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.
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Facts
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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