At Pimobendan for dogs It’s not a drug, it’s an active ingredient. This can be found in various medicines.
Pimobendan is used in dogs suffering from cardiovascular disease.
What has to be considered for the correct dosage and application? This is revealed in the following guide – together with information on side effects and alternatives.
Pimobendan for dogs: what it is and what it is used for
Pimobendan for dogs is an active ingredient that helps with cardiovascular problems in dogs.
Accordingly, it is contained in medicines that are used to treat these diseases.
This includes heart failure caused either by a dilated cardiomyopathy/DCM or one valvular insufficiency was caused.
Such a medicine, which can then be prescribed by the veterinarian, is Vetmedin for dogs, for example, which supports the dilation of the heart vessels.
This drug is available in pimobendan strengths of 1.25 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg.
The correct number of tablets and dosage is based on the respective pimobendan concentration, which we are now looking at.
Proper use and dosage of pimobendan in dogs
The recommended daily dose of pimobendan is included 0.5 mg per kilogram of body weight the fur nose to be treated.
Especially at the beginning of the therapy, however, an initially low dose of 0.2 mg pimobendan can also be administered to the dog.
If there is no improvement after 7 to 10 days, the dose can also be increased after consultation. It is then a maximum of 0.6 mg pimobendan per day.
This can look like this for a dog weighing 12 kilograms for these three dosages:
- 0.2 mg Pimobendan: 2.4 mg per day
- 0.5 mg pimobendan: 6.0 mg per day
- 0.6 mg pimobendan: 7.2 mg daily
The administration takes place in a 12-hour interval and thus 2x daily. Please try to adhere to this requirement to ensure consistent effectiveness.
If you do forget a dosage, please do not make up for it by giving your dog twice the amount in the evening, for example.
Missing a dose once does not completely stop the effect if treatment is continued without interruption thereafter.
IMPORTANT
Please follow the instructions of your veterinarian for dosage and application. Independent applications and dosages must never be carried out!
The correct application of Pimobendan in the dog is about 1 hour before feeding. This ensures that the active ingredient is optimally absorbed.
On the other hand, administration with the feed or shortly afterwards can mean that pimobendan cannot work.
Another little tip: the tablets containing pimobendan are flavored.
As unlikely as it is that your dog will be tempted here and will eat the tablets voluntarily: please keep them in a dog-safe place.
How long does it take for pimobendan to work in dogs?
Pimobendan has a rapid onset of action in dogs, which occurs after a short time.
Initial improvements in the condition of the dog should after about 1 to 2 hours be recognizable.
The vet will decide how long your dog will be treated with pimobendan.
What side effects can pimobendan cause in dogs?
It is almost inevitable that a pharmaceutical agent will have side effects – and such are the case with pimobendan for dogs especially vomiting and nausea.
Lighter side effects that subside on their own are also diarrhea and fatigue.
These side effects are due to the fact that the dog’s organism does not know this pharmaceutical agent and has to get used to it accordingly.
Please avoid overdosing pimobendan in dogs. This can lead to what is known as tachycardia and changes in blood pressure.
If this has happened, take your dog to the vet immediately as a precaution, so that he can counteract this with symptomatic treatment.
When should I not use Pimobendan in dogs?
Pimobendan should not be used in dogs that if you have severe liver disease or liver dysfunction and kidney disease Suffer.
As a result, pimobendan cannot be metabolized, which happens in the liver.
As a result, these metabolic products can no longer be excreted via the kidneys.
Dogs suffering from aortic stenosis or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HKMP/HCM) should also not be treated with pimobendan.
Caution should also be exercised with dogs that weigh less than 2.5 kilograms – and this also applies to all puppies that do not yet weigh this weight.
Where is pimobendan available?
All medicines with the active ingredient pimobendan are among the prescription medication for dogs.
You cannot buy Pimobendan for dogs without a prescription from a veterinarian.
It is then available with a prescription in a (pet) pharmacy – also online.
What alternatives are there to pimobendan for dogs?
Currently, there are few alternatives to pimobendan for canine cardiovascular disease, among others so-called ACE inhibitors.
These include the active ingredients benazepril hydrochloride and spironolactone. These are contained, for example, in Cardalis for dogs.
Fortekor can also be an alternative to Pimobendan. The same active ingredient is contained here as in Cardalis.
An alternative makes sense if pimobendan has caused bad experiences in your dog.
Which of these alternatives is right for your dog is decided (as always) by the treating veterinarian – as is the right dosage for your dog.
Does your dog need to be treated with pimobendan? Then we say thank you if you share his experiences and your helpful tips with us in the comments.