Table: Common Cardiac Medications - Merck Veterinary Manual

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

Merck Manual

Common Cardiac Medications