Cardisure for dogs
Formulation
Flavoured tablet
Active ingredient
Pimobendan
Category
Heart
What is Cardisure?
Cardisure is a brand name for a medication called pimobendan. It’s part of a group of drugs called ‘inodilators’, which help the heart work better. This medication is mainly used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs. It also helps slow down the worsening of heart problems like Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
What does Cardisure do?
Cardisure helps the heart pump blood more effectively. It works in two main ways:
- Strengthening heart contractions: Cardisure makes the heart muscle contract more powerfully by making it more responsive to calcium. This helps the heart pump better without increasing the heart rate.
- Widening blood vessels: Cardisure also widens blood vessels, which reduces the heart’s workload and improves blood flow. It achieves this by blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase III.
What is Cardisure used for in dogs?
Cardisure is mainly used to treat heart conditions in dogs, including:
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): It helps relieve symptoms like trouble breathing and tiredness by making the heart beat more effectively.
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM): DCM causes a big heart that isn’t squeezing properly. Cardisure helps the heart beat strongly, maintaining heart function in dogs with DCM.
What are the side effects of Cardisure in dogs?
While generally well-tolerated, Cardisure for dogs may have side effects, including:
- Loss of Appetite: Some dogs may experience a temporary loss of interest in food.
- Increased heart rate: Sometimes, dogs on Cardisure get an increase in heart rate. This can usually be returned to normal by reducing the dose, so talk to your vet if you’re worried about your dog’s heart rate. This happens in less than 1 in 1000 dogs.
- Vomiting: Less than 1 in 1000 dogs experience vomiting, which can usually be stopped if they’re put on a lower dose. Talk to your vet if your dog starts vomiting on Cardisure.
- Diarrhoea: Less than 1 in 1000 dogs get temporary diarrhoea when first put on Cardisure. Unless your dog becomes unwell in themselves or the diarrhoea continues for more than 24 hours you don’t need to visit the vet. You should still report that your dog had this side effect (see below).
- Lethargy, wobbliness and weakness: Some dogs experience sleepiness and decreased energy levels. This may be temporary or reduced with a lower dose.
- Bleeding disorders: In less than 1 in 10,000 dogs, bleeding gums and bruising may occur. These go away when Cardisure is stopped.
- Worsening heart disease: Cardisure is often used to treat dogs with MVD. With long-term use, a worsening of their regurgitation/heart murmur may be noticed. However, MVD is a progressive disease and it’s not clear whether this would have happened anyway even if the dog wasn’t treated.
All drugs have side effects, but they are used because of their benefits. The side effects of Cardisure won’t happen to all dogs. That said, if you do suspect your dog has a Cardisure side effect, you should speak to your vet about it. All suspected side effects should be reported to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) – the government agency responsible for monitoring vet drug safety. This reporting allows monitoring of drug side effects and can lead to unsafe drugs being withdrawn or drug information changed to make sure people can make informed decisions when choosing treatment for their pets.
Which dogs can’t have Cardisure?
There are some dogs that shouldn’t have Cardisure, or it should be used with caution. Make sure your vet is aware of your dog’s other health conditions and medications when they’re prescribing Cardisure:
- Cardisure should not be given to dogs with liver disease
- Cardisure should not be used in the types of heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or aortic stenosis
- Cardisure should not be used in dogs with allergies to any of the ingredients
Cardisure should also be used with caution in:
- Dogs with DCM who have ventricular tachycardia
- Dogs with DCM who have atrial fibrillation
- Dogs with MVD who have a fast, irregular heart rate
- Pregnant or lactating dogs
How to give Cardisure safely
- Follow vet instructions: Always use Cardisure exactly as your vet has prescribed. This includes the right dose and frequency. Never adjust the dose on your own, even if your pet seems to be feeling better or worse. If you aren’t sure of the dose prescribed, contact your vet to confirm it.
- Give Cardisure on an empty stomach: Cardisure should be given on an empty stomach to improve absorption. Aim for about 60 minutes before feeding their main meal.
- Check with your vet if giving anything else: Your vet should be aware of other drugs your pet is on, but it’s always worth double-checking in case there’s been a miscommunication somewhere. If your dog is on supplements or non-prescription treatments (even if these are herbal) you should also tell your vet when they prescribe Cardisure, as they may not be suitable to be given together.
- Storage and handling: Store Cardisure in a cool, dry place below 25C. Make sure it’s out of reach of children and other pets, especially as the flavoured tablets can be attractive to pets. Use any divided tablets within 3 days.
- Report any accidental overdose to your vet immediately: If you have mistakenly given too much Cardisure, or have given it to the wrong pet, report it to your vet as soon as you realise the error. An overdose can have serious complications. Emergency treatment is often necessary depending on the severity of the overdose.
How much monitoring do dogs on Cardisure need?
Moderate
While there are no specific blood tests needed for dogs on Cardisure, they will need monitoring for the other drugs they are on and/or to track the progression of their disease.
