Objective: To determine the effect of stanozolol on body composition, nitrogen balance, and food consumption in castrated dogs with chronic renal failure.
Design: Blinded crossover trial.
Animals: 22 castrated Beagles with experimentally induced chronic renal failure.
Procedure: Dogs were divided into 2 groups of 11 dogs each. During each of two 6-week treatment periods, dogs in 1 group received stanozolol, and those in the other group received a control agent. Nitrogen balance, body composition, and food consumption were determined.
Results: During administration of stanozolol, the amount of food consumed per dog, lean body mass, and nitrogen balance increased. Stanozolol did not have a significant effect on body fat, bone mineral content, or food consumption per kilogram of body weight.
Clinical implications: For dogs with mild-to-moderate, nonuremic, experimentally induced, chronic renal failure, stanozolol had positive effects on nitrogen balance and lean body mass.