Pimobendan Medication for Dogs

Dog Breeds and Medication Differences, Pimobendan
We’re looking at how dog breeds react differently to medications. In a previous blog we discussed the tranquilizer, Acepromazine. Now, let’s look at the new cardiac medication, Pimobendan.

Different breeds of dogs:
· benefit from Pimobendan early in their disease
· should not have Pimobendan early in their disease process
· should never have it.

What Pimobendan Does
Pimobendan is prescribed for heart disease before heart failure develops because it strengthens the force of the heart’s contraction and it has dilates blood vessels so the heart doesn’t need to pump as hard to circulate the blood.

Which Dog Breeds Should Have Pimobendan
The dog breeds that benefit from Pimobendan when they have just been diagnosed with heart disease have large, floppy hearts that don’t contract efficiently. This is called dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM. The tendency to develop a large, floppy heart (DCM) is usually inherited by large and giant dogs, including the Afghan, Boxer, Borzoi, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland, Old English Sheepdog, Saint Bernard, and Scottish Deerhound. For most breeds, males are twice as likely to become ill as females.

Which Dog Breeds Should Not Have Pimobendan
Dog breeds that should not be given Pimobendan until their heart disease has progressed are small and medium-sized breeds with faulty mitral valves (endocardiosis): Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature and Toy Poodle, Pomeranian, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer, Shih Tzu, Whippet, and Yorkshire Terrier. When these breeds have early heart disease they actually develop heart failure faster when given Pimobendan than when not given it.

A dog breed that may not benefit from Pimobendan at any time is the English Cocker Spaniel. Spaniels are prone to develop a dilated heart because of low taurine levels in the heart muscle. The heart taurine levels are low even when the blood taurine levels are normal. Spaniels can be given taurine, Lasix, and other medications for heart disease rather than Pimobendan.