Pimobendan for Dogs: Dosage, Contraindications & Safety

References

1. Dosage and administration - Vetmedin Chew 1.25 mg, 2.5 ...www.noahcompendium.co.uk · Nov 25, 2015
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   To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible. A dosage range of 0.2 mg to 0.6 mg pimobendan/kg body weight, divided into two daily doses, should be respected. The preferable daily dose is 0.5 mg pimobendan/kg body weight, divided into two daily doses (0.25 mg/kg bodyweight each) approximately 12 hours apart. For a body weight of 5 kg, this corresponds to one 1.25 mg chewable tablet in the morning and one 1.25 mg chewable tablet in the evening. For a body weight of 10 kg, this corresponds to one 2.5 mg chewable tablet in the morning and one 2.5 mg chewable tablet in the evening. For a body weight of 20 kg, this corresponds…

2. Dosage and administration - Vetmedin 1.5mg/ml Oral ...www.noahcompendium.co.uk · Nov 25, 2015
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   For oral use. Do not shake the bottle before or during use to avoid foaming. Determine the bodyweight accurately before treatment to ensure correct dosage. The recommended dose is 0.25 mg pimobendan/kg bodyweight twice daily (equivalent to 0.17 ml of the veterinary medicinal product twice daily). Doses should be given approximately 12 hours apart. Each dose should be given directly into the mouth on an empty stomach, and at least one hour before feeding. The total bodyweight of the animal should be used to determine the dose for each administration. For example, for a 6 kg dog, the veterinary medicinal product should be drawn up into the provided syringe to the 6 kg mark at each twice daily administration. This…

   A maximal recommended dosage range of 0.1 mg to 0.3 mg pimobendan/kg bodyweight twice daily should be respected (i.e., a total daily dose in the range 0.2 mg to 0.6 mg pimobendan/kg bodyweight per day). Do not exceed the recommended dosage range.

3. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION SUMMARYanimaldrugsatfda.fda.gov
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   F. Dosage Form(s): Chewable tablet G. Amount of Active 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg pimobendan per tablet Ingredient(s): H. How Supplied: 50 tablets per bottle I. How Dispensed: Rx J. Dosage(s): VETMEDIN should be administered orally at a total daily dose of 0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) body weight, using a suitable combination of whole or half tablets. The total daily dose should be divided into 2 portions that are not necessarily equal, and the portions should be administered approximately 12 hours apart (i.e., morning and evening). The tablets are scored and the calculated dosage should be provided to the nearest half-tablet increment. K. Route(s) of Administration: Oral L. Species/Class(es): Dogs Freedom of Information Summary NADA 141-273 Page 2

   Freedom of Information Summary NADA 141-273 Page 3 II. EFFECTIVENESS: A. Dosage Characteriza tion: Pimobendan’s effect on cardiac contractility was tested at several single oral doses (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg). Normal dogs were instrumented with left ventricular (LV) pressure transducers. The maximum rate of rise of the LV pressure (LV dP/dtmax) was calculated. This ratio is a measure of contractility of the heart. Pimobendan increased LV dP/dtmax at all doses tested in a dose dependent manner up to a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. No further increase was seen at 1.0 mg/kg compared to 0.5 mg/kg. The effect was still present eight hours after dosing. The time to maximum increase was shorter with the higher doses.

   a AV = atrioventricular 4) Specific Adverse Reactions/New Clinical Fi ndings : Adverse reactions/new clinical findings (not present in a dog prior to beginning study treatme nts) reported only in the VETMEDIN group included: hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (1 dog), and gastric dilatation- volvulus (2 Doberman Pinschers on concurrent digoxin). The causal relationship of pimobendan to these findings is unknown. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (with vomiting, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and increased hematocrit and total protein) developed on Day 19 in a Toy Poodle on VETMEDIN and furosemide. The dog responded to symptomatic treatment and completed the study. Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) occurred in 2 VETMEDIN group Doberman Pinschers on concurrent digoxin. One Doberman Pinscher developed GDV on Day 1, within 5 hours of her first doses…

