Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Pimobendan is dosed at 0.2–0.3 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1055 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1026, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Pimobendan is used in dogs for CHF (DCM, MMVD stage B2+), Pre-clinical MMVD (EPIC trial B2), CHF (acute decompensation, loading dose), Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Pimobendan in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vetmedin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.2–0.3 mg/kg | q12h | Chronic/lifelong | CHF (DCM, MMVD stage B2+) | Strong | 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1055 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1026, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| PO | 0.25–0.3 mg/kg | q12h | Chronic/lifelong | Pre-clinical MMVD (EPIC trial B2) | Strong | 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1055 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1028, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| PO | 0.3 mg/kg | q8h | First 24 hours, then q12h maintenance | CHF (acute decompensation, loading dose) | Moderate | 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. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1055 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1028, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| PO | 0.2–0.3 mg/kg | q12h | Chronic/lifelong | Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) | Strong | 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1055 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1026, Pimobendan monograph spanning p.1026-1028; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
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.
Dual mechanism: inhibits phosphodiesterase III (vasodilation) and sensitizes cardiac troponin C to calcium (positive inotropy without increased oxygen demand).
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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Pimobendan dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 0.2–0.3 mg/kg q12h; PO 0.25–0.3 mg/kg q12h; PO 0.3 mg/kg q8h; PO 0.2–0.3 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Pimobendan in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Pimobendan in dogs include: Chronic/lifelong; First 24 hours, then q12h maintenance. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Pimobendan is indicated in dogs for: CHF (DCM, MMVD stage B2+), Pre-clinical MMVD (EPIC trial B2), CHF (acute decompensation, loading dose), Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
These are general warnings for Pimobendan across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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+).
Why a species-specific page? Pimobendan 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.