• HOME
  • FAQs
  • NEWS
  • FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
  • About VETMEDIN
    • Dual-acting inodilator
    • VETMEDIN in CHF
    |
  • About CHF|
    • Signs of CHF
    • AVVI
    • DCM
    • Diagnosing CHF
  • Act Now – Use VETMEDIN|
    • CHF treatment
    • Importance of acting now
    • 2009 ACVIM consensus statement
  • VETMEDIN Efficacy|
    • VetSCOPE
    • QUEST
  • Safety and Dosing|
    • Record of safe use
    • Dosage
  • VETMEDIN Programs
    • Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour
    • Million Heart Challenge
    • Quest for Life
    • CE Meetings Program
  • Record of safe use
  • Dosage

USEFUL LINKS

  • VETMEDIN Full Prescribing
    Information
  • Cardiac Education Group
  • YourDogsHeart.com
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
  • QUEST Efficacy Trial
  • American College of Veterinary
    Internal Medicine

REST ASSURED -
VETMEDIN can be prescribed with confidence

Safety and administration

VETMEDIN can be prescribed with confidence based on its proven track record of safety in nearly 10 years of worldwide use.1 More than 300 million doses have been sold since 1999.1

Rigorous licensing and toxicity studies demonstrated the excellent safety profile of VETMEDIN.2 In addition, the extensive VetSCOPE3 and QUEST4 clinical trials assure veterinarians of VETMEDIN safety for use in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF).

VETMEDIN also offers convenient, easy administration to help ensure client compliance and best results in patients. Packaged in 50-count bottles, VETMEDIN Chewable Tablets are scored and highly palatable. This convenience and ease of administration helps ensure client and patient compliance for best possible results.

Important safety information

In foreign, post-approval drug experience reporting, the following additional suspected adverse reactions were reported in dogs treated with a capsule formulation of VETMEDIN:

  • Hemorrhage
  • Petechia
  • Anemia
  • Hyperactivity
  • Excited behavior
  • Erythema
  • Rash
  • Drooling
  • Constipation
  • Diabetes mellitus

In the QUEST trial, VETMEDIN appeared to be well tolerated with a low number of adverse events. Observed adverse events in both the VETMEDIN (n=18) and ACE inhibitor (n=17) groups were very similar. Gastrointestinal disorders were most common (n=6 and 4, respectively), followed by abnormal behavior, such as lethargy, confusion, or uneasiness (n=3 and 4, respectively). Three dogs treated with VETMEDIN were reported to have had a seizure.

In the VetSCOPE trial, there were 3 adverse events in the VETMEDIN group and 1 in the ACE inhibitor group. Diarrhea, soft stool, and vomiting occurred in the VETMEDIN group (1 dog each) and colitis occurred in the ACE inhibitor group.

References:

1. Data on file, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. 2. VETMEDIN® (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets [Freedom of Information Summary]. St. Joseph, MO: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.; 2007. 3. Lombard CW, Jöns O, Bussadori CM; for the VetSCOPE Study. Clinical efficacy of pimobendan versus benazepril for the treatment of acquired atrioventricular valvular disease in dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2006;42(4):249–261. 4. Häggström J, Boswood A, O’Grady M, et al. Effect of pimobendan or benazepril hydrochloride on survival times in dogs with congestive heart failure caused by naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease: the QUEST study. J Vet Intern Med. 2008;22(5):1124–1135.

Important safety information

VETMEDIN should not be given in case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, or any other clinical condition where an augmentation of cardiac output is inappropriate for functional or anatomical reasons. The safety of VETMEDIN has not been established in dogs with asymptomatic heart disease or in heart failure caused by etiologies other than atrioventricularvalvular insufficiency or dilated cardiomyopathy. The safe use of VETMEDIN has not been evaluated in dogs younger than 6 months of age, dogs with congenital heart defects, dogs with diabetes mellitus or other serious metabolic diseases, dogs used for breeding, or pregnant or lactating bitches. Use only in dogs with clinical evidence of heart failure. The most common side effects reported in field studies were poor appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, dyspnea, azotemia, weakness, and ataxia. If side effects should occur, pet owners should contact their veterinarian. Please refer to the Full Prescribing Information here.

Home Site Map Terms of Use Privacy Contact About Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica,Inc.
VETMEDIN is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
© 2011 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.