Vetmedin Killed My Dog – Can That Happen? 7 Clear Facts

Vets often prescribe a medication known as Vetmedin to dogs with congestive heart failure. There are, however, cases in which dogs may die soon or later after starting to take Vetmedin. That may create the impression that it is Vetmedin that killed the dog. But can Vetmedin kill a dog? Read on, for answers.

Before declaring that Vetmedin killed my dog, I would first consider the possibility of the dog having died due to the underlying congestive heart failure (which was being treated with Vetmedin). But Vetmedin can also kill a dog directly: like if the dog’s body reacts badly to it, or if a dog overdoses on it.

It is important to appreciate that Vetmedin is only given to delay the beginning of heart failure symptoms. So it really doesn’t cure the underlying congestive heart failure.

Now if you research on how long can a dog live with congestive heart failure, you see that it is for a limited period of time.

You can even go further, and research on how long can dogs live with congestive heart failure on Vetmedin. You will see that even with Vetmedin, there is a limit to congestive heart failure in dogs life expectancy.

Thus, in spite of giving your dog Vetmedin, the dog may still eventually die due to the congestive heart failure. In this case, it is not the Vetmedin that would have killed the dog.

It is the underlying heart failure that would have killed the dog.

Then again, Vetmedin itself may also kill a dog. Dogs’ bodies are different, and some react badly to medications like Vetmedin. So you can’t altogether rule out the possibility of Vetmedin killing a dog directly.

What Is Vetmedin?

Vetmedin is a drug (medication) that dogs with congestive heart failure are often required to take. Its generic name is Pimobendan.

Thus if you take your dog to a vet, and the dog is found to have congestive heart failure, Vetmedin may be prescribed.

What does Vetmedin do in dogs? It delays the start of symptoms in dogs that happen to have congestive heart failure. Therefore it increases survival times for dogs with congestive heart failure.

While assessing congestive heart failure in dogs stages are considered. In the early dog congestive heart failure stages – the asymptomatic stages – Vetmedin can help in delaying the onset of symptoms.

If you check through Vetmedin reviews, you get the impression that it really helps in most cases. It helps in increasing potential lifespans for dogs with congestive heart failure. And it also helps in improving the quality of life for dogs with congestive heart failure.

In more precise terms, it seems to help in improving dog congestive heart failure life expectancy. The dog ends up living longer than it would have without Vetmedin.

Indeed, if you read up on how long does Vetmedin prolong life (or how long do dogs live on Vetmedin), you see that it is often for significant periods.

In between, it also helps the dogs to live better lives. For instance, it can help in relieving dog congestive heart failure pain. This translates into better quality of life.

Can Vetmedin Kill A Dog?

Sometimes, you may find that your dog has died soon or later after starting to take Vetmedin. That then leads to questions like, did Vetmedin killed my dog? Or, in the first place, can Vetmedin killed my dog?

The truth of the matter is that Vetmedin can in some cases kill a dog.

There are instances in which dogs may seem to die soon after starting to take Vetmedin. And this leads to an inference that it is the Vetmedin that killed the dogs.

A challenge tends to arise, however, when it comes to ascertaining that it is the Vetmedin that killed the dogs.

The problem is in the fact that the dogs to whom Vetmedin is prescribed tend to be already sick. These are dogs with congestive heart failure. And that is certainly capable of killing the dogs, by itself.

So finding out whether it is the congestive heart failure or the Vetmedin that killed the dogs is the challenge.

Often, you will find a dog owner asking, can Vetmedin make my dog worse? And the answer may be ‘yes’, in some cases.

So there are cases in which dogs’ conditions seem to worsen, after starting medications such as Vetmedin.

But on the other hand, if you ask, can Vetmedin prolong life, you see that the answer is also ‘yes’. Then it becomes a question of weighing the benefits of Vetmedin against its risks.

How Can Vetmedin Kill A Dog?

There are several ways in which Vetmedin may kill a dog.

Firstly, there are cases in which a dog may die from Vetmedin when its body reacts badly to this medication.

Dogs’ bodies react differently to medications. While most dogs with congestive heart failure may react well to Vetmedin, a few may react badly.

Normally with regard to Vetmedin side effects coughing and other minor issues are what we see.  However, there are cases in which more serious – potentially fatal – side effects manifest.

Indeed if you read up on how long do dogs live on Vetmedin, you see that is usually for appreciable periods of time. You still see the same, if you research on how long can dogs take Vetmedin safely.

However, there are cases in which dogs start getting worse after beginning to take Vetmedin. And they go on to die. In such cases, it may be that the dogs’ bodies reacted badly to the Vetmedin.

Thus Vetmedin may kill a dog if the dog’s body happens to react badly to the compounds in it.

Another scenario in which Vetmedin may kill a dog is if the dog overdoses on the medication. People often ask, can my dog overdose on Vetmedin? And the answer turns out to be ‘yes’.

