2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Fifteen dogs were recruited. At the first visit, 8 dogs were assigned to group 0 and 7 dogs to group 1. At the second visit, NT-proBNP was <1500pmol/L in two dogs in group 1, and no further dose adjustments were made. Thus, in 5 dogs, treatment was again escalated based on NT-proBNP≥1500pmol/L. Plasma NT-proBNP decreased significantly over time in group 1 (B = -156.1pmol/L/day (95% confidence interval (CI) -245.8 to -66.5), P = 0.001) but did not change in group 0 dogs (B = 51.7pmol/L/ day (95% CI -30.7 to 134.1), P = 0.209); these rates of change were significantly different between groups (P < 0.001). Serum BUN (B = 1.27 mg/dL/day (95% CI 0.42 to 2.12), P = 005) and creatinine (B = 0.018 mg/dL/day (95% CI 0.004 to 0.033), P = 0.016) increased significantly over time in group 1 but did not change in group 0 dogs (P = 0.376 and 0.928, respectively); these rates of change were not significantly different between groups (P = 0.449 and 0.350, respectively). Serum creatinine was ≥3.0 mg/dL in one dog at its third visit. Vertebral heart size decreased significantly over time in group 1 (P = 0.027), whereas left atrial to aortic ratio did not change in this group (P = 0.879).