Your dog has been prescribed Vetmeedin due to its serious heart ailment. But, the typical good boys or girls become finicky whenever you try to give them medicine. They either put on cold feet or avoid taking medication at any cost. But, you know they need to take the pill to lead an everyday life. So, what to do? How to give the medicine? Wondering- can I give my dog Vetmedin with food? Or, without food?
Your queries will be answered here to ensure your buddy gets the medicine the right way to get the best benefit!
Do you have a specific question about giving dog Vetmedin with food? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Can I give my dog Vetmedin with food?
No, you cannot. The ideal way to give Vetmedin to your pet is before one hour of their meal in the morning and evening. The two doses should be roughly twelve hours apart. It is better to provide them with the medicine on an empty stomach to ensure it does not cause any ill effects.
Vetmedin is a chewable tablet or capsule. As per standard recommendations, you must give your dog medicine without food. They must take it by mouth and chew it to get the medication to work.
What is vetmedin?
Is your dog prescribed Vetmedin? Probably that four-legged friend has been suffering from a heart ailment. Dogs with a high risk of congestive heart disease and heart failure have often been prescribed this medicine.
It contains Pimobendan and is available in different forms ranging from 1.25 mg to 5mg of chewable tablets.
Modern research has proven that Pimobendan helps treat two primary heart conditions in dogs- Degenerative Mitral valve disease (DMVD) and Dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM). The research demonstrated that this drug could successfully reduce the effects of these two diseases in dogs.
The medicine opens up the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart. Hence it reduces the amount of work your dog’s heart has to do to pump blood around the body. So, in a way, it decreases the fatigue of the dog.
Besides that, Vetmedin also increases the strength of the dog’s heartbeat and improves the whole pumping action.
How long does vetmedin take to start results?
You need to ensure your dog has taken medicine as per the prescribed dose for at least one week to see the improvement. As the dog continues to take medication, its condition will improve slowly.
But, if they suffer from Asymptomatic DMVD or DCM, you may not get to see noticeable changes within one week. But, the medicine continues to work and ensures your dog does not suffer from a life-threatening heart attack.
How to give Vetmedin to your pet?
You know the answer to can I give my dog vetmedin with food. But, often, your dog refuses to take their medicine without food. Here are some vet-recommended ways to give the pill to your buddy-
Ask the vet for a pleasant testing pill
The modern dog pills often come in different pleasant flavors that taste bitter to your dog. Hence, if your pet refuses often, ask your vet to prescribe a pill that will taste good.
While giving them medicine, ensure your dog is sitting upright. Now, tilt their head back, open their mouth, and place the tablet as far on their tongue as possible. You can gently massage their throat to encourage them to chew the pill.
Get a pill pusher
A pill pusher is an excellent idea for small breeds and puppies who do not swallow their medicines easily. With their tool, you can push the tablet back into their throat or tongue to ensure they cannot throw up the medicine. Ask for a vet’s pill pusher demo to ensure you are using the tool directly.
Use the restraining method
If your dog refuses to take the Vetmedin, it is time to use the restraining technique. Vets often use this method. You can ask your family members to help. First, retain your pet, hold their upper jaw, and gently title their nose upwards. This will cause their lower jaw to open slightly.
You can use the fingers of one hand to open their mouth and place the pill on the back part of their tongue with your other hand. Then, quickly close their jaw and give them a gentle rub on their throat to encourage them to chew and swallow the pill.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
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