Earlier treatment 'could delay onset of heart failure'
Lead author Adrian Boswood, professor of veterinary cardiology at the RVC, said thanks to the findings, vets no longer have to adopt a 'watch and wait' approach with suspected preclinical cases of MVD.
A new study suggests earlier treatment of preclinical mitral valve disease (MVD) can delay the onset of heart failure in dogs. Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) say this highlights the need for a shift in the way vets diagnose and manage the disease.
The study, Evaluation of Pimobendan in Cardiomegaly (EPIC), found the drug was able to extend the asymptomatic period by 15 months on average and dogs that received pimobendan lived significantly longer than those receiving a placebo. The findings have been published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Heart disease is one of the top five causes of death in UK dogs and MVD accounts for 75 per cent of cases.
Lead author Adrian Boswood, professor of veterinary cardiology at the RVC, said thanks to the findings, vets no longer have to adopt a 'watch and wait' approach with suspected preclinical cases of MVD.
"When a typical mitral valve murmur is detected, vets should now investigate further to look for cardiac enlargement. If demonstrated, this suggests the patient will probably benefit from treatment with pimobendan before the onset of clinical signs."
Researchers say the EPIC study, which was designed and run by an independent team and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, is the largest prospective veterinary cardiology study carried out to date and produced data to rival that of human clinical trials. Taking seven years to complete, it involved 360 dogs across 11 countries in four continents.
In light of the findings, the team say vets should now consider testing early for signs of preclinical MVD, and in dogs with cardiomegaly secondary to preclinical MVD, should consider the use of pimobendan to delay the onset of congestive heart failure and extend the asymptomatic period.
Image courtesy of RVC
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
