The effects of medical treatment on mitral regurgitation in dogs

Objectives: Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs. To compare and follow-up of dogs that had not yet reached the primary endpoint, the longitudinal effects of routine medication treatment on quality-of-life variables, concomitant congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment, and other outcome variables in dogs suffering from CHF secondary to MR.Materials Methods: A total of 45 dogs in CHF because of MR were selected by echocardiographic and radiographic confirmation. A prospective single-blinded study with dogs randomized to receive routine medication by 12 active small animal practitioners in Tehran was established for a 3-month period after first medical administration. Differences in outcome variables and time to intensification of CHF treatment were compared by echocardiography and lateral and VD radiographyResults Conclusion: A total of 45 dogs were randomized to different medication. No difference was found between groups in variables during the trial between the practitioners. Time from inclusion to 1st intensification of CHF treatment was long and not significant. Dogs Vertebral Heart Scale score remained significantly constant during the study (11.3 +/-0.5)) and left ventricular diastolic (P = .035) and systolic (P = .0078) dimensions, mitral valve regurgitation (7.3 mmHg) were significantly constant during the study. The routine medication using by the active practitioner is not effective and can not make a better quality of life in short term and needs changing the dose, the drugs producers or deferent the prescription items.