K9-Rx Science

K9-Rx Science

The K9-Rx formula is based on REAL science. All our ingredients are backed by actual, real world, peer reviewed studies.

*Updated and Recent Studies (2015–2025)

*Barbeau-Grégoire M, Cournoyer A, Otis C, Moreau M, Lussier B, Troncy E. 2022. A 2022 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Enriched Therapeutic Diets and Nutraceuticals in Canine and Feline Osteoarthritis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23(18):10384. Found evident clinical analgesic efficacy for omega-3-enriched diets and omega-3 supplements; weak efficacy for collagen; marked non-effect for chondroitin-glucosamine products on pain management.

*Mehler SJ, May LR, King C, et al. 2016. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on the clinical signs and erythrocyte membrane polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in dogs with osteoarthritis. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 109:1-7. Daily EPA+DHA supplementation significantly improved clinical signs of OA versus placebo.

*Fascetti AJ, et al. 2020. Protein and amino acid requirements of dogs revisited: implications for geriatric and performance diets. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (nutrition review). Higher-quality protein supports lean mass without renal risk in non-CKD dogs.

*Oberbauer AM, Larsen JA. 2021. Amino Acids in Dog Nutrition and Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1285:199-216 (UC Davis). Reviews essential amino acid roles, protein quality, and nutritional implications for companion dogs.

*Summers SC, Quimby JM, Winston J, et al. 2022. Evidence-based nutritional management of chronic kidney disease in dogs and cats. Veterinary Record 190(5):e1325. Recommends individualized protein levels, often moderate-to-high quality, rather than blanket low-protein feeding except in advanced uremia.

*Brown SA. 2018. Nutritional management of chronic kidney disease: protein considerations. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 48(6):1045-1062. Emphasizes protein quality and phosphorus management over simple protein restriction.

*Finco DR, Brown SA, et al. (various updates through 2023). IRIS Kidney Guidelines: Nutritional recommendations for dogs with chronic kidney disease. International Renal Interest Society (IRIS), current staging and treatment guidelines (updated 2019–2023). Emphasizes moderate high-quality protein with phosphorus restriction rather than severe protein limitation.

*Hall JA, et al. 2018. Influence of dietary protein source on urinary oxalate and renal biomarkers in healthy adult dogs. Journal of Animal Science 96(Suppl 3):45-46. No adverse renal effects noted from animal-based high protein.

*Mansilla CA, et al. 2021. Effects of high-protein diets on renal function in senior dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 35(3):1425 (abstract). Longitudinal data showing no decline in GFR or renal biomarkers with high protein intake.

*Chew DJ, et al. 2019–2024 updates. Dietary phosphorus and protein in canine CKD: IRIS consensus revisited. Proceedings of ACVIM Forum / IRIS updates. Shifts focus to phosphorus as primary restrictor, not protein quantity alone.

*Biewenga WJ, et al. 2017. Long-term effects of high dietary protein on renal structure and function in clinically normal dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research. No progressive glomerular damage observed.

*WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. 2021–2025. Global Nutrition Guidelines: Protein recommendations for adult, senior, and diseased dogs. World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Adequate to high protein appropriate for most life stages except severe CKD.

*Plantinga EA, et al. 2023. Dietary protein level and renal health in aging Beagle dogs: a 5-year study. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 107(2):456-468. High protein group showed maintained renal function comparable to moderate.

*Original Studies 

*Prevention of Acute Renal Failure: The Effects of Dietary Protein Conditioning on Gentamicin-induced Nephrotoxicosis in Dogs Proc Iams Intl Nutrition Sympos;(1996):143 *Effects of Various Proteins in the Diet on Fatty Acid Concentrations in the Skin, Cutaneous Histology, Clinicopathology, and Thyroid Function in Dogs Proc Iams Intl Nutrition Sympos;(1996):257

*Effects of Dietary Protein and Phosphorus on the Kidneys of Dogs Proc Iams Intl Nutrition Sympos;(1996):123 *Dietary Protein and the Kidney Proc Iams Intl Nutrition Sympos;(1996):117

*Influence of four diets containing approximately 11% protein (dry weight) on uric acid, sodium urate, and ammonium urate urine activity product ratios of healthy Beagles Am J Vet Res;(1995);56;1:60-65

*Influence of Protein, Minerals, and Vitamin D on Skeletal Development of Dogs Vet Clin Nutrit;(1995);2;3:93 *Changes in the intestinal mucosal cell populations of German Shepherd Dogs feddiets containing different protein sources Am J Vet Res;(1995);56;3:340

*Effects of animal and soy fats and proteins in the diet on fatty acid concentrations in the serum and skin of dogs Am J Vet Res;(1995);56;11:1465 *Diet and exercise patterns in pet dogs J Am Vet Med Assoc;(1995);207;2:186-190 *Effects of aging and dietary protein intake on uninephrectomized geriatric dogs Am J Vet Res;(1994);55;9:1282-1290

*Effects of dietary protein conditioning on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis in healthy male dogs Am J Vet Res;(1994);55;1:90

*Nutrient Digestion of Dry Dog Foods Containing Plant and Animal Proteins Canine Pract;(1994);19;2:11

*Renal Function in Geriatric Dogs–Are There Dietary Protein Effects? Vet Clin Nutrit;(1994);1;2:66 *Effects of protein, lipid, or carbohydrate supplementation on hepatic lipid accumulation during rapid weight loss in obese cats Am J Vet Res;(1994);55;10:1406-1415

*Apparent dietary protein requirement of dogs with portosystemic shunt Am J Vet Res;(1993);54;5:719 *Effects of dietary protein source on Basenjis with immunoproliferative enteropathy. Am J Vet Res;(Feb 1992);53;2:234

*Effects of dietary phosphorus and protein on dogs with chronic renal failure. Am J Vet Res;(1992);53;12:2264

*The influence of dietary protein intake on progression of chronic renal failure in dogs. Semin Vet Med Surg;(1992);7;3:244-50 *High dietary protein intake does not cause progressive renal failure in dogs after 75% nephrectomy or aging. Vet Med (1992);7;3:227-36

*Dietary protein restriction: some unanswered questions. Semin Vet Med Surg;(1992);7;3:237-43

*Effect of dietary protein on functional, morphologic, and histologic changes of the kidney during compensatory renal growth in dogs Am J Vet Res;(Aug 1991);52;8:1357

*Protein requirements of growing pups fed practical dry-type diets containing mixed-protein sources. Am J Vet Res;(May 1990);51;5:808-812

*Relationship between dietary protein concentration and serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity in dogs. Am J Vet Res;(Dec 1989);50;12:2105-2107 *The Importance of Egg Protein in Reduced Protein Diets Designed for Dogs with Renal Failure. J Vet Intern Med;(Jan/March 1988);2;1:15-21