cardiac drugs for dogs

Cardiovascular Drugs

Drug	Preparation (s)	Usual Dosage ß
Amlodipine	Norvasc, 2.5-mg tablet size	DOG: 0.05–0.2 mg/kg q12h–24h
Amlodipine	Norvasc, 2.5-mg tablet size	CAT: ¼–½ tablet dose, once or twice dail ...
Amiodarone	Cordarone injection, 50 mg/ml	DOG: Loading dose of 10 mg/kg PO q12h fo ...
Amiodarone	Cordarone and USP scored tablets, 200 mg	For IV use: 3–5 mg/kg over 60 min, follo ...

May 12 2022

Full Answer

When to put down a dog with heart failure?

• coughing up blood
• bloody or foamy sputum
• difficulty breathing
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• blue, purple, or muddy gums and tongue

How long will a dog live with congestive heart failure?

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).

What to do if your dog has congestive heart failure?

Your vet may also recommend supplements. Dogs with congestive heart failure may benefit from vitamin B supplements, taurine (an amino acid that supports brain development), or carnitine (an amino acid that helps turn fat into energy). Antioxidants like Coenzyme Q and vitamin E may also help.

Is heart medicine good for dogs?

• The flavor of this product is a clear winner compared to other preventatives.
• With a weight limit starting at 2 pounds, this medication is an excellent choice for toy breeds who may be too tiny for other preventatives.
• The lack of ivermectin makes this medicine a good fit for collies and other herdings breeds that can’t ingest ivermectin.

What medication is used for congestive heart failure in dogs?

Most veterinary cardiologists use furosemide; an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor like enalapril, benazepril or lisinopril; and pimobendan for management of the most common forms of congestive heart failure, said John Rush, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVECC, Dipl.12-Oct-2015

What is the treatment for dogs with heart disease?

Medications to help the heart work and correct irregular heartbeats. Medications to slow fluid build-up in the lungs. Surgery to correct a torn valve or to insert a pacemaker to correct the heart beat. A commercial or prescription low-salt diet to help decrease fluid build-up in your dog's body.13-Sept-2020

How long can a dog live on pimobendan?

In the present study, the median survival times for the standard-pimo, low-pimo and conventional groups were 334, 277 and 136 days, respectively. This study showed that pimobendan administered in addition to conventional treatment increased the survival of dogs with CHF due to MMVD by 2.5 times.

How Long Can dogs live on heart medication?

Prognosis for Dogs with Congestive Heart Failure A 2018 study found that even dogs presenting with advanced heart failure (heart failure that recurred even after appropriate medical therapy) survived an average of approximately one year with changes in their treatment, with some dogs living nearly three years (3).19-Mar-2020

How long does it take Lasix to work in dogs?

about 1 to 2 hoursThis medication will take effect quickly, in about 1 to 2 hours, and improvement in clinical signs should follow.

How long can a senior dog live with congestive heart failure?

6 However, once congestive heart failure develops, survival time is expected to be between 6 and 14 months.10-Apr-2018

What is the difference between pimobendan and Vetmedin?

Pimobendan (brand name: Vetmedin®) is a heart medication used to treat dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF), usually caused by either dilated cardiomyopathy or valvular insufficiency.

Should you walk a dog with congestive heart failure?

Short walks are tolerated by most dogs with mild to moderate heart disease, but excessive activity can worsen heart failure or trigger irregular heart rhythms.

How long can a dog 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.30-Aug-2021

What are the early signs of congestive heart failure in dogs?

Signs and symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure in dogsFainting.Difficulty breathing / shortness of breath.Inability to exercise.Persistent coughing.Fatigue.Pacing before bedtime and difficulty settling down.Lack of appetite.Swollen belly (due to fluid buildup)More items...

Can a dog recover from heart failure?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for CHF at this time, and treatment is aimed primarily at improving quality of life. That said, while the prognosis for dogs with congestive heart failure used to be poor, advances in medications used to treat the condition have vastly improved the overall prognosis.09-May-2018

When should you euthanize a dog with congestive heart failure?

It may be time to euthanize your dog with heart failure if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms: Constant coughing. Coughing up foam, or bloody foam. Labored breathing.

What is the best medicine for dogs with congestive heart failure?

Pimobendan, another drug often used for congestive heart failure, has been shown to improve the quality of life and survival times in dogs with the disease. Sildenafil dilates arteries leading to the lungs and is used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs.

What is the drug that slows heart rate in dogs?

They are used to treat heart failure. Drugs called ACE inhibitors are also used in heart failure in dogs.

What are the benefits of taking a medication?

Other types of drugs can strengthen respiratory muscles and improve breathing. Some medications are prescribed to control arrhythmias, slow or speed heart rate, and prevent blood clots. In other cases, medications are provided to kill heartworms or other parasites in the cardiovascular system.

How to treat cardiovascular disease in dogs?

Some defects can be repaired or corrected with surgery, while other conditions can be managed with medical therapy using one or a combination of drugs.

Why do dogs need diuretics?

