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A dog outlined with the Vetmedin Logo heart | Healthy Habits For New Pets

Heart Diseases in Dogs and Treatment Options

Give Your Dog More Life to Love

If your dog has been diagnosed with a heart disease such as congestive heart failure (CHF), myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), here’s helpful info about treatment options, the conditions, common signs, and resources to help you and your dog navigate this journey.

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Treatment Options

The treatment options for the heart diseases MMVD and DCM depend on your dog’s current stage of disease. See the chart below for more information on which product is appropriate to use during each stage.

Vetmedin chewable tablets and oral solution logos
Vetmedin chewable tablets and oral solution logos

MMVD Only
Early-Stage Treatment for MMVD: VETMEDIN®-CA1 (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets

For dogs in an early stage of the most common form of heart disease, there’s VETMEDIN®-CA1 (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets. It’s the only medication (conditionally) approved by the FDA to delay the onset of heart failure. Catching this condition early and treating it before it progresses is important to maximize the therapeutic benefit for your dog.

 

VETMEDIN-CA1 Chewable Tablets treat an early stage of heart disease to give dogs up to an average of 15.6 more months of symptom-free life.1 

Vetmedin chewable tablets and oral solution products in packaging

Later-Stage Treatment: VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets

For dogs who have already progressed to congestive heart failure due to MMVD or DCM, there are 2 forms of the same treatment: 
 

  •  VETMEDIN® Solution (pimobendan oral solution):
     an oral solution that‘s flavorless and delivers just the right dose for dogs who prefer a liquid medication.
     
  • VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets:
    beef-flavored and half-scored to meet the dosing needs of patients who prefer chews. 

    Both contain the same medication vets have trusted for years, just in different forms. VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) is the only brand approved by the FDA that includes both tablet and liquid formulations to treat dogs with certain types of CHF.

 

In a study on dogs with congestive heart failure, 55% of dogs treated with VETMEDIN Chewable Tablets showed significant clinical improvement in as little as 7 days.2 

Graphic of the Myxomatous mitral valve disease process
Myxomatous mitral valve disease process chart

This chart shows how dogs progress through the stages of MMVD into congestive heart failure, including when clinical signs become visible. It also includes the recommended steps or treatments for each stage of the disease.

Person looking My Pet's Heart2heart app on their phone

Monitor Heart Health With My Pet’s Heart2Heart App

Monitoring your dog’s resting respiratory rate (RRR) can reliably predict if your dog will go into heart failure and identify heart disease progression. Download the My Pet’s Heart2Heart app to make it easy to monitor your dog’s RRR at home. The app will regularly email results to your vet to ensure your dog receives care as soon as it’s needed.

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play

Treatment FAQs

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 also work to improve the muscle function of the heart to help it work more efficiently.3 

How long will my dog require treatment with VETMEDIN Brand Products?

In the pre-clinical setting, you would continue to use VETMEDIN CA-1 until such time as your dog goes into CHF, then you would transition to VETMEDIN chewable tablets or solution and would remain on that medication until the end of the pet's life to help control signs of heart failure.

Do VETMEDIN Brand Products have any side effects?

For VETMEDIN-CA1 Chewable Tablets, the most common side effects are diarrhea, vomiting, pain, lameness, arthritis, urinary tract infection, and seizure.

For VETMEDIN Chewable Tablets and VETMEDIN Solution, the most common side effects are poor appetite, tiredness, shortness of breath, weakness, lack of muscle control and coordination, and diarrhea.

If your dog experiences any of these side effects, contact your veterinarian.

Learn More About Types of Heart Diseases

Educate yourself on the ins and outs of heart diseases like MMVD and DCM and how they can lead to congestive heart failure in dogs.

Certain Types of Heart Disease Can Lead to Heart Failure

Acquired heart disease is most often manifested in 2 ways: valve disease and cardiomyopathy. Both forms of heart disease can lead to heart failure.  

 

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs

  • In dogs with this type of heart disease, the valves become distorted and no longer close properly.
  • Your veterinarian can hear backward blood flow, called a heart murmur, with a stethoscope.
  • MMVD is most commonly seen in small and medium-sized breeds and progresses slowly.
  • MMVD is also known as mitral valve insufficiency or mitral regurgitation and is often associated with a heart murmur.

