Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Pimobendan is dosed at 0.1–0.3 mg/kg PO q12-24h in rabbits, per Fitzgerald BC, Dias S, Martorell J. Cardiovascular drugs in avian, small animal and reptile medicine. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract: Therapeutics. 2018;21:399-442. | Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. | van Zeeland YR.A, Schoemaker NJ. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in small mammals. Proc Conf Annu Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2018:607-616. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.872 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.8 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rabbits). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Dual mechanism: inhibits phosphodiesterase III (vasodilation) and sensitizes cardiac troponin C to calcium (positive inotropy without increased oxygen demand).
Side effects & warnings
Give on empty stomach (1 hour before food). Contraindicated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and aortic stenosis. Monitor for arrhythmias. Standard of care for canine DCM and MMVD (stage B2+).
Species with Pimobendan dosing data (19 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 19 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 16 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Keene BW, Atkins CE, Bonagura JD, et al. ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2019;33(3):1127-1140. doi:10.1111/jvim.15488 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1028, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028.
Keene BW, Atkins CE, Bonagura JD, et al. ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2019;33(3):1127-1140. doi:10.1111/jvim.15488 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1026, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028.
· 12. Delk KW, Eshar D, Garcia E, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy in a hedgehog. J Small Anim Pract. 2014;55:174-177. | 26. Hedley J, Benato L, Fraga G, et al. Congestive heart failure due to endocardiosis of the mitral valves in an African pygmy hedgehog. J Exot Pet Med. 2013;22:212-217. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.745 doi:10.1111/jsap.12169 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.795 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.5 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rodents).
· 149. Jepson L. Lizards. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier; 2009:268-314. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1420
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243. Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.274 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.11 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Reptiles).
· 848. Sedacca CD, Campbell TW, Bright JM, et al. Chronic cor pulmonale secondary to pulmonary atherosclerosis in an African grey parrot. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009;234(8):1055-1059. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.493 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by Samour J (ed), Avian Medicine, 3rd ed, Elsevier 2016 (ISBN 978-0-7234-3832-8), Table 13-11: Pimobendan, Parrots, 0.25-0.25 mg/kg (PO). A second text, independent of the source already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct.
· Ames MK, Atkins CE, DeFrancesco TC, et al. High-dose pimobendan in the treatment of refractory heart failure in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2013;27:640-640. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1028, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028.
· Fitzgerald BC, Dias S, Martorell J. Cardiovascular drugs in avian, small animal and reptile medicine. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract: Therapeutics. 2018;21:399-442. | Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. | van Zeeland YR.A, Schoemaker NJ. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in small mammals. Proc Conf Annu Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2018:607-616. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.872 doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2018.01.015 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.8 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rabbits).
· Hedley J. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. Part B: Exotic Pets, 10th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary [Association] — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.5 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).
· Keene BW, Atkins CE, Bonagura JD, et al. ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2019;33(3):1127-1140. doi:10.1111/jvim.15488 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1026, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028.
· Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.274 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.11 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Reptiles).
· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.795 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.5 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rodents).
Pimobendan (Vetmedin) Dosage for Rabbits, Mice | ExoticRx