Evaluating a New Treatment for Dogs with Kidney Disease

Abnormally high protein levels in the urine, known as proteinuria, can be an early indicator and a serious complicating condition of kidney disease in dogs. Currently, use of the standard-of-care drug enalapril can help improve outcomes, but this intervention is only partially effective at reducing proteinuria. Researchers will evaluate an alternative drug, telmisartan, and its ability to reduce urinary protein loss in dogs with proteinuria. In this clinical trial, client-owned dogs will be randomly assigned to receive either telmisartan or enalapril over a four month period. Researchers will measure urine protein levels to gauge the effectiveness of both treatments. If telmisartan is more effective, this new drug could safely reduce proteinuria and decrease morbidity and mortality in dogs with kidney disease.