Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Carvedilol treatment in 38 dogs with early heart valve disease
By Gordon, Sonya G et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2012·The Department of Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Sciences and Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Comparative Cardiovascular Sciences and Biomedical Devices, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective review of carvedilol administration in 38 dogs with preclinical chronic valvular heart disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 38 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, averaging 8.6 years old, were given a heart medication called carvedilol to manage early signs of chronic valvular heart disease (CVD). The dogs tolerated the medication well, with no reported side effects, and the treatment helped them live longer, with a median survival time of about 48.5 months. This suggests that carvedilol could be a good option for small breed dogs showing early heart issues. If your dog has been diagnosed with early-stage heart disease, discussing carvedilol with your veterinarian might be beneficial.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel heart disease treatment · carvedilol for dogs · chronic valvular heart disease in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Report the effect of carvedilol administration on clinical and echocardiographic parameters and outcome in dogs with preclinical (ACVIM Stage B) chronic valvular heart disease (CVD). ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case series of 38 client-owned dogs. Demographic, physical examination and diagnostic imaging findings, blood pressure (BP), administration details and outcome were obtained from medical records of dogs receiving carvedilol for preclinical CVD. When possible, additional follow-up information was obtained through telephone interviews with referring veterinarians and owners. RESULTS: Baseline data and follow-up were evaluated. Median and interquartile range (IQR) for age and weight were 8.6 (7.2-10.8) years and 8.5 (7.6-9.6)kg. 14/38 were male; 33/38 were Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; 33/38 had Stage B2 CVD. The initial dose of carvedilol was 0.31 (0.26-0.35)mg/kg PO twice daily. The carvedilol dose achieved following up titration was 1.11 (0.81-1.32)mg/kg twice daily. No adverse effects were recorded during up titration. Median survival for all dogs was 48.5 months with a 95% CI of 38.3-58.6. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that carvedilol at the dose reported herein is well tolerated in small breed dogs with preclinical CVD. Prospective studies to evaluate efficacy are warranted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22364694/