The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug that can help cats with chronic kidney disease.  

Research from the American Veterinary Medical Association shows that 30% of cats over the age of 10 have chronic kidney disease, which can cause weakness, pain, loss of appetite and even death in some serious cases.  

The drug Varenzin-C-A-1 aims to treat anemia in cats that have this condition. The liquid medicine was created by Elanco Animal Health and is given to cats by mouth daily for 28 days. FDA officials say early results of the drug show good progress, and it is the first drug for this illness to get conditional approval.  

Dr. Roberto Gonzalez, of Animal Hospital of Morris Park, says this is a step in the right direction, but that pet owners should still check with their veterinarian first before administering the medicine to their pets.  

The approval from the FDA is only conditional, but pet owners can start treating their cats with this medication right away.  

Elanco Animal Health has a five-year window to prove the drug is fully effective in order to get a full approval.