Common Cardiac Medications
Common Cardiac Medications
Drug | Species | Route and Dosage |
|---|---|---|
ACE Inhibitors | ||
Enalapril | Dog, cat | 0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h |
Benazepril | Dog | 0.25–0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h |
Cat | 0.5–1 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h | |
Inotropes | ||
Pimobendan | Dog | 0.25–0.3 mg/kg, PO, q 8–12 h |
Digoxin | Dog | 0.0025–0.005 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h |
Cat | 0.01 mg/kg, PO, q 48 h | |
Dobutamine | Dog | 1–15 mcg/kg/min, CRI |
Cat | 0.5–5 mcg/kg/min, CRI | |
Diuretics | ||
Furosemide | Dog | Acute treatment: initial dose 2 mg/kg, IV or IM, or 0.66–1 mg/kg/h, CRI, for maximum 4 h Longterm management: 1–4 mg/kg, PO, q 6–24 h |
Cat | Acute treatment: initial dose 3–6 mg/kg, IV or IM, or 0.5–1 mg/kg/h, CRI Longterm management: 1–2 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h | |
Torsemide | Dog, cat | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h |
Spironolactone | Dog | 1.0–2.0 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h |
Cat | 1.7–3.3 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h | |
Hydrochlorothiazide | Dog | 0.5–2 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h |
Vasodilators | ||
Nitroglycerin 2% | Dog, cat | Topical, 1'' paste/10 kg, applied to unhaired or shaved area of skin q 12 h |
Nitroprusside | Dog | Initial dose 1 mcg/kg/min, CRI; then titrate up to 10–15 mcg/kg/min q 15–30 min for up to 24–48 h |
Cat | Initial dose 1 mcg/kg/min, CRI; then titrate up to 3 mcg/kg/min if needed | |
Hydralazine | Dog | Initial dose 0.5 mg/kg, PO, once; then titrate up to 1–3 mg/kg q 12 h |
Cat | Initial dose 0.2–0.5 mg/cat, SC; repeat after 15 min if needed | |
Amlodipine | Dog | 0.05–0.1 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h |
Cat | Routine treatment and monitoring: 0.125 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h; increase slowly (weekly) up to 0.5 mg/kg Emergency treatment: Initial dose 0.125–0.25 mg/kg, PO; then tritrate up to 0.5 mg/kg (2.5 mg/cat) q 4–8 h for up to 24 h | |
Sildenafil | Dog, cat | 1–2 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h |
Antiarrhythmics | ||
Magnesium chloride | Dog | 0.1–0.2 mEq/kg, slow IV, over 5–15 min |
Sodium channel blockers | ||
Lidocaine | Dog | Loading dose 2 mg/kg, IV, over 30 sec–2 min (max. 3 doses over 5 min); then 25–80 mcg/kg/min, CRI |
Cat | Loading dose 0.1–0.4 mg/kg, IV, over 1 min (max. 3 doses over 5–20 min); then 10–20 mcg/kg/min, CRI, if effective | |
Procainamide | Dog | Loading dose 2 mg/kg, IV, over 5 min; then titrate up to 15 mg/kg over 10–15 min, then 25–40 mcg/kg/min, CRI, or 10–20 mg/kg, IM or SC, q 6–8 h Maintenance dose 5–20 mg/kg, PO, q 6–8 h |
Mexiletine | Dog | 5–8 mg/kg, PO, q 8–12 h |
Beta-blockers | Start low and titrate up | |
Atenolol | Dog | 0.2–1 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h |
Cat | 2–3 mg/kg (5–12.5 mg/cat), PO, q 12–24 h | |
Esmolol | Dog, cat | 0.25–0.5 mg/kg, slow IV bolus over 2–5 min; then 10–100 mcg/kg/min, CRI, if needed |
Propranolol | Dog | 0.2–1 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h |
Cat | 0.4–1.2 mg/kg (2.5–5 mg/cat), PO, q 8 h | |
Carvedilol | Dog | 0.2–0.4 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h; then titrate q 2 wk up to 1.5 mg/kg q 12 h |
Cat | 1.6–3.125 mg, PO, q 12 h | |
Potassium channel blockers | ||
Sotalol | Dog, cat | 1–2.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h |
Amiodarone | Dog | PO: Loading dose 8–10 mg/kg, q 12 h for 7–10 days; maintenance dose 4–6 mg/kg, q 24 h |
IV: 2–5 mg/kg, infusion over 30–60 min; 0.8 mg/kg/h, CRI for 6 h, then 0.5 mg/kg/h | ||
Calcium channel blockers | ||
Diltiazem regular | Dog, cat | 0.1–0.4 mg/kg, IV bolus over 5 min; 0.05–0.15 mg/kg/h, CRI |
Dog | 0.5–2 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h | |
Cat | 1.5–3 mg/kg (7.5–15 mg/cat), PO, q 8 h | |
Diltiazem extended-release | Dog | 3 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h |
Cat | 3–6 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h | |
Vagolytics | ||
Atropine | Dog, cat | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC |
Glycopyrrolate | Dog, cat | 0.005–0.01 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC |
Antitussives | ||
Hydrocodone | Dog | 0.25–0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 6–12 h |
Butorphanol | Dog | 0.55–1.1 mg/kg, PO, q 6–12 h |
Antithrombotics | ||
Aspirin | Dog | 0.5–15 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h |
Clopidogrel | Dog | 1.1–3 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h |
Cat | PO: Loading dose 37.5 mg/cat; maintenance dose 18.75 mg/cat, q 24 h | |
Enoxaparin | Dog | 0.8 mg/kg, SC, q 6 h |
Cat | 0.75–1 mg/kg, SC, q 6–12 h | |
Dalteparin | Dog | 100–175 IU/kg, SC, q 8 h |
Cat | 75–150 IU/kg, SC, q 6–12 h | |
Rivaroxaban | Dog | 1–2 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h |
Cat | 0.5–1 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h | |
Apixaban | Dog | 0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 8–12 h; reduce if renal disease |
Cat | For cats < 5 kg: 0.625 mg/cat, PO, q 12 h For cats > 5 kg: 1.25 mg/cat, PO, q 12 h |