How Much Vetmedin Can I Give My Dog?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A dosage range of

0.2 mg to 0.6 mg pimobendan/kg body weight, divided into two daily doses

, should be respected. The preferable daily dose is 0.5 mg pimobendan/kg body weight, divided into two daily doses.

How much Vetmedin should a dog take?

Dosage and Administration: Vetmedin should be administered orally at a total daily dose of

0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) body weight

, using a suitable combination of whole or half tablets.

Can you give Vetmedin 3 times a day?

Some dogs do better with more frequent administration of Vetmedin and

it can be given three times a day

.

How much Vetmedin Can I give my 10 pound dog?

The dose of Vetmedin is 0.25mg/kg twice daily. So for a 10 lb dog I would prescribe the

1.25mg tablet to give every 12 hours

.

How much is too much Vetmedin?

The highest dose of Vetmedin we usually would give would be

0.3mg/kg

, so a 2.5mg tablet would be a slight overdose. This should be well tolerated as long as the dog is healthy as this drug has a wide safety margin, but do watch for an abnormally fast heart rate or other abnormalities.

Can you give Vetmedin once a day?

How is Vetmedin given? Vetmedin is available as a chewable tablet or capsule. It should be given to your dog by mouth

twice a day

, approximately one hour before food, ideally in the morning and evening (roughly 12 hours apart).

Can you give Vetmedin 8 hours apart?

VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) capsules should be given to your dog in their mouth (orally) twice a day,

about 12 hours apart as directed by your veterinarian

. VETMEDIN capsules should be given about 1 hour before feeding. If you have any questions about administration, please contact your veterinarian.

How Long Can dogs live on Vetmedin?

In the case of DCM, dogs live anywhere from

3 – 24 months

, depending on how well they react to the treatment. In the case of MVD, dogs live on average less than 1 year.

Can I crush Vetmedin for dogs?

Tablets with an enteric coating and capsules are usually meant to be absorbed further down in the GI tract.

Even if you can crush a pill without affecting its potency, you may not be able to get your pet to eat it

.

How quickly does Vetmedin work?

Give this medication exactly as prescribed. This medication should take effect within

1 to 2 hours

; however, effects may not be visibly noticeable and therefore laboratory tests may be required to evaluate if the medication is working.

What happens if you give Vetmedin with food?

Vetmedin must be given on an empty stomach, hence the hour before feeding (i would not feed even 2 hours before personally). This is to ensure the measured dose is broken down and metabolised in the correct time frame. If given with food, after food, or fed too early after taking, then

the drug will not work properly

.

Does Vetmedin stop cough?

The typical treatment is a combination of oral medicines. A water pill is a must to clear the pulmonary edema and stop the coughing.

A medicine called Vetmedin is needed to increase the force of the heart muscle contraction

. Remember, the heart is very stretched out and beating poorly and not as a unified muscle.

When should I start my dog on VETMEDIN?

VETMEDIN

®

(pimobendan) is recommended for dogs

at the first sign of CHF

. The 2009 ACVIM guidelines encouraged veterinarians to add VETMEDIN to their standard treatment for CHF in dogs. The experts agreed that VETMEDIN should be used at the start of clinical signs (known as Stage C).

How much enalapril can I give my dog?

The recommended dosage of enalapril and benazepril for treatment of CHF in dogs is

0.25–0.5 mg/kg, PO, once to twice daily

.

How much pimobendan should I give my dog?

For dogs, the labeled dosage recommendation for pimobendan is

0.25 to 0.3 mg/kg PO q12h

. The total daily dose can be administered in 2 unequal portions by using whole or half tablets.

What happens if my dog accidentally takes Vetmedin?

Toxicity to pets

Pimobendan is available as a chewable tablet in 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg sizes. As these are chewable tablets, pets may accidentally ingest large, toxic amounts. Poisoning can result in

inappetance, lethargy, an elevated heart rate, collapse, low blood pressure, weakness, etc

.

What does Vetmedin do for a dog’s heart?

Pimobendan (Vetmedin) is used to give dogs with congestive heart disease and failure a longer life. It

helps the heart do it’s job more efficiently by opening up the blood vessels leading to and from your pet’s heart

.

What is the half life of Vetmedin?

The plasma elimination half-life of pimobendan is approximately

30 minutes

and the main active metabolite elimination half-life is approximately 2 hours.

What is benazepril 20 mg used for?

Benazepril is used alone or together with other medicines

to treat high blood pressure (hypertension)

. High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly.

How long can a dog live with congestive heart failure on medication?

Once congestive heart failure develops, the survival time of affected dogs is expected to be

between 6 and 14 months

. Some dogs, however, can live for nearly three years with the right treatment regimen.

How long can a dog live on Lasix?

Median survival time after diagnosis of advanced heart failure was

281 days

(range, 3-885 days). Dogs receiving a furosemide dose >6.70 mg/kg/day had significantly longer median survival times (402 days [range, 3-885 days] versus 129 days [range 9-853 days]; P = . 017).

Can I open Vetmedin capsules?

VETMEDIN capsules come in a different form than VETMEDIN chewable tablets. Unlike VETMEDIN chewable tablets VETMEDIN capsules

cannot be cut or divided

.

What are the end stages of congestive heart failure in dogs?

  • Frequent coughing.
  • Coughing up foam, or bloody foam.
  • Labored breathing.
  • Lethargy.
  • Weakness, or inability to exercise.
  • Fainting episodes.
  • Distended abdomen.
  • Decrease in appetite.
Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.