Canine Heart Disease Medicines

If your dog is diagnosed with any kind of heart disease, where should you turn? Well, there are several heart disease medicines that treat dogs. Much like humans, the goal of heart disease medicines for dogs is to put less pressure on the heart so it does not have to pump as hard.

  1. ACE Inhibitor Drugs

    • Enalapril, benazepril, lisinopril are all ACE inhibitor drugs. These drugs reduce blood pressure and attempt to lessen the strain on the heart. They make it so the heart does not have to pump with such intense pressure, thus relieving the pain for the dog. These drugs are extremely safe and great for early diagnosed heart disease. Side effects are diarrhea and vomiting.

    Nitroglycerin

    • Nitroglycerin is a drug that attempts to make veins larger, thus opening the canals for blood to flow easier through the dog's system. The problem with this drug is that it is only effective for two days. Common brands of nitroglycerin are Nitrobid and Nitrol.

    Ditiazem

    • Ditiazem is a drug that is usually used to treat dogs with irregular heartbeats. This drug efficiently slows down the heartbeat. Side effects are slim to none with this medicine. However, a reported side effect is loss of appetite. Common brands of this drug are Cardizem and Dilacor XR.

    Atenolol and Propranolol

    • These types of drugs work on the nervous system of the dog (the part of the nervous system that affects heart rate). Atenolol and Propranolol attempt to slow down heart rate which allows the dog's heart to pump with a decreased amount of oxygen. Some side effects of atenolol and propranolol are low blood pressure and changes in attitude. Common brands of these types of drugs are Tenormin and Inderal.

    Herbal and Natural Remedies

    • Herbal and natural remedies have also been used to treat heart disease in dogs. Hawthorne, kalium phosphate, arnica montana and calcium fluoride are all herbs that have been proved to aid in heart health of dogs, according to The Dog Health Guide website. Because of their unconventional form of treatment, these natural herbs must be discussed with a veterinairian before using them to treat your dog.