Education
Frequently Asked
Questions
Heart Disease in Dogs
What are the most common heart diseases in dogs?
- Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease (MMVD): A progressive condition where the mitral valve, a valve that helps control one-way blood flow between chambers of the heart, becomes thickened and misshapen, leading to leakage and heart enlargement. It's most common in small breeds, especially older Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM): A disease of the heart muscle where muscle walls thin and the chambers become enlarged. It primarily affects large breeds like Dobermans, Boxers, and Great Danes.
- Congenital Heart Defects: These are present at birth and can include conditions like patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), pulmonic stenosis, and aortic stenosis. PDA occurs when blood is redirected back to the lungs and can cause fluid build-up and may eventually lead to heart failure. Aortic and Pulmonic stenosis are the narrowing of critical heart valves and may cause the heart muscle to thicken and eventually lead to heart failure.
What breeds are at risk of heart failure due to MMVD?
MMVD is the most common type of heart disease in dogs, particularly in small to medium-sized breeds. Dogs with this type of heart disease develop distorted heart valves, which no longer close properly. Veterinarians can hear the backward blood flow, referred to as a heart murmur, with a stethoscope.
Predisposed dog breeds:
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Chihuahua
- Dachshund
- Maltese
- Miniature Poodle
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Shih Tzu
This is not a complete list of at-risk breeds.
What breeds are at risk of heart failure due to DCM?
DCM is a condition most commonly seen in larger-breed dogs. The heart and the heart muscle of dogs with DCM is stretched and thinned along with the heart structure, resulting in the heart being unable to effectively pump blood.
Predisposed dog breeds:
- Cocker Spaniel
- Doberman Pinscher
- Golden Retriever
- Great Dane
- Irish Wolfhound
- Labrador Retriever
This is not a complete list of at-risk breeds
What are common signs to look out for?
In the early stages of the disease your dog will show no signs and not all dogs will go into heart failure. Depending on how severe a dog’s congestive heart failure is, symptoms may occur when a dog is resting, during mild exercise, or during moderate or extreme exertion. If any of these signs are noted in your dog, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Clinical signs can include:
- Coughing, especially during or after exercise or while resting
- Difficulty breathing or rapid, shallow breathing
- Tiring easily during physical activity or exercise intolerance
- Lethargy or weakness
- Decreased appetite or weight loss
- Abdominal distension or bloating
- Restlessness, pacing, or discomfort
- Fainting or collapse in severe cases
VETMEDIN® Products
How do VETMEDIN® Brand Products work?
VETMEDIN Brand Products have a unique, dual mode of action to help your dog’s heart. They relax the blood vessels carrying blood to and from the heart, reducing the load on your dog’s heart. At the same time, they work to improve the muscle function of the heart to help it work more efficiently.1
How long will my dog require treatment with VETMEDIN® Brand Products?
In the asymptomatic setting, you would continue to use VETMEDIN® CA-1 until such time as your dog goes into congestive heart failure (CHF), then you would transition your dog to VETMEDIN® Chewable Tablets or VETMEDIN® Solution and your dog would remain on that medication until the end of your dog's life to help control signs of heart failure. Not all dogs with asymptomatic disease will progress to heart failure.
Do VETMEDIN® Brand Products have any side effects?
For VETMEDIN-CA1 Chewable Tablets, the most common side effects seen, not related to disease progression, were diarrhea, vomiting, pain, lameness, arthritis, urinary tract infection, and seizure. For VETMEDIN Chewable Tablets and VETMEDIN Solution, the most common side effects seen were poor appetite, tiredness, difficulty breathing, weakness, unsteady gait, and diarrhea. If your dog experiences any of these side effects, contact your vet.
What if I forget to administer a dose of VETMEDIN®?
Wait until the next scheduled dosing time and resume the normal twice-daily (every 12 hours) pattern of dosing.
What should I do if my dog vomits shortly after dosing?
Speak to your vet. Some dogs in our clinical trials experienced transient mild vomiting that resolved after a few doses. If vomiting is severe or persistent, discontinue the medication and speak to your vet.
What's the difference between VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) brand vs a compounded pimobendan?
The primary difference between VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) brand and a compounded pimobendan is FDA evaluation. VETMEDIN® is approved by the FDA, which means it has been tested for safety and manufacturing quality is certified. The FDA does not evaluate compound-manufactured formulations, nor does it certify manufacturing standards for compounded products for evidence that they are safe, effective, properly manufactured, accurately labeled, and adequately packaged. Compounders are not required to report adverse events or demonstrate stability or other product quality measures. A veterinarian or pharmacist must follow FDA guidelines when compounding, but each compounded formulation is unique as it is individually manufactured from sourced ingredients or adapted from existing drugs to the unique needs of the pet.2
Important Safety Information
VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets and VETMEDIN® Solution (pimobendan oral solution) are for use only in dogs with clinical evidence of heart failure. The most common side effects reported in field studies were poor appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, dyspnea, azotemia, weakness, and ataxia. VETMEDIN® should not be given in case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, or any other clinical condition where an augmentation of cardiac output is inappropriate for functional or anatomical reasons.
For more information, please see full prescribing information for Solution or full prescribing information for Chewable Tablets.
VETMEDIN®-CA1 (pimobendan) are for use only in dogs with preclinical MMVD that have a moderate or loud mitral murmur due to mitral regurgitation and cardiomegaly (Stage B2 MMVD, 2019 ACVIM Consensus Statement1). VETMEDIN®-CA1 is conditionally approved by FDA pending a full demonstration of effectiveness under application number 141-556. A diagnosis of MMVD should be made by means of a comprehensive physical and cardiac examination, which should include radiography and echocardiography. The most common side effects seen in dogs with Stage B2 MMVD while taking VETMEDIN®-CA1 Chewable Tablets are cough, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and localized pain (such as in the neck or legs). Adverse reactions not related to disease progression in dogs receiving VETMEDIN®-CA1 included diarrhea, vomiting, pain, lameness, arthritis, urinary tract infection, and seizure.
For more information, please refer to the package insert.