SAVAVET SAFEHEART 5 30TAB. FOR DOGS

• Pimobendan is classified as an inodilator (it has both inotropic and vasodilator effects) 

• It works by two mechanisms:
   1. Increasing the sensitivity of cardiac muscle fibers to calcium (thus improving contractility) 
   2. Inhibiting phosphodiesterase type III (leading to vasodilation) 

• The net effect is improved cardiac output and reduced workload on the heart.

• After oral administration, pimobendan is metabolized (oxidative demethylation) and excreted, mostly via feces. 

Indications / Uses

Safeheart is indicated in dogs in the following situations:

• Management of congestive heart failure (CHF) due to atrio-ventricular valvular insufficiency (AVVI) (e.g. mitral valve disease) 

• CHF due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) 

• Delay of onset of congestive heart failure in dogs with preclinical mitral valve disease / Stage B2 MMVD (i.e. when structural heart disease is present but overt CHF has not yet developed) 

It is used along with other therapies as needed (e.g. diuretics) in heart failure management. 

Dosage & Administration

• The recommended total daily dose is 0.5 mg per kg body weight, divided into two administrations (morning and evening) 

• The portions do not necessarily have to be equal (i.e. you may dose a little more in the morning or evening as needed) 

• Tablets are scored, so dosing can be adjusted in half-tablet increments to get close to the calculated amount 

• Food may decrease absorption of pimobendan, but the effect for the Safeheart formulation is not clearly defined