Cardisure doesn’t require special blood tests like some drugs do, but your vet will need to re-assess your pet periodically in order to continue prescribing the drug. This is usually at a maximum of every 3 months, unless your dog’s heart disease is stable and not currently progressing. The vet check-up might involve a clinical exam, an ultrasound of the heart, blood pressure checks, or other tests. However, these tests are needed due to the condition Cardisure is being prescribed for, rather than for the drug itself.
What does Cardisure cost?
£££ – Expensive
Cardisure can cost £30-180 per month
Cardisure is a relatively expensive drug overall. The cost varies depending on the size of your dog and the dose they need. For a small, 5kg dog, they might be costing as little as £0.60 per day, not counting prescription and dispensing charges. A large, 40kg dog can cost up to £6 per day.
Remember, Cardisure is a prescription-only medicine so you will need a prescription from your vet to buy Cardisure in the UK. Once you have the prescription, you can buy it from any pharmacy. This can keep costs down, although you should consider the cost of the prescription from your vet and any postage costs before you make a decision.
Cardisure FAQs
How long does it take Cardisure to work?
Cardisure starts working 1-2 hours after administration, with its maximum effect in about 6-8 hours. However, noticeable improvements in your dog’s symptoms may take several days or even weeks.
Is Cardisure the same as Vetmedin?
Cardisure and Vetmedin are the same drug – Pimobendan. Both come in flavoured tablets, although Vetmedin is beef flavour while Cardisure is ‘meat flavour’. Vetmedin also comes as hard capsules, which are generally cheaper than the chewable tablets. Other brands of pimobendan for dogs include Pimocard, Cardisan and Pimotab.
How long after eating can a dog have Cardisure?
Cardisure should be given on an empty stomach, so it’s normally recommended to give it an hour before a meal. However, if you’ve forgotten to give Cardisure and you’ve now fed your pet, you should give Cardisure 2-3 hours after eating.
How much Cardisure should I give my dog?
The dose of Cardisure depends on the size of your dog and their condition, so it’s not possible to give a dose online. You’ll need to contact your vet, who can determine the right dose of Cardisure for your dog.
Does Cardisure have to be given exactly 12 hours apart?
Cardisure should be given in two doses, 12 hours apart, unless your vet tells you otherwise. You should therefore give your first Cardisure tablet at a convenient time, knowing your dog will need Cardisure every 12 hours for the rest of their life.
It doesn’t have to be exact to the minute, but you should try not to vary it more than an hour each way as this can lead to over- and under-dose. So 11 hours and 13 hours apart works if necessary due to work shifts or sleeping.
Don’t forget, Cardisure should be given an hour before food.
What happens if a human takes Cardisure for dogs?
Cardisure is a dog medicine that doesn’t have a human equivalent and hasn’t been proven safe or effective in humans. Accidentally taking Cardisure for dogs can cause problems including a fast heart rate, headaches, and low blood pressure. If a human has accidentally taken Cardisure for dogs you should contact a doctor immediately and take the package leaflet or box. Children in particular should be treated as a matter of urgency.
Cardisure Alternatives
If your dog can’t take Cardisure, your vet might be able to prescribe Cardisure alternatives.
Consider whether a different flavour may help your dog take their tablets. Cardisure is meat flavour, so you could try:
- Zelys – a pork liver-flavoured chewable pimobendan tablet
- Vetmedin – an artificial beef flavoured pimobendan tablet
- Pimotab or Cardisan – chicken flavoured chewable pimobendan tablets
Alternatively, you could try a different formulation. Vetmedin comes in hard capsules, which may be smaller and easier to hide in a treat or pill-giver if your dog is fussy. There’s not currently a licensed pimobendan liquid in the UK, but your vet may be able to get one made up if your dog won’t take their Cardisure tablets.
Combination Products
These are useful if your dog is on several medications, and you would find it easier to give them fewer tablets. Fortekor Plus is a combination of pimobendan and benazepril hydrochloride.
Don’t forget, Cardisure and its alternatives are prescription-only products in the UK. That means you’ll need to talk to your vet about your dog’s treatment and they will need to prescribe an alternative if they think it’s necessary. It’s up to your vet to choose the right drug for your dog, the information above is only to help you understand that there may be suitable alternatives, and to seek help from your vet if your dog won’t take their Cardisure tablets.
Cardisure Datasheet
All drugs have a manufacturer’s datasheet, which gives information about the drug’s use and possible side effects. There is usually one in your Cardisure box, but if you have lost it you can click on the button below to be taken on an online version.
More information for dogs taking Cardisure
If your dog has been prescribed Cardisure, our vet-written resource can help. We’ll help you understand what your dog’s condition is doing to them, how they’ll change as time goes on, and everything you can do at home to help. The information is regularly updated, and we’ll let you know by email if anything major changes.
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Please note that the information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only. Although it has been written by a vet, we cannot consider the individual nature of your pet’s problems so it does not constitute veterinary advice. If you have questions about your pet’s medication or their health you should contact a vet, who will be able to help.