Dogs' Life Can Be Extended By 15 More Months, Research Suggests

One of the source for humans' happiness is having a pet dog. But as much as the owners would like to keep their beloved canine from the reality of death, it is just naturally inevitable. However, a recent breakthrough canine research shows that a heart treatment could add a life to millions of dogs around the world.

The treatment can delay the onset mitral valve disease or MVD. It is the leading cause of deaths in different dog breeds. Pimobendan, the drug, is usually given to dogs that already have heart disease, and only costs £1.20 a day, according to Daily Mail.

In the study, researchers from the Royal Veterinary College in London tested the drug over seven years in 360 dogs from 11 countries. The results suggest that giving the drug to high-risk dogs with enlarged hearts - a known warning sign of the condition - delays the onset of heart failure by an average of 15 months. The drug works by opening up the blood vessels that carry the blood to and from the heart.

The Pimobendan reduces the work the dog's heart has to do to pump the blood around its body, and increases the strength of the dog's heartbeat, improving the pumping action. Pimobendan costs 60p per 1.25mg tablet in the UK (the price varies from around 60 cents to $1.20 per 1.25mg tablet in the US), which small dogs will need to take twice a day.

The research comes from the Royal Veterinary College in London, where researchers have tested the drug over seven... https://t.co/hkjzmntJwc

— World Health News (@WorldHealthNews) October 28, 2016

Study lead author, from the Royal Veterinary College professor Adrian Boswood, said, "This is a major breakthrough in treatment and could extend the lives of dogs around the world," according to News Grio.