anemia; how IRIS staging affects prognosis; and how to maintain quality of life as CKD progresses. Sponsored by Royal Canin and Elanco, this guide empowers pet owners with Real Education for Navigating Advanced Longevity in dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease.
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How medications support kidney health in pets with CKD
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Why treating anemia, hypertension, and proteinuria slows disease progression
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How phosphate binders and FGF-23 testing help protect kidney function
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Understanding IRIS staging and what it means for prognosis
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What signs indicate CKD is moving into a more advanced stage
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Tips for maintaining comfort, appetite, and quality of life
Resources & Links:
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Episode page with pictures and video: Mission RENAL Part 4: Mediations for Pets with Chronic Kidney Disease
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Find a veterinary internal medicine specialist near you: Specialist Search Here
Our vision is for Your Vet Wants You to Know to be a resource for veterinarians to improve client communication by introducing a discussion about a common topic during the vet visit, then directing the client to a reliable source of engaging, understandable, and accessible information.
By doing so, we strive for:
1) increased pet health literacy among pet owners,
2) improved partnership between clients and the veterinary team,
3) improved medical outcomes for pets, and
4) improved quality of life and efficiency for veterinarians.
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Mission RENAL is sponsored by Royal Canin and Elanco™ makers of VarenzinTM-CA1 (molidustat oral suspension).
Varenzin-CA1 is indicated for the control of nonregenerative anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats.
Important Safety Information
Varenzin-CA1 is for oral use in cats only and prescribed only by licensed veterinarians. Keep this drug and used syringes out of reach of children. Wash hands immediately after use. In case of accidentally swallowing, call a doctor immediately. Women who are or may become pregnant should use the product with caution. Do not give to pregnant, nursing or breeding cats. Before using Varenzin-CA1, talk to your veterinarian if your cat is allergic to molidustat, has a history of seizures or thromboembolic disease predisposition. Use with caution in cats younger than 1 year of age. Common side effects include vomiting and high blood pressure. Red blood cell proportion should be monitored. Click here for complete safety information.