A Treatment for Heart Disease in Dogs

Vetmedin is a fairly recently developed drug for the treatment of heart problems in dogs. It functions by increasing the hearts force of contraction in response to a stimulus. This means that it results in opening up the blood vessels that take blood away from the heart, which reduces the work the heart needs to do to pump blood around your dog’s body. At the same time, it opens up the blood vessels which return the blood to the heart which cuts down pressure on the heart. Finally, Vetmedin also differs from other typically used heart medicines as it aids the heart to pump more efficiently with more powerful contractions. It seems that the growth in life expectancy is a product of these effects.

How much Vetmedin should I give to my dog and for how long?

Vetmedin should be administered twice a day according to body weight and the severity of the condition. The tablets should be administered an hour before food. If necessary a capsule can be hidden in a treat. Often Vetmedin might be recommended by your vet alongside other medicines for heart failure as Vetmedin is compatable with other medications. In most circumstances Vetmedin would be a lifelong treatment. Vetmedin may be prescribed alone or together with other treatment.

How soon will there be progress?

Normally an improvement should be seen in just a week of starting treatment. This improvement could increase in the course of the subsequent weeks. Needless to say severity of heart failure will vary from dog to dog and this will have an impact on how well your dog will respond.

As with any kind of continued medication, your vet ought to see your dog frequently to check development and perhaps suggest supplemental medications. In the beginning these visits might be a little more regular. When your dog has been stabilised on Vetmedin, the interval between visits may decrease. However, on the other hand if your dog’s illness gets worse, you might need to visit your vet more frequently.

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