The DELAY study evaluating spironolactone and benazepril in dogs | VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts
In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss the DELAY study, which stands for the "DELay of Appearance of sYmptoms of Canine Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease treated with spironolactone and benazepril." If you see small dogs diagnosed with heart murmurs, then keep on listening, as this one is important. Now, most of us feel comfortable grading heart murmurs, taking chest radiographs, and starting dogs on pimobendan, right? But does it work? When should we add in a diuretic - and if we do, which type should we reach for? Furosemide, the common loop diuretic, or spironolactone, the potassium-sparing one? Does it make a difference? When do we reach for an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor? Over the years, I've noticed more cardiologists switching from furosemide to spironolactone, but what's the evidence?