I've been doing some research as I determine how or if to respond to the warnings about pimobendan blog.....and I found this amazing presentation that summarizes recent research, offers treatment recommendations, and ties in to the 2009 ACVIM consensus paper. This is probably the best resource that I've seen in a long time, and I'm so impressed that it was done by UK vets.
I have now downloaded this pdf to save on my hard drive in case this link disappears. I'd advise others to do the same because it takes some time to process all of the great info. It is 85 slides, but only the first 53 deal with MVD and the rest deal with DCM and feline cardiology.
Slides 19-22 and slide 36 deal directly with topics in the recent thread about whether to start meds for stage B2. Note the prominent statement "NO CONSENSUS" at the top of each of these slides; this explains the different recommendations by different cardiologists (not to mention GP vets) and the resultant confusion for clients/pet owners. (My personal experience is that this is a gray area rather than being black and white. I consider the individual dog's situation rather than following the exact same treatment strategy for every one of my dogs. Part of this dilemma is identifying exactly when a dog moves from B2 to C, and this can be nebulous. And a dog which has had an acute stage C episode is still in stage C even if it appears to move back into compensated B2.)
Some key slides for me are 28, 30, 31, 36, and 37.
Slides about spironolactone benefits are 32-35.
There are very helpful "tricks" and recommendations about treating acute decompensated heart failure, emergency treatment, and late stage failure. This is just a terrific resource, and I'm so pleased that I found it.
http://www.valevetsreferrals.co.uk/imports/How_to_Treat_Cardiac_Disease.pdf
Pat
P.S. I love the cartoon on slide 3 - I think I would very much like the person who prepared this presentation!
I have now downloaded this pdf to save on my hard drive in case this link disappears. I'd advise others to do the same because it takes some time to process all of the great info. It is 85 slides, but only the first 53 deal with MVD and the rest deal with DCM and feline cardiology.
Slides 19-22 and slide 36 deal directly with topics in the recent thread about whether to start meds for stage B2. Note the prominent statement "NO CONSENSUS" at the top of each of these slides; this explains the different recommendations by different cardiologists (not to mention GP vets) and the resultant confusion for clients/pet owners. (My personal experience is that this is a gray area rather than being black and white. I consider the individual dog's situation rather than following the exact same treatment strategy for every one of my dogs. Part of this dilemma is identifying exactly when a dog moves from B2 to C, and this can be nebulous. And a dog which has had an acute stage C episode is still in stage C even if it appears to move back into compensated B2.)
Some key slides for me are 28, 30, 31, 36, and 37.
Slides about spironolactone benefits are 32-35.
There are very helpful "tricks" and recommendations about treating acute decompensated heart failure, emergency treatment, and late stage failure. This is just a terrific resource, and I'm so pleased that I found it.
http://www.valevetsreferrals.co.uk/imports/How_to_Treat_Cardiac_Disease.pdf
Pat
P.S. I love the cartoon on slide 3 - I think I would very much like the person who prepared this presentation!