Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Pimobendan Injectable is dosed at 0.15–0.3 mg/kg IV Slow IV push; may give second dose at 12h in dogs, per ACVIM DMVD Consensus; Vetmedin Injection Label — FDA NADA 141-575: VETMEDIN SOLUTION (PIMOBENDAN) SOLUTION [BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ANIMAL HEALTH USA INC.] — https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=cbc95ffc-0c9d-489c-b95a-959206c0f1a3 (label located and confirmed to name Pimobendan Injectable, 2026-08-06). Pimobendan Injectable is used in dogs for Cardiogenic shock (acute DMVD decompensation), Acute decompensated CHF. Routes documented in dogs: IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Pimobendan Injectable in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vetmedin Injection
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.15–0.3 mg/kg | Slow IV push; may give second dose at 12h | 1-2 IV doses; oral formulation thereafter | Cardiogenic shock (acute DMVD decompensation) | Moderate | ACVIM DMVD Consensus; Vetmedin Injection Label — FDA NADA 141-575: VETMEDIN SOLUTION (PIMOBENDAN) SOLUTION [BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ANIMAL HEALTH USA INC.] — https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=cbc95ffc-0c9d-489c-b95a-959206c0f1a3 (label located and confirmed to name Pimobendan Injectable, 2026-08-06) |
| IV | 0.15 mg/kg | Slow IV push 5min; then PO q12h | Single IV dose; transition to oral pimobendan as soon as patient can swallow | Acute decompensated CHF | Strong | Häggström J, Boswood A, O'Grady MR et al. (2008) Effect of pimobendan or benazepril hydrochloride on survival times in dogs with congestive heart failure caused by naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease: the QUEST Study. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 22, 1124-1135 doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0150.x — Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A, p.343 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.15 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.343 | 0.15 mg/kg i.v. single dose. Oral pimobendan can be continued 12 hours after administration of the i |
| 0.1–0.3 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.343 | 0.1-0.3 mg/kg p.o. q12h 1 hour before food. |
| 0.25–0.3 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.668 | • 0.25-0.3 mg/kg q12h PO. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Calcium sensitizer and phosphodiesterase III inhibitor providing positive inotropy without increasing oxygen demand, plus vasodilation reducing cardiac afterload.
For acute decompensated CHF when oral route not possible. Slow IV push over 5 minutes. Transition to oral pimobendan ASAP. Monitor heart rate and blood pressure.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Pimobendan Injectable dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IV 0.15–0.3 mg/kg Slow IV push; may give second dose at 12h; IV 0.15 mg/kg Slow IV push 5min; then PO q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Pimobendan Injectable in dogs: IV.
Cited course lengths for Pimobendan Injectable in dogs include: 1-2 IV doses; oral formulation thereafter; Single IV dose; transition to oral pimobendan as soon as patient can swallow. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Pimobendan Injectable is indicated in dogs for: Cardiogenic shock (acute DMVD decompensation), Acute decompensated CHF.
These are general warnings for Pimobendan Injectable across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. For acute decompensated CHF when oral route not possible. Slow IV push over 5 minutes. Transition to oral pimobendan ASAP. Monitor heart rate and blood pressure.
Why a species-specific page? Pimobendan Injectable pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.