Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How benazepril and spironolactone affect heart hormones in healthy
By Manson, Elizabeth et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Dose-exposure-response of CARDALIS® (benazepril/spironolactone) on the classical and alternative arms of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in healthy dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy beagle dogs was given different doses of a heart medication called CARDALIS (which contains benazepril and spironolactone) to see how it affected certain blood markers related to heart function. The highest dose resulted in significant changes, including a decrease in a hormone linked to blood pressure and an increase in another that helps regulate heart health. Overall, the medication was well-tolerated, with no serious side effects noted. This information could be useful for treating dogs with heart disease in the future.
People also search for: dog heart medication CARDALIS · beagle heart disease treatment · benazepril spironolactone for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Benazepril exhibits a dose-dependent effect on biomarkers of the circulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To characterize the dose-exposure-response relationship of a fixed-dose combination product including benazepril and spironolactone (CARDALIS®) on RAAS biomarkers in dogs. ANIMALS: Eighteen purpose-bred healthy beagle dogs. METHODS: Three groups of 6 dogs received different doses of CARDALIS® for 14 days following induction of RAAS activation by feeding a low-sodium diet: (a) benazepril 0.25 mg/kg + spironolactone 2 mg/kg PO q24h (label dose); (b) benazepril 0.25 mg/kg + spironolactone 2 mg/kg PO q12h; or (c) benazepril 0.5 mg/kg + spironolactone 4 mg/kg PO q12h. Blood samples were collected at baseline and serial time intervals after CARDALIS® dosing to measure serum RAAS biomarkers and plasma concentrations of active drug metabolites. Time-weighted averages for serum RAAS biomarkers after CARDALIS® dosing at steady state were compared between dosage groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. RESULTS: Compared to the label dose, the highest dose of CARDALIS® was associated with a 30% decrease in angiotensin II (P = .03), 94% increase in angiotensin 1-7 (P = .03), 71% decrease in surrogate activity of ACE (P = .002), and 116% increase in circulating aldosterone (P = .02). CARDALIS® was well-tolerated at all doses with no clinically relevant changes in renal values or serum electrolytes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The combined CARDALIS® product leads to dose-dependent alterations of RAAS metabolites. These results could help inform clinical trials in dogs with heart disease.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39601373/