Vetmedin - Buy 1.25mg & 5mg Vetmedin Capsules & Tablets from UK Pet Dispensary
What is Vetmedin?
Vetmedin is a drug that is often prescribed for dogs to treat a range of heart conditions such as Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs and is associated with significantly improved survival times.
Vetmedin is available in capsule and palatable tablet form and in strengths of 1.25mg and 5mg.
Vetmedin can help reduce the signs of heart failure, lead to a less tired and more active dog and significantly increase the lifespan of dogs in congestive heart failure. Owners generally report that their dog’s quality of live dramatically improves following treatment with Vetmedin. A recent global trial called QUEST showed how Vetmedin can help prolong the life of dogs suffering from heart failure relating to underlying mitral valve disease. Another study documented the way in which Vetmedin can prolong the life of Dobermans, suffering from dilated hearts (or DCM).
The correct dosage of Vetmedin for your dog will be calculated by your Vet. Vetmedin should be divided into two portions that are not necessarily equal, and the portions should be given approximately 12 hours apart (i.e. morning and evening). The tablets are scored, and the calculated daily dosage should be provided to the nearest half-tablet increment.
Are there any side effects that my dog might experience whilst taking Vetmedin?
Vetmedin is generally tolerated extremely well. On rare occasions, gastrointestinal side-effects may be seen such as vomiting or diarrhoea. If this happens or you are concerned about your dog for any reason, please contact your vet for advice.
Vetmedin is used for the treatment of canine congestive heart failure originating from dilated cardiomyopathy or valvular insufficiency (mitral and/or tricuspid regurgitation). When Vetmedin is used in cases of valvular insufficiency in conjunction with frusemide the product has been shown to improve the quality of life and extend life expectancy in treated dogs. When Vetmedin is used in a limited number of cases of dilated cardiomyopathy in conjunction with frusemide, enalapril and digoxin, the product has been shown to improve the quality of life and to extend life expectancy in treated dogs.
How does Vetmedin work?
Vetmedin contains the active ingredient Pimobendan. Vetmedin works by opening up (dilating) the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart. This means that the heart doesn’t have to work quite as hard to supply the body with oxygen.
Vetmedin also improves the ability of your dog’s heart to act as a pump and improves the contractility of the heart muscle.
How will Vetmedin Help my Dog?
Vetmedin can help reduce the signs of heart failure, lead to a less tired and more active dog and significantly increase the lifespan of dogs in congestive heart failure. Owners generally report that their dog’s quality of live dramatically improves following treatment with Vetmedin.
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
The term heart failure refers to the inability of the heart to act as a pump to deliver oxygen and blood at sufficient pressures around the body.
Your dog’s body responds by causing the narrowing of blood vessels and increasing fluid retention via the kidneys. It is the leakage of fluid from the blood stream into body tissues and cavities that is responsible for the symptoms of congestive heart failure. These include:
· Reduced willingness to exercise
· Increased breathing rate, effort and panting
· Pale or slightly blue gums
· Inappetence and weight loss
· Abdominal swelling (ascites) and occasional limb or subcutaneous swelling
What causes Congestive Heart Failure?
A small percentage of heart failure cases are caused by developmental or congenital problems (e.g. holes in the heart).
However, most animals diagnosed with heart failure are suffering from an acquired disease, i.e. a condition that has developed as the dog gets older, often affecting the heart valves or heart muscle. These changes can often produce a heart murmur and occasionally an altered heart rhythm.
My Dog Has Been Diagnosed With a Heart Murmur. What Does That Mean?
The term ‘heart murmur’ refers to the sound heard by your vet when he or she listens to your dog’s heart with a stethoscope.
A murmur is created when blood flows through a heart in a turbulent manner. For example, in cases of mitral valve disease (a common condition in King Charles Cavalier Spaniels), when the ventricles contract, instead of all the blood passing into the aorta, some ‘leaks’ back into the left atrium. This turbulent flow of blood creates a whooshing noise (in between the normal ‘lub’ ‘dub’ normal heart sounds) that we refer to as a murmur.
Vets grade heart murmurs on a scale of 1-6 which corresponds to the loudness of the murmur in relation to the normal ‘lub’ ‘dub’ heart sounds – grade 6 being the loudest (can be heard even without a stethoscope!). This grading system does not always correspond with the severity of heart disease but gives information about the nature of the underlying pathology and can be used to monitor the progression of the condition.
Don’t panic if your dog has been diagnosed with a murmur. It does not mean that your dog has heart failure or even requires any medication. Quite often, dogs with even quite loud murmurs can live to a normal life expectancy. The presence of a murmur does however indicate that the normal flow of blood though the heart has been disturbed and may warrant further investigations to find the cause.
Where can I buy Vetmedin?
Vetmedin may only be legally obtained in the UK from a licensed Vet or Pharmacist with a Veterinary Prescription.
However, you can purchase Vetmedin without a prescription from us if it is to be sent to a country other than the UK.
All we require is confirmation by email that:
- Your dog has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure
- Your dog is currently being treated with Vetmedin under Veterinary supervision (and will remain under Veterinary supervision)
- You are aware of the correct dose to give (as discussed with your Vet)
- You will read and obey the included manufacturer's datasheet.
VetDispense is a UK online Dispensary and operates from a fully legal practice premises in Northamptonshire that is registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and is open to inspection by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The Vetmedin dispensed by VetDispense is exactly the same as that given to you at your own vets but is often available at a much lower cost. Simply ask your Vet for a written Veterinary Prescription and use it to place your order at VetDispense.