Virbac Launches Two-in-One Food for Feline Chronic Kidney Disease
Virbac has introduced Vikaly, a clinical renal diet for cats that integrates the pharmaceutical active ingredient benazepril, designed to improve management of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD). This innovative product aims to enhance treatment compliance and reduce stress by eliminating the need for separate medication administration.
Key Features of Vikaly
- Combines renal nutrition with benazepril to reduce proteinuria
- Provides the same therapeutic benazepril dosage as tablets (0.5–1 mg/kg bodyweight/day)
- Shows greater angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition than benazepril tablets at equivalent doses
- Treatment efficacy remains consistent regardless of a cat’s feeding behavior
- Benazeprilat plasma levels are unaffected by the speed of food consumption
- Requires a cat to consume over 10 times their daily ration to reach toxic benazepril levels
Indications and Nutritional Composition
Vikaly is intended for the nutritional and medical management of CKD in adult and senior cats with proteinuria starting from IRIS stage two. The kibble delivers clinical renal nutrition formulated with:
- Low phosphorus
- Reduced protein
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- High metabolisable energy
The product is available in 1.5 kg bags and can be fed alongside wet food.
Virbac describes Vikaly as ushering in a "new era" for CKD management in cats.
Author’s summary: Vikaly combines medication and nutrition into one product, simplifying CKD treatment for cats while ensuring consistent therapeutic effects and reducing stress for both pets and owners.