Common Cardiac Medications
Common Cardiac Medications
Drug | Species | Route and Dosage |
|---|---|---|
ACE Inhibitors | ||
Enalapril | Dog, cat | PO, 0.25–0.5 mg/kg twice daily |
Benazepril | Dog, cat | PO, 0.25–0.5 mg/kg daily |
Inotropes | ||
Pimobendan | Dog, cat | PO, 0.25–0.3 mg/kg twice daily |
Digoxin | Dog | 0.0025– 0.005 mg/kg twice daily |
Cat | PO, 0.01 mg/kg every other day | |
Dobutamine | Dog | CRI, 1–20 mcg/kg/minute; start 2.5 mcg/kg/minute |
Cat | CRI, 1–5 mcg/kg/minute | |
Diuretics | ||
Furosemide | Dog, cat | IV, IM, or PO, 1–4 mg/kg 2–4 times daily |
Dog | CRI, 0.5–1 mg/kg/hr | |
Torsemide | Dog, cat | PO, 0.2–0.3 mg/kg 1–3 times daily; typically twice daily |
Spironolactone | Dog, cat | PO, 0.5–2 mg/kg once or twice daily |
Hydrochlorothiazide | Dog | PO, 0.5–2 mg/kg every 12–48 hours |
Vasodilators | ||
Nitroglycerin 2% | Dog, cat | Topical, 1/4” strip 3–4 times daily for first day |
Nitroprusside | Dog | CRI, 1–10 mcg/kg/minute; typically start at 2.5 mcg/kg/minute |
Cat | CRI, 0.25–5 mcg/kg/minute | |
Amlodipine | Dog | PO, 0.1–0.25 mg/kg once or twice daily |
Cat | PO, 0.625–1.25 mg once or twice daily | |
Sildenafil | Dog, cat | PO, 1–3 mg/kg 2–3 times daily; typically start at 2 mg/kg |
Antiarrhythmics | ||
Magnesium chloride | Dog | IV, 0.15–0.3 mEq/kg slow over 5–15 minutes |
Sodium channel blocker | ||
Lidocaine | Dog | 2 mg/kg IV bolus over 1–2 minutes, 25–100 mcg/kg/minute CRI; typically start at 50 mcg/kg/minute |
Cat | IV, 0.2–0.75 mg/kg bolus, 10–20 mcg/kg/minute | |
Procainamide | Dog | 2–4 mg/kg IV; 20–50 mcg/kg/minute CRI |
Mexiletine | Dog | PO, 5–8 mg/kg three times daily |
Beta-blockers | Start low and titrate up | |
Atenolol | Dog | PO, 0.5–2 mg/kg twice daily |
Cat | PO, 6.25 mg –12.5 mg twice daily | |
Esmolol | Dog, cat | IV, 0.25–0.5 mg/kg slow bolus over 2–5 minutes, 10–200 mcg/kg/minute |
Propranolol | Dog | PO, 0.1–2 mg/kg three times daily |
Cat | PO, 2.5–5 mg three times daily | |
Carvedilol | Dog | PO, 0.1–1 mg/kg twice daily |
Cat | PO, 1.6–3.125 mg twice daily | |
Potassium channel blocker | ||
Sotalol | Dog, cat | PO, 1–3 mg/kg twice daily |
Amiodarone | Dog | PO, Loading: 8–10 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days; maintenance 5–10 mg/kg daily |
Dog | 2 mg/kg IV bolus over 10 minutes; CRI 0.8 mg/kg/hour for 6 hours, then 0.5 mg/kg/hour | |
Calcium channel blocker | ||
Diltiazem regular | Dog, cat | 0.05–0.25 mg/kg slow IV bolus over 2–5 minutes, CRI 0.125 mg/kg/hour |
Dog | PO, 0.5–3 mg/kg three times daily | |
Cat | PO, 7.5–15 mg 2–3 times daily | |
Diltiazem extended-release | Dog | PO, 3–5 mg/kg twice daily |
Vagolytics | ||
Atropine | Dog, cat | IV, IM, or SC 0.04 mg/kg |
Glycopyrrolate | Dog, cat | 0.01 mg/kg IV; 0.02 mg/kg IM, SQ |
Antitussives | ||
Hydrocodone | Dog | PO, 0.22–0.5 mg/kg 2–4 times daily as needed |
Butorphanol | Dog | PO, 0.55–1.1 mg/kg 2–4 times daily as needed |
Antithrombotics | ||
Clopidogrel | Dog | PO, 1–4 mg/kg daily |
Cat | PO, 18.75 mg daily | |
Enoxaparin | Dog | SC, 0.8–1 mg/kg 2–4 times daily |
Cat | SC, 1 mg/kg 2–4 times daily | |
Dalteparin | Dog | SC, 150 IU/kg 2–3 times daily |
Cat | SC, 100–175 IU/kg 2–3 times daily | |
Rivaroxaban | Dog | PO, 0.5–1 mg/kg daily |
Apixaban | Dog | PO, 0.5 mg/kg 2–3 times daily; reduce if renal disease |
Cat | PO, < 5 kg: 0.625 mg twice daily, >5 kg: 1.25 mg twice daily |