Plasma digoxin concentration in dogs with mitral regurgitation

Fifteen and eight mature beagles, without (normal group) and with experimen tal mitral regurgitation (MR group), respectively, were given 0.02 mg/kg/da y digoxin powder for 10 days orally. The optimum time for sample collection after administration of digoxin was observed to be 8-18 hr and 10-22 hr in the normal and MR groups, respectively. In both groups, a stable concentra tion was reached after 3-5 days of treatment. No differences in plasma leve l were observed between sexes. The optimum concentration of digoxin was att ained at an earlier stage than has been previously reported for both dogs a nd humans.