Then one asks, how much Vetmedin is toxic to dogs? And that turns out to be pretty much anything above the prescribed dose.

Thus if you give your dog too much Vetmedin, then the Vetmedin may kill the dog.

There may also be cases in which stopping Vetmedin may cause a dog’s death. If you read up on what happens if you stop giving your dog Vetmedin without a vet’s guidance, you see that this is a possibility.

How Do I Know If Vetmedin Killed My Dog?

It can be challenging to know whether it is Vetmedin that killed your dog. This is because the dog may also have died from the congestive heart failure that was being treated using Vetmedin.

So, given this puzzle, how do I know if Vetmedin killed the dog?

One case in which I would strongly suspect that Vetmedin killed the dog is if I know that I overdosed the dog on the Vetmedin.

Another scenario to suspect that Vetmedin killed a dog (indirectly) is if the administration of the Vetmedin was stopped abruptly, without a vet’s guidance.

Enquiry on what happens if I stop giving my dog Vetmedin will reveal that death is a possibility.

Thus sudden Vetmedin cessation, without a vet’s guidance, can easily kill a dog.

In other cases, even the normal prescribed administration of Vetmedin may nonetheless kill a dog. This may be the case if the dog’s body reacts badly to the Vetmedin.

A dog’s post-death examination may reveal whether a medication like Vetmedin is what killed it. Sometimes, following the dog’s death, the vets may carry out toxicology tests, to find definitive answers.

But you also have to rule out the possibility that it is the underlying congestive heart failure (which was being treated using Vetmedin) that killed the dog.

You especially need to know what are the symptoms of the final stages of congestive heart failure in dogs. Then you can tell whether it is Vetmedin that killed the dog – or the underlying heart failure.

Is There An Alternative To Vetmedin?

So far, we have said that Vetmedin has the potential to kill a dog in some rare cases.

This then leads to a question on whether there is an alternative to it. Many will specifically be more interested in finding a natural alternative to Vetmedin, if one is available.

The truth of the matter is that, as far as FDA-approved veterinary medications go, there doesn’t seem to be an alternative to Vetmedin. There is none that serves the exact role that Vetmedin serves.

Some people may try undertaking Pimobendan vs Vetmedin comparisons – not knowing that Vetmedin is Pimobendan! So Pimobendan is the generic name for Vetmedin. Pimobendan is not another alternative medication.

Once Vetmedin loses efficacy at slowing the start-point of congestive heart failure symptoms, there may be no alternative. Sometimes (and sadly) one just has to make the dog congestive heart failure when to put down decision.

How To Minimize Chances Of Vetmedin Killing A Dog?

There are four things you can do to minimize the chances of Vetmedin killing your dog.

Firstly, you need to ensure that you adhere strictly to your vet’s instructions on how to administer the Vetmedin. Give the dog Vetmedin in the prescribed doses, at the prescribed times.

Secondly, ideally the dog needs to be carefully examined, before initiating Vetmedin usage. The idea is to be sure that it can indeed benefit from Vetmedin. And that Vetmedin won’t worsen its condition.

There are dogs for whom Vetmedin would be helpful. Then there are others for whom Vetmedin may be unhelpful. Proper examination before initiation of Vetmedin can help in establishing this.

Thirdly, the dog needs to be carefully monitored in the early days after starting to take Vetmedin. This is to ensure that the dog’s body is reacting the right way to the Vetmedin.

Fourthly, when it comes to ceasing the usage of the Vetmedin, this should only be under a vet’s careful guidance. You thus need to avoid stopping Vetmedin without a vet’s guidance.

Final Verdict – Vetmedin Killed My Dog

There are scenarios in which Vetmedin may kill a dog. If the dog’s body reacts badly to the Vetmedin, then the dog may end up dying soon or later after starting to take Vetmedin.

A dog may also die if it is given too much Vetmedin. Thus a Vetmedin overdose can certainly kill a dog.

At yet another level, a dog that stops taking Vetmedin abruptly and without a vet’s guidance may die. This would be another case of Vetmedin killing a dog, albeit indirectly.

Then again, the underlying congestive heart failure which was being treated using Vetmedin may be what kills a dog.

Thus it is important to distinguish whether it is the Vetmedin that killed a dog, or the underlying disease. If a dog was being given Vetmedin, it means that it had congestive heart failure. And that too could have killed it.

Much depends on what stage, in the course of congestive heart failure progression, Vetmedin usage was initiated. If Vetmedin was initiated too late, then the dog may have died due to the disease’s natural course.

You can minimize chances of Vetmedin killing your dog. Firstly, ensure that you follow the vet’s instructions carefully, while administering the Vetmedin.

Secondly, have the dog carefully monitored in the initial days after starting to use Vetmedin. This is to ensure that its body is reacting properly to the medication, before proceeding with long-term usage.

And finally, if you have to stop giving your dog Vetmedin, only do so under your vet’s guidance.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet dog a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️