What does Vetmedin Do?

what is vetmedin

<< Go back to blog

Many dog owners will tell you that their dog has had their heart from the moment they came home with them for the first time. That’s nice, and that’s perfectly natural as dogs display their affection for their owners in a way no other pets do for the most part. But here’s the thing; while your dog may have your heart figuratively, it has its own actual heart and just like it is for humans, there is the possibility of it starting to not work so well. Heart failure for dogs is a risk just the same way it is for humans, and pet owners need to be on the lookout for signs of failing heart health. What is Vetmedin? It’s an effective heart failure prevention medication for dogs.

Heart failure in dogs is a big problem because there is no way to reliably restore good heart function in a dog who’s already down this road. But the risk can be managed with medications like Vetmedin, and it may be necessary for you to help your dog lose weight too. This is especially helpful when you have an older dog who enjoys being physically active but carries too much body weight. The bigger picture problem with congestive heart failure is that other parts of the heart start working extra hard to compensate for other parts that are damaged, which also leads to what is Vetmedin.

Over time as more components of the organ start to be overworked, then that is when the possibility of the heart failing entirely and death resulting becomes much more of a possibility. But even from the early stages of dog heart disease, part of the growing problem can be how blood starts to back up into the lungs and/or other organs. Blood backing up into the lungs is why frequent coughing without having clear lungs is one of the early signs of heart failure in dogs. This is called the ‘heart failure cough’ for dogs.

We’ll look at what Vetmedin is, plus more of those signs with this entry here, and share the breeds of dogs that are more likely to have this type of heart health concern. Plus, we’ll point out the one dietary ingredient that is best for dog owners to cut way back on if their dog is experiencing heart failure or is known to be at risk for it.

Any Suspicion? Get a Test

Another less obvious sign that your dog may have the beginnings of congestive heart failure is seeing that they are pacing and restless before bedtime. If you see this in your dog, you can get close to the pet and note if they are also breathing more heavily. If so, it is time to take your dog to a pet medical clinic and have one of the veterinarians there test the dog for heart failure. An EKG test is ideal in the same way it is for humans. Again, nothing to do with what Vetmedin is, but it may be more practical for them to have your dog fitted with a holter monitor that will track their heart rate and rhythm over 24 to 48 hours.

So, what does Vetmedin do, and how exactly does it work? The active ingredient in this medication – Pimobendan – works to stimulate the heart and compensate for the lack of function that is occurring because of the progressing failure of the heart. It does this quite reliably, and so therefore veterinarians are always very keen to prescribe it to people with pets needing a heart failure prevention medication for dogs.

Breeds and Diet Choices / Supplements

As mentioned earlier, some dog breeds are more likely to have heart failure risk. These include Pomeranians, toy poodles, dachshunds, and King Charles Spaniels. Chihuahuas and Maltese are more at risk, too, as are West Highland White Terriers and Cocker Spaniels. Dogs of any breed may have a higher heart failure risk if they have suffered certain injuries or had certain types of infections, and of course, being older increases the chances of it too. What is Vetmedin? It may be a smart choice if you have one of these breeds of dogs or have the risk due to another factor.

Owners who are proactive in their dogs’ health in every way will always have better outcomes with any type of treatment. For example, Furosemide is a diuretic that reduces water in the body, and a vet may add it to your dog’s treatment if they have the heart failure cough that we talked about earlier. Furosemide not only removes the excess fluid in the lungs but it also minimizes the swelling of the heart. Making sure that your dog gets less sodium is helpful too, and there are low-sodium dog foods you can switch to. Vitamin B and Vitamin E supplements may help too.

That’s all to say about what Vetmedin is, and hopefully your dog has a healthy ticker all through its life.


IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.


<< Go back to blog