In the News

Mobile Heart Health Tour Stops at T-Bones "Bark in the Park"

Dogs welcome at the stadium July 25 for night of fun for the whole family - even the canine members!

Kansas City KS (July 25 , 2010) - The T-Bones are taking the phrase, "the dog days of summer," literally and inviting fans to enjoy the game with their pooches on July 25 at the team's first-annual "Bark in the Park" event. During the special promotion that encourages fans to bring their dogs to the game, veterinary specialist on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour will perform free dog heart examinations inside a mobile medical unit at the T-Bones Stadium,1800 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, KS, from 3pm on Sunday, July 25, 2010. They will use a stethoscope to listen for heart murmurs and other irregular sounds as well as generally assess whether or not the dogs show any signs of heart disease. The veterinarians at the T-Bones Stadium will also make sure that dog owners are aware of the most common symptoms of heart disease: reduced willingness to walk or exercise, difficulty breathing, coughing, loss of appetite and weight loss. For more information, visit www.tbonesbaseball.com.

Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour Visits Northern California Offering Free Heart Examinations

California (June 2010) - This June, San Jose, San Francisco and Sacramento dog owners will find that getting their pets' hearts checked is a walk in the park. Veterinary cardiologists on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour will stop with a soundproof medical unit to perform free dog heart examinations on:

• June 2 at Los Gatos Creek Dog Park from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• June 4 at Marina Green near the Golden Gate Bridge from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• June 5 at William Land Park from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as a part of the 17th Annual Doggie Dash fundraiser to benefit the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Take a "Walk in the Park" to Support Big Brothers Big Sisters

ST. JOSEPH, MO — Participants in the 1st annual "Walk in the Park" will receive free heart screenings for their dogs, while supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater St. Joseph. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 in Bartlett Park. Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., the heart screenings will be performed at the Mobile Heart Health Unit, which features a soundproof exam room that allows veterinarians to listen for heart murmurs and irregular heartbeats. Veterinarians will also assess dogs for additional signs of canine heart disease and educate dog owners about common symptoms. For registration and complete event information, visit www.bbbsstjoe.org.

Valentine's Day Heart Health Event in Phoenix, AZ

PHOENIX, AZ — This Valentine's Day, Phoenix dog owners can take their pets' health to heart. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 14 at Steele Park, veterinary cardiologists on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour will perform free dog heart examinations inside a mobile medical unit. Veterinarians will listen for heart murmurs and other irregular sounds as well as generally assess whether the dog shows any signs of heart disease. Visit us on Valentine's Day in Steele Park, located at 300 E. Indian School Road, to learn more about treating and managing canine heart disease.

Largest Global Research Study in Canine Cardiology Reaches Completion

International veterinary study involved 260 dogs at 28 sites in 11 countries over 3 years.

ST. JOSEPH, MO — After three years, the largest clinical study ever conducted among dogs with congestive heart failure has been completed. The Quality of Life and Extension of Survival Time (QUEST) study was an international, multi-location study comparing two treatments used to manage congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs.

The QUEST trial was a randomized, positive-controlled study conducted at 28 sites in Australia, Canada and Europe. Canine patients with CHF were recruited over a two-year period and randomly allocated to either a Vetmedin^® (pimobendan) Capsules or a benazepril hydrochloride treatment group, with each group consisting of 130 dogs. The trial spanned three years and followed dogs to point of treatment failure or death due to congestive heart failure.

“Our primary objective with the clinical QUEST study was to investigate and compare the effects of pimobendan and benazepril hydrochloride therapies on survival time in dogs with congestive heart failure due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD),” says the lead investigator, Professor Jens Häggström, DVM, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. “We hope to confirm a better therapeutic option for this very prevalent and life-threatening type of heart failure.”

Häggström adds that all of the dogs in the trial were diagnosed with MMVD, which was confirmed by ultrasound and X-ray imaging of the heart. All dogs in the trial had exhibited clinical signs of heart failure, including pulmonary edema.

The QUEST study was made possible through funding from the animal health division of Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH.

“A heart failure treatment study of this size and scope is unique in veterinary medicine,” says Steve Peterson, DVM, senior manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI). “We are excited about sharing the findings of the study and their practical implications that point to a more comprehensive treatment regimen for MMVD. It’s especially relevant, given that mitral valve disease is the most common cause of CHF in dogs.”

An abstract of the QUEST study was presented in May at the International Canine Valvular Disease Symposium (ICVS) in Sweden. This same presentation was given during the cardiology session at the 2008 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

“The QUEST trial is a significant milestone in our efforts to reassure veterinarians and dog owners alike that once congestive heart failure has been diagnosed, there is compelling evidence to show that Vetmedin is an effective treatment in prolonging their dog’s life, and providing the pet owner with more time together,” says Häggström.

The complete study has been accepted by the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine for publication in the fall.

Vetmedin (pimobendan) has been available in Europe for over seven years and is now licensed in more than 15 countries worldwide. It was first licensed in the U.S. in May 2007 and is indicated for the management of signs of mild, moderate or severe (NYHA Class II, III or IV) congestive heart failure in dogs due to atrioventricular valvular insufficiency (AVVI) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). There are two formulations of Vetmedin, capsules and chewable tablets. In the U.S. only the chewable tablets are licensed. Both the capsules and chewable tablets contain the same pharmaceutical ingredient, pimobendan, and are considered equivalent for clinical use. Bioequivalence, however, has not been established. Vetmedin is manufactured by MEDA Manufacturing GmbH, Germany, for BIVI of St. Joseph, Mo.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (St. Joseph, Mo.), is a subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation based in Ridgefield, Conn., and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 135 affiliates in 47 countries and approximately 39,800 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of US $15.0 billion (10.9 billion euro) while spending approximately one-fifth of net sales in its largest business segment, Prescription Medicines, on research and development.

For more information, please visit www.bi-vetmedica.com.