Effect of a combination of telmisartan and amlodipine in hypertensive dogs

Abstract

Systemic hypertension (SHT) in dogs is considered a health risk factor. Telmisartan is a well-known antihypertensive agent in humans. There are limited reports about its efficacy in dogs. Five dogs with primary and secondary SHT refractory to the combined treatment of benazepril and amlodipine had a successful control of systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP) when telmisartan was combined with amlodipine. SBP showed a significant reduction after any treatment, but only reached successful control when amlodipine plus telmisartan was administered (median SBP: 215 mmHg before treatment [min-max: 180-240 mmHg]; 180 mmHg for amlodipine plus benazepril treatment [min-max: 170-210 mmHg]; 142 mmHg after amlodipine plus telmisartan treatment [min-max: 120-165 mmHg]). This control remained stable in the long-term follow-up (average 5.2 months). In the cases reported, the telmisartan plus amlodipine treatment showed good efficacy in the control of SHT, regardless of cause, and was well tolerated in all patients.