Side Effects of Procainamide in Dogs

Procainamide is a drug used by veterinarians to treat arrhythmia in dogs. It comes in tablet and capsule form, and works by blocking the erratic electrical activity of an irregular heartbeat.

  1. Facts

    • The more common causes of arrhythmia in dogs include hormones, illness and an electrolyte imbalance. Sometimes, veterinarians can determine no cause for the disorder.

    Function

    • Procainamide treats tachycardia, a condition where the heart beats too fast. A prolonged high heartbeat could damage your dog's heart tissue and cause a buildup of liquid in the lungs, in turn causing heart failure.

    Side Effects

    • Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite may occur. More serious side effects, which warrant a call to your veterinarian, include increased tiredness, shortness of breath when lying down, seizure and abnormal changes in behavior.

    Warning

    • Certain drug interactions may result in side effects. Procainamide's do-not-combine list includes such medications as digoxin, digitalis, cimetidine and antihypertensive drugs.

    Considerations

    • For Procainamide to work properly, the amount of the drug in the dog's body needs to kept at a constant level. Rita Ozolins, B.Sc., Phm., president of the Veterinary Pharmacy, Inc., recommends giving the drug at the same time every day.