Vetmedin® chewable tablets are a treatment for dogs with certain types of heart disease or congestive heart failure.

A vet prescribes Vetmedin to treat congestive heart failure in dogs originating from either Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) or Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Vetmedin Chewable Tablets can also be used to treat asymptomatic MVD. When given to dogs with enlarged hearts, Vetmedin can delay congestive heart failure and prolong life expectancy. 

Vetmedin tablets work to open up the blood vessels to the heart, help to pump blood around the body more easily and strengthen and improve the pumping action.

Vetmedin® chewable tablets can be divided into equal halves for accurate dosing and should ideally be administered an hour before food. The chewable tablets should be usually given twice a day on an empty stomach (an hour before food) at the dose advised by your vet. The Vetmedin capsules are scored making it easy to split them in half if necessary and you should start seeing the effects within 1-2 weeks. 

Vetmedin® chewable tablets come in 3 strengths:

• 1.25 mg
• 5 mg
• 10 mg

Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs 

Similarly to humans, dogs can suffer from Congestive Heart Failure for many reasons. It often stems from heart disease, but some dogs are born with heart defects or heart murmurs, which can worsen with old age, injury or infection, leading to heart disease. 

Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

• A change in breathing or seeming to struggle with exercise
• Coughing, particularly during or after exercise
• Tiring more quickly than usual
• Pacing or struggling to settle in an evening
• Signs of advanced heart problems and heart failure include fainting due to low cardiac output, swollen belly and weight loss.

Other Uses for Vetmedin Chewable Tablets

When used in a limited number of cases of dilated cardiomyopathy in conjunction with frusemide, enalapril and digoxin, Vetmedin tablets have been shown to improve the quality of life and to extend life expectancy in treated dogs.

Full instructions on the use of Vetmedin are included in every pack, though do also follow your vets recommendations.

Vetmedin is a prescription item and will be sent once a valid prescription is received.

Legal Category: POM-V

To find details on all veterinary medicinal products currently authorised in the UK, please see the VMD's Product Information Database.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION: this is a Veterinary Prescription Only Medicine (POM-V), which can only be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon, but may be dispensed by another veterinary surgeon or pharmacist.