The treatment of proteinuria in dogs with telmisartan | VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss the use of telmisartan in dogs with proteinuria. Recall that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a physiological system that plays vital roles in blood pressure (BP) regulation, vascular resistance, fluid balance, and electrolyte regulation. Chronic RAAS activation can worsen urinary protein loss, and two common classes of medications that target this pathway are used for dogs suffering from proteinuria. Perhaps the most familiar are the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as enalapril or benazepril. In veterinary medicine, these medications are commonly prescribed for patients suffering from proteinuria. However a second class, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), have become increasingly popular in recent years, which include medications such as losartan and telmisartan. So, Lecavalier et al wanted to evaluate this in a study entitled Treatment of proteinuria in dogs with telmisartan: A retrospective study. In this study, the authors sought to describe telmisartan's use and efficacy in dogs, and they hypothesized that telmisartan would effectively lower the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) in dogs with proteinuria.