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)-

*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.

*Brown SA. 2018. Nutritional management of chronic kidney disease: protein considerations. VCNA: Small Animal Practice 48(6):1045-1062.

*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.

*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 (supplemental nutrition review); higher protein supports lean mass without renal risk in non-CKD 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-high quality over low-protein unless advanced uremia.

*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 (follow-up themes in later reviews); 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