Heart problems Health

Does anyone have any experience of giving a dog Benefortin tablets? Just wondering if there are any likely side effects, though a quick google search indicates that there shouldn't be any.

Witty, thirteen and a half year old terrier cross, starting coughing when he'd been lying down for a long time - just a couple of coughs as if he'd got something stuck in his throat, then he'd be fine again. He has a heart murmur, and the coughing was caused by fluid build up, so he was prescribed Furosemide. Although it didn't stop the coughing completely, it did help.

This last week he's been coughing a bit more, so took him back to the vet, and apparently he now has an enlarged heart. He's prescribed him Benefortin to see if that makes a difference, and I'll be taking him back in a fortnight.

He is absolutely fine in himself - no problems with exercise at all and as lively as ever around the house. So, fingers crossed the new tablets will help, though I realize it will be a progressive thing and he will no doubt need more medication in due course.

Benefortin is one of the veterinary ACE inhibitors [angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor]. I take a human version morning and evening and the only side effect I have had is a slight dry cough at times.

I used to take Furosemide which I found perfect but then I had a bad attack of pancreatitis which is, apparently, a very rare side effect of taking it - and I had been on it for years. So they took me off it and put me on a different diuretic and I am not happy with it.

Big cuddles for Witty from me please.

Witty says thank you - cuddle gratefully received.