 

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs

  • Disease of the heart muscle causes the walls of the heart to stretch and thin, weakening as the heart enlarges.
  • Because the heart is weakened, it can no longer pump blood effectively.
  • Myocardial disease most often affects large breeds and progresses rapidly.

Both of these forms of heart disease can lead to heart failure.

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What Is Congestive Heart Failure?

Once in failure, the dog can no longer compensate for the progressively ineffective heart, leading to a poorer quality of life and, without intervention, a poor prognosis.

 

Dogs diagnosed with congestive heart failure should begin treatment upon diagnosis. While treatment will not cure the underlying causes of heart failure, it can increase survival time as well as improve the quality of your pet’s life.2,4

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Signs of Congestive Heart Failure

When a dog’s heart disease progresses to congestive heart failure, you may notice these clinical signs. If you see these signs in your dog, contact your vet. With proper treatment, many dogs diagnosed with congestive heart failure go on to enjoy an improved quality of life.

Coughing

Coughing that’s due to congestive heart failure typically becomes persistent, including when resting or sleeping. 

Difficulty breathing

Fluid may begin to accumulate in the lungs, which can cause difficulty breathing without strenuous or even moderate activity. 

Changes in behavior

You may notice excessive panting, not being as eager to play, or other changes in behavior that feel out of character.

Lethargy

Dogs with congestive heart failure may tire more easily and be less willing to go on walks or play. 

Restlessness, especially at night

Some dogs may pace before bedtime, have challenges settling down, or excessively cough while sleeping. 

Changes in appetite

In combination with these other signs, a decrease in appetite could be a sign of congestive heart failure in your dog. 

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At-Risk Breeds for Heart Failure due to MMVD

These dog breeds have a high risk of developing congestive heart failure due to MMVD. If you own one of these breeds of dogs, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian about early screening. 

 

Common at-risk breeds for MMVD: 

  • Boston Terrier
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Chihuahua
  • Dachshund
  • Fox Terrier
  • Miniature and Toy Poodles
  • Miniature Pinscher
  • Miniature Schnauzer
  • Pekingese
  • Pomeranian
  • Whippet
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At-Risk Breeds for Heart Failure due to DCM

If you own one of these breeds of dogs, it’s important to know that they have an increased risk of developing congestive heart failure due to DCM. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian and ask if you need to consider proactive screening. 

 

Common at-risk breeds for DCM: 

  • Afghan Hound
  • American Cocker Spaniel
  • Boxer
  • Dalmatian
  • Doberman Pinscher
  • English Cocker Spaniel
  • Great Dane
  • Newfoundland
  • St. Bernard
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Talk to Your Vet

If you notice possible signs of congestive heart failure in your dog, contact your vet to schedule an appointment. They can assess your dog, conduct the necessary diagnostics, and help create a treatment plan if necessary. With proper treatment, many dogs diagnosed with congestive heart failure go on to enjoy an improved quality of life.

Start monitoring your dog’s heart health with the My Pet’s Heart2Heart app

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play
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Tips to Help Keep Your Pet Healthy

Looking for more tips on keeping your pet healthy? Our Healthy Habits for Pets site is full of resources and videos to help you learn pet care basics. While you can always count on your vet for information, all Healthy Habits content has been developed with the help of animal health professionals. 

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MPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Adverse reactions not related to disease progression in dogs receiving VETMEDIN®-CA1 (pimobendan) included diarrhea, vomiting, pain, lameness, arthritis, urinary tract infection, and seizure. The safe use of VETMEDIN-CA1 has not been evaluated in dogs younger than 6 months of age dogs with congenital heart defects, dogs with diabetes mellitus or other serious metabolic diseases, dogs used for breeding, or pregnant or lactating dogs. It is a violation of Federal law to use this product other than as directed in the labeling. Conditionally approved by FDA pending a full demonstration of effectiveness under application number 141-556. For more information, see full prescribing information or visit VETMEDINCA1.com.

 

VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets is for use in dogs with clinical evidence of heart failure only. 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, see full prescribing information for Chewable Tablets, or full prescribing information for Solution.