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Sometimes our cats eat things they shouldn’t. This may include plants, parts of cat toys, string, or even medication meant for other pets, such as our dogs. Even when we do everything possible to keep our cats from access medications, accidents do happen.
Has your cat eaten Vetmedin? Are you worried Vetmedin will make your cat sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll take a look at Vetmedin and whether or not it can make your cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Vetmedin?
Vetmedin is a veterinary prescription only medicine (POM-V)that’s for dogs. It treats mild, moderate, or severe congestive heart failure in dogs, caused by two different types of heart disease – Mitral valve Disease, and Dilated cardiomyopathy. This medication works in two ways – the first is by opening up blood vessels carrying blood away from and to the heart, therefore reducing the work the heart has to do to transport blood around the body. It also increases the pumping action of the heart by improving the efficiency and strength of the dog’s heartbeat.
You may also hear this medication called Pimobendan.
While this medication is safe for dogs, what happens if your cat eats Vetmedin? Will Vetmedin make your cat sick?
Vetmedin & Cats
This medication can be toxic for cats, depending on the dosage ingested. So, if you know your cat has eaten this medication, be sure to call the vet immediately. This is a medical emergency.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Vetmedin Ingestion in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten Vetmedin:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Uncoordinated gait
- Increase in heart rate
- Increase in respiratory rate
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Yellow-colored gums, mucus membranes, and skin (this indicates jaundice)
Symptoms may not appear until about an hour to four hours after ingestion. So, be sure to call your vet right away if you know your cat has eaten Vetmedin.
Treatment of Vetmedin Ingestion in Cats
When you reach the vet’s, they will first conduct a complete physical exam of your cat. They will also order lab work including a blood test and urinalysis. They will check your cat’s breathing rate and heart rate.
If your cat has recently eaten the medication, the vet may induce vomiting and/or use gastric lavage to wash the medication from your cat’s stomach. Activated charcoal may also be used to keep your fur baby’s body from absorbing the medication.
The vet will also treat other symptoms such as elevated blood pressure and more. Your feline companion may also require an IV line for fluids and to make it easy to give her necessary medications.
Your vet will also want to monitor your cat’s heart and lung function, which may mean your fur baby has to stay in the hospital a day or so.
The prognosis for cats that have eaten Vetmedin is very good if they receive prompt medical treatment.
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Emma Chandley, BVetMed MRCVS PGCertSAS
This article has been reviewed and approved by an independent Veterinarian: Emma graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 2011. She has a keen interest in surgery and went on to do a post graduate certificate in small animal surgery and was then awarded advanced practitioner status in the same discipline.
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