Pocket Pet · Phodopus spp. · typical adult weight 0.02–0.05 kg
Pimobendan is dosed at 0.2–0.4 mg/kg PO q12h in dwarf hamsters, per 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.795 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Pimobendan is used in dwarf hamsters for Heart failure (inodilator). Routes documented in dwarf hamsters: PO. A typical adult dwarf hamster weighs 0.02–0.05 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Pimobendan in dwarf hamsters, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vetmedin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.2–0.4 mg/kg | q12h | Heart failure (inodilator) | Moderate | 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.795 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dwarf hamster'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 dwarf hamsters may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Pimobendan dose range in dwarf hamsters, with cited source references: PO 0.2–0.4 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Pimobendan in dwarf hamsters: PO.
Pimobendan is indicated in dwarf hamsters for: Heart failure (inodilator).
These are general warnings for Pimobendan across species; consult the dwarf hamster 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 dwarf hamsters — 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.