NC State tests resistance training for dogs with chronic kidney disease

North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is recruiting dogs with chronic kidney disease for C-K9 STRIDE, a 12-week, prospective, single-arm feasibility pilot study testing whether a simple, pet parent-administered resistance training program is safe and practical for dogs with CKD. The study, led by Autumn N. Harris, DVM, with Leslie-Reed Jones, DVM, and nephrology specialist Shelly L. Vaden, DVM, is focused on whether structured exercise could serve as supportive care for dogs at risk of sarcopenia and declining function, alongside standard CKD management. NC State’s broader nephrology program has also been expanding CKD research, including biomarker work aimed at earlier detection and treatment targeting. (cvm.ncsu.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study signals a shift from viewing CKD management mainly through diet, hydration, blood pressure, phosphorus, and proteinuria control toward also considering muscle preservation and functional status. That’s a meaningful gap: IRIS guidance remains the backbone for staging and treatment, while WSAVA and geriatric rehabilitation literature emphasize routine muscle condition assessment and the value of targeted exercise in older dogs. If C-K9 STRIDE shows that home-based resistance work is safe and feasible, it could open a practical new adjunct for dogs whose lean mass and mobility often erode during chronic disease. (iris-kidney.com)

What to watch: Watch for enrollment updates, feasibility results, and whether NC State moves from this pilot into a controlled efficacy study measuring muscle condition, quality of life, or CKD-related clinical outcomes. (cvm.ncsu.edu)