Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

RVC confirms benefits of pimobendan for heart disease
Congestive heart failure affects 1 in 28 dogs in England, including King Charles spaniels.
Pimobendan produced positive outcomes for dogs with heart disease.

A study from the Royal Veterinary College, conducted by the VetCompass team, has proved the positive outcomes from treating dogs with heart disease with pimobendan.

A prescription for pimobendan, provided within six months of a grade IV/VI heart murmur, delayed onset congestive heart failure (CHF) and improved survival.

This latest investigation followed RVC’s previous randomised controlled trial (RCT) in 2016. The study, titled the Evaluation of Pimobendan in Cardiomegaly, showed that there were benefits to dogs with preclinical degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD).

The condition affects 1 in 28 dogs in England. It most commonly affects breeds such as Cavalier King Charles spaniels, King Charles spaniels and whippets.

Since RCTs are challenging to conduct, RVC’s VetCompass team sought to use a new approach to confirm the efficacy of pimobendan.

Instead, the team analysed the anonymised clinical records of dogs which were under first opinion veterinary care in the UK in 2016. Using this data, the researchers conducted an emulated trial, using the records of 928 dogs weighing 15kg or less and aged more than six years of age.

Of these dogs, 178 dogs had been prescribed pimobendan within six months of a diagnosis of a first grade IV murmur diagnosis.

For its analysis, the VetCompass team used complex statistical methods to balance the data of dogs which were prescribed pimobendan against similar dogs which were not.

Statistics revealed the risk of CHF in dogs at five years old to be 38.1 per cent when treated with pimobendan. Dogs which were not prescribed pimobendan had a 56.3 per cent risk of CHF.

Dogs which were prescribed pimobendan also lost 311 fewer days of health within five years.

The study also revealed the impact that pimobendan had on CHF survival rates. Survival at five years was 19.8 per cent when dogs were prescribed pimobendan, but only 9.6 per cent in dogs not prescribed the drug.

RVC hopes that the success of its emulated RCT could inform the future of evidence generation in veterinary research.

Adrian Boswood, professor of veterinary cardiology at the RVC, said: “There is a striking similarity between the results of the EPIC trial and the VetCompass emulated clinical trial. These findings allow us to draw two conclusions; firstly, emulated studies appear feasible using existing data derived from animals seen in primary care practice.

“Secondly, patients with presumed DVMD, with a very audible heart murmur, may benefit from treatment with pimobendan, even if they have not undergone echocardiography.

“This may benefit dogs where it is not possible to follow current treatment guidelines for financial reasons or where access to advanced diagnostic imaging is not available.”

The full study can be found in the journal PLOS One.

Image © Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Veterinary Dispensary Manager Online Course relaunched

News Story 1
 The VMD has announced dates for its next Veterinary Dispensary Manager Online Course.

The event will relaunch on Thursday, 23 October 2025 from 9am to 5pm and will be delivered through an interactive online session.

It is open for anyone involved in a veterinary dispensary role, whether they are new to the topic or looking for a refresh. Attendees will receive vital insights into the safe and compliant handling of veterinary medicines.

The course can be booked online for £495. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.