subject: Vetmedin - For the Treatment of Heart Disease in Dogs [print this page] Vetmedin - For the Treatment of Heart Disease in Dogs
Vetmedin is a somewhat new medication for the treatment of heart problems in dogs. It acts by increasing the hearts force of contraction in reaction to a stimulus. This means that it results in opening up the blood vessels that remove the blood from the heart, so reducing the effort the heart is required to perform to pump blood around the dog's body. Simultaneously, it opens up the blood vessels returning blood to the heart which cuts down stress on the heart. Vetmedin also differs from other commonly used heart drugs as it allows the heart to pump far more effectively with more powerful contractions. It seems that the growth in life expectancy is a result of these effects.
What is the recommended dosage for Vetmedin?
Vetmedin capsules needs to be given about one hour before mealtimes, twice daily tailored to body weight and severity of the condition. When necessary a tablet can be concealed in a treat. Typically Vetmedin will be recommended by your vet along with other drugs for heart failure as Vetmedin is compatable with other medications. In most situations Vetmedin will remain a lifelong treatment. Vetmedin might be prescribed on it's own or along with other medicine.
How quickly will there be an improvement?
In most cases an improvement should be seen within a week of treatment. This progress may increase in the course of the subsequent weeks. Obviously severity of heart failure varies from dog to dog and this will affect how well your dog responds to the medication.
As with every continued medical treatment, veterinarians must check your dog frequently to check for improvement and fine tune treatment with supplemental medications. Initially these vet visits might be a little more frequent. As soon as the dog is stabilised on Vetmedin, the interval between visits may decrease. However, if your dog's ailment becomes worse, you might need to have your vet examine your dog more often.