   3) Treatment Groups and Drug Administration: See Table 14. Table 14: Four-Week Toxicity Study Groups and Dosage Schedules Dosage Group/ Daily Dosage Volume, Concentration, Frequency, Route of Administration, and Duration Post-Treatment Recovery Time before Necropsy 0 mg/kg/day Control 8.0 mL/kg of placebo IV a once daily for 4 weeks none 0.5 mg/kg/day 1.0 mL/kg of 0.05% pimobendan IV once daily for 4 weeks none 2.0 mg/kg/day 4.0 mL/kg of 0.05% pimobendan IV once daily for 4 weeks none 8.0 mg/kg/day 8.0 mL/kg of 0.1% pimobendan IV once daily for 4 weeks none 8.0 mg/kg/day 8.0 mL/kg of 0.1% pimobendan IV once daily for 4 weeks 7 wks a Intravenous administration was accepted for dose tolerance testing due to greater bioavailability,…

4. FDA Approves First Generic Pimobendan for Dogswww.fda.gov · Apr 25, 2024
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   Pimomedin is an inodilator drug that helps to strengthen the muscular contractions of the heart and widens the blood vessels (vasodilation) in this organ. This allows the heart to pump blood more effectively. Pimomedin contains the same active ingredient (pimobendan) in the same concentration and dosage form as the approved brand name drug product, Vetmedin, which was first approved on April 30, 2007. In addition, the FDA determined that Pimomedin contains no inactive ingredients that may significantly affect the bioavailability of the active ingredient. Pimomedin is only available by prescription from a licensed veterinarian because professional veterinary expertise is needed to diagnose MMVD and DCM and to determine whether pimobendan is an appropriate treatment.

5. Vetmedin 1.25 mg Capsules for Dogs (Canada)www.drugs.com · May 28, 2026
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   Vetmedin® capsules should be administered orally at a dose range of 0.2 mg to 0.6 mg pimobendan/kg body weight per day. The preferable daily dose is 0.5 mg pimobendan/kg body weight. The dose should be divided into two administrations (0.25 mg/kg each), one half of the dose in the morning and the other half approximately 12 hours later. Each dose should be given approximately one hour before feeding. Vetmedin® capsules may be combined with a diuretic treatment such as furosemide in dogs with pulmonary edema and/or ascites associated with congestive heart failure.

   Pimobendan administered as an overdose orally may result in profuse vomiting. Patients should be treated symptomatically. The following suspected adverse effects have been reported following clinical use. Cardiovascular: Tachycardia (may be dose dependent and avoided by reducing the dose). Gastrointestinal: Vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence. Nervous system/Behavioural: Uneasiness, incoordination, convulsions. Renal: Polyuria, polydypsia.

   The tolerance of pimobendan has been evaluated in pre-clinical studies in healthy Beagle dogs with non-diseased hearts. Daily intravenous administration of pimobendan at dosages of 0.5 mg/kg to 8.0 mg/kg over a period of 2 to 4 weeks was associated with exaggerated myocardial contractility and jet lesions to the myocardium. These intravenous dosages are equivalent to one-time oral dosages of 0.8 mg/kg to 12.8 mg/kg. Lesions were not seen at intravenous dosages of 0.25 mg/kg (equivalent to 0.4 mg/kg orally) administered over a 2 to 4 week period.

6. Vetmedin Chew 5 mg chewable tablets for dogswww.vmd.defra.gov.uk
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   The preferable daily dose is 0.5 mg pimobendan/kg body weight, divided into two daily doses (0.25 mg/kg bodyweight each) approximately 12 hours apart.

7. Commonly Used Cardiovascular Drugs and Dosageswww.merckvetmanual.com
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   Dog: 5–10 mg/kg, usually 4–6 doses, not to exceed total dose of 132 mg/kg. Doses of 10 mg/kg are used for analgesia.(3).

8. Pimobendan and Heart Diseasetodaysveterinarypractice.com
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   For dogs, the labeled dosage recommendation for pimobendan is 0.25 to 0.3 mg/kg PO q12h. The total daily dose can be administered in 2 unequal portions by using ...

9. Pimobendan Toxicosis in Dogswww.cliniciansbrief.com
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   Pimobendan, approved for treating canine congestive heart failure, has a dose range of 0.2–0.6 mg/kg PO q12h and apparently wide safety margin.

10. Cardiac Medications of Dogs and Catswww.msdvetmanual.com
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    Pimobendan. Dog. 0.25–0.3 mg/kg, PO, q 8–12 h; 0.15 mg/kg, IV, single dose (extralabel). 0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h for delay of CHF due to stage 2 MMVD ; Cat. 0.25 ...