Humans have heart attacks not dogs! Well, new global research has poured cold water on the belief by pointing out that heart disease affects one in four dogs over the age of seven.

Statistics reveal that 50 per cent of dog owners lack knowledge that their pets may be at the risk of heart failure and calls for educating owners on the means to recognise the disease and maintain the health of their animal friends.

The new data were also presented at the 29th World Veterinary Congress that shows that dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) that is due to a condition called myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) live longer when treated with pimobendan (Vetmedin(R)) compared with a commonly used ACE inhibitor.

The results of the QUEST trial, the largest international study of its kind to be conducted amongst dogs with congestive heart failure, are due to be published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JVIM) later this year, according to a release issued by Asianet.

The survey was conducted in May 2008, amongst 1,531 dog owners in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, UK and US.

The statistics indicate a critical need to raise general awareness about congestive heart failure in dogs. If more dog owners are aware of the disease and the signs to look out for in their pet, heart failure could be detected and treated at an earlier stage, allowing for timely management and a potentially longer and more comfortable life for their dog, says the research.

The condition myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) accounts for approximately 75 per cent of all cases of CHF in dogs.

MMVD is associated with the thickening of the cusps of the mitral valve (one of the main one-way valves within the heart), affecting the flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Although there is no cure for CHF due to MMVD, there are treatments available to manage the condition, improving the quality and length of the dog's life).

Professor Jens Haggstrom, lead investigator of the QUEST trial from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, comments, "The QUEST trial is a significant milestone in our efforts to reassure both veterinarians and dog owners, that there is compelling evidence to show that pimobendan is an effective treatment for CHF that prolongs their dog's life and provides the pet and owner with more quality time together."

The QUEST trial was a randomised, positive-controlled, multi-centre trial conducted at 28 sites across 11 countries, and is the largest study of its kind ever conducted in veterinary cardiology.