Clinical efficacy of pimobendan versus benazepril for the treatment of acquired atrioventricular valvular disease in dogs.

Author(s): Lombard CW, Jons O, Bussadori CM

Affiliation(s): Klinik fur kleine Haustiere, Universitat Bern, Langgassstrasse 128, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.

Publication date & source: 2006-07, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc., 42(4):249-61.

Publication type:

Seventy-six dogs with clinical acquired atrioventricular valvular disease were evaluated to determine the efficacy of pimobendan (n=41) versus benazepril hydrochloride (n=35) in a randomized, positive-controlled, multicenter study. The study was divided into 56-day and long-term evaluation periods. In a subgroup of dogs with concurrent furosemide treatment (pimobendan [n=31], benazepril [n=25]), the Heart Insufficiency Score improved in favor of pimobendan (P=0.0011), equating to a superior overall efficacy rating (P<0.0001) at day 56. Long-term median survival (i.e., death or treatment failure) for dogs receiving pimobendan was 415 days versus 128 days for dogs not on pimobendan (P=0.0022).