Factors Correlated with Survival Time after Pimobendan Administration in Dogs with Mitral Regurgitation and Pulmonary Edema

Abstract

Prognostic indicators of echocardiography have been suggested in dogs with mitral regurgitation (MR) due to congestive heart failure. However, it is difficult to perform immediate echocardiography in dogs with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema. In the present study, factors apart from echocardiographic indicators, which correlated with the survival time after administration of pimobendan, were studied retrospectively in dogs with MR and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Twenty-five dogs were examined. With or without cough (P < 0.01), the intensity of the cardiac murmur (P < 0.01) and diffuse pulmonary edema (P < 0.05) on initiation of pimobendan, and duration of diuretics administration before pimobendan (P < 0.05), were related significantly to the survival time. The survival time in dogs with diffuse pulmonary edema was significantly shortened compared to that in dogs with non- diffuse pulmonary edema (219 and 883 days, respectively; P < 0.01). Therefore, it is necessary to consider these parameters as prognostic indicators on starting pimobendan administration.