Diuretics are medicines that increase urine output. These medicines are important and effective means for removing fluids that accumulate in dogs with heart problems. The use of a diuretic can be life saving when a dog is in a crisis caused by heart failure.

What to do with a dog with congestive heart failure?

In dogs with congestive heart failure, a low-sodium diet may be recommended to help eliminate excess fluid in the body. In general, the goals of treatment are to minimize damage to the heart muscle, control the accumulation of fluids in the lungs, improve circulation, regulate the heart rate and rhythm, ensure that there is enough oxygen in ...

When was the Merck Veterinary Manual published?

The Merck Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Veterinary Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Manual outside of North America.

What is the best medicine for dogs with heart failure?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Cardalis (spironolactone and benazepril hydrochloride chewable tablets) for use with other medications (e.g., diuretics) for the management of the clinical signs of mild, moderate or severe congestive heart failure in dogs due to a form of heart disease in dogs known as atrioventricular valvular insufficiency (AVVI), which can lead to congestive heart failure. When dogs suffer from congestive heart failure, their hearts are unable to pump sufficient blood to the rest of the dog’s body.

What is the most common heart disease in dogs?

AVVI, also referred to as myxomatous mitral valve disease, endocardiosis, or chronic valvular heart disease, is the most common form of heart disease in dogs and commonly occurs in older (typically over 8 years of age), smaller breed dogs. As many as 85 percent of small breed dogs show some signs of problems by age 13.

What are the side effects of Cardalis on dogs?

The most common adverse effects observed in dogs administered Cardalis included anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, renal insufficiency ( poor kidney functioning likely resulting from a reduction in blood flow to the kidneys), collapse, hepatopathy (liver disease), and urinary incontinence.

What breeds of dogs are affected by AVVI?

Certain breeds have a known predisposition to AVVI, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Miniature and Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas, and Yorkshire Terriers; although, mixed breed dogs are also commonly affected.

What is the treatment for AVVI in dogs?

All of the dogs also received the diuretic furosemide, which is commonly used as part of a management plan for AVVI. Digoxin and calcium channel blockers were also allowed to control supraventricular arrhythmias.

Is Benazepril safe for dogs?

While human-approved benazepril and spironolactone products have historically been used to treat AVVI in dogs, today’s approval is novel because the drugs are now approved in a combination found to be safe and effective for canine patients.

Is Cardalis available for dogs?

Cardalis is available only by prescription because veterinary professional expertise is needed to diagnose congestive heart failure in dogs due to AVVI, design an appropriate treatment plan, monitor the safe use of the product, and treat any adverse reactions. Cardalis is available in three sizes of flavored tablets: 20 mg spironolactone ...

What is the purpose of diuretics in dogs?

Diuretics are a standard of chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) therapy and are administered for two main purposes: (1) diuresis of the patient with pulmonary edema or body cavity effusions and (2) prevention of the chronic sodium and water retention that characterizes chronic CHF. Diuretics are also anti-hypertensive agents but do not represent an important treatment approach for high arterial blood pressure (ABP) in dogs and cats. Diuretics should be administered with a sodium-restricted diet that is proportional to the severity of CHF.

What is an inotropic drug?

Positive inotropic drugs increase the availability of calcium to cardiomyocytes, thereby enhancing the strength of heart contraction. This class of drugs includes the digitalis glycosides (digoxin, digitoxin), catecholamines (dobutamine, dopamine), phosphodiesterase inhibitors (milrinone), and calcium sensitizers (pimobendan).

What is HCT used for?

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) is occasionally used in combination with furosemide and spironolactone for management of refractory fluid retention. HCT primarily blocks the sodium transporter in the distal convoluted tubule and the connecting segment but also has action across the proximal tubule. This effect inhibits sodium, chloride, and water reabsorption. HCT is a moderately potent diuretic, but when used in combination with furosemide, the diuretic impact is greatly magnified as HCT prevents distal sodium reabsorption that escapes the effects of the loop diuretic.

What are catecholamines used for?

The catecholamines used most often in emergent management of CHF are dobutamine and dopamine. These drugs stimulate cardiac beta- and alpha–receptors to increase contractility in a dose-dependent manner via the second messenger effect (increased generation of cyclic AMP or IP 3 for beta- and alpha–receptor stimulation, respectively). In patients with CHF, the heart rate generally increases slightly during infusion of catecholamines. The effects of catecholamines on systemic arterioles are dose dependent but include vasodilation at lower doses (beta 2 effect) and vasoconstriction (alpha effects) at higher infusion rates.

What is the most commonly used diuretic?

Furosemide is the most often used diuretic. It acts by inhibiting the co-transporter of chloride in Henle’s loop with resultant losses of chloride, sodium, water, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and water-soluble vitamins in the urine. Bumetanide and torsemide are related human drugs infrequently used in veterinary practice.

Is digoxin a beta blocker?

Digoxin is unlikely to provide satisfactory control of ventricular response rate to atrial fibrillation unless used in combination with diltiazem or a beta-blocker. However, as a positive inotrope, digoxin is the first drug used in treatment of atrial fibrillation in the setting of CHF.

Does furosemide cause heart failure?

Chronic monotherapy with furosemide leads to sodium and volume depletion and activates homeostatic vasoconstricting (renin-angiotensin) and sodium retaining responses. These effects are deleterious in the heart failure and are countered by co-administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and control of dietary sodium intake.

What is the best medication for CHF in dogs?

In this context, standard therapy for CHF in the dog is furosemide, an ACE inhibitor, pimobendan, and spironolactone. Many HF drugs are available in generic formulations, which can help to control the cost of multiple-medication regimens such as the one just mentioned.

Why do dogs need potassium supplements?

Potassium supplements are needed infrequently in dogs receiving combined therapy with furosemide, spironolactone, and enalapril because the latter two drugs “spare” potassium by reducing urinary losses. Ototoxicity and renal failure are potential adverse effects, especially when aminoglycosides are coadministered.

What is the name of the drug that blocks aldosterone receptors in the kidney?

Spironolactone. Spironolactone is a synthetic, antiandrogenic, steroidal compound that blocks aldosterone receptors in the kidney, heart, and in other tissues ( eplerenone is a related drug not sufficiently studied in veterinary medicine).

Can heart failure be treated with multiple drugs?

Therapy for canine heart failure (HF) requires careful orchestration of a multiple-drug treatment regimen. Cardiovascular drugs are potent in their relief of clinical signs and can be life prolonging, but these compounds also can injure the patient.

What is the electrophysiologic effect of class IV antiarrhythmic drugs?

The predominant electrophysiologic effect of class IV antiarrhythmic drugs is blockade of the slow calcium channels in cardiac cells and vascular smooth muscle. The two drugs in this class commonly used in veterinary medicine are diltiazem and amlodipine. The relative affinity of a drug in this class for cardiac versus vascular tissue determines its predominant effect. Amlodipine ( see above) is most active in vascular smooth muscle, where it causes vasodilation and is thus considered to be a vasodilator. Diltiazem is most active in cardiac cells.

What is the class 3 drug?

Class III Drugs. The predominant electrophysiologic effect of class III drugs is potassium channel blockade leading to prolongation of the cardiac action potential and its refractory period. The two drugs in this class commonly used in veterinary medicine are sotalol and amiodarone.

What is antiarrhythmics classification?

Antiarrhythmics are typically classified according to their predominant electrophysiologic effect on myocardial cells. However, the electrophysiologic effects of some agents span more than one class, and some have ancillary properties unrelated to their antiarrhythmic effects. However, this classification scheme typically does not aid in selection of an antiarrhythmic for a specific clinical indication (eg, ventricular vs supraventricular arrhythmias). Many antiarrhythmics have never been used with any frequency in veterinary medicine (and are not covered here). In addition, many of these agents (in particular the class I medications) have fallen out of favor for treatment of arrhythmias in people, and as a consequence their availability and costs are becoming problematic.

What is class II antiarrhythmic?

Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are the β-adrenergic receptor blocking agents. β-Blockers are classified as nonselective (block both β 1 and β 2 receptors) or selective (block predominantly β 1 receptors). As a class, all β-blockers are dose-dependent negative inotropes and chronotropes. Although characterized as class II antiarrhythmic agents, β-adrenergic blockers are used for a variety of indications in veterinary medicine, including control of inappropriate or undesirable sinus tachycardia, treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, management of chronic hypertension in dogs and cats, and palliation of adverse effects of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism in cats and pheochromocytoma in dogs. They are well recognized for their cardioprotective effects in people with heart failure, leading to improved survival. Data and experience supporting this indication in veterinary medicine is lacking in dogs and cats, and the relative risks of initiation of a β-blocker in the face of heart failure should not be ignored. The earliest generation of this class was nonselective, blocking both β 1 and β 2 receptors (eg, propranolol ). Subsequent generations became selective β 1 -receptor blockers in an attempt to limit the adverse effects associated with β 2 -receptor blockade (eg, atenolol ). Third-generation β-blockers (eg, carvedilol) were developed to be more complete adrenergic blockers and are β 1, β 2, and α 1 -receptor blockers. Carvedilol may also have some important antioxidant effects that have contributed to its proven efficacy for treatment of heart failure in people.

Does quinidine cause vasodilation?

The atropine -like effects of quinidine may result in increased impulse conduction through the AV node to the ventricles and paradoxical acceleration in ventricular response in animals with atrial fibrillation. Quinidine, particularly in the sulfate form, can cause vasodilation and GI adverse effects (25% of dogs).

Can quinidine be used for dogs?

In dogs, it is used to facilitate synchronized cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. It is not typically used for rate control of chronic atrial fibrillation in dogs or horses, or to treat ventricular arrhythmias. The sulfate preparation of quinidine is absorbed rapidly after administration PO.

Can cats take quinidine?

Quinidine should not be used in cats. Monitoring the ECG and serum quinidine concentration can reduce the likelihood of adverse effects. Procainamide effects are similar to those of quinidine. However, its effects on the autonomic nervous system are significantly weaker (less antivagal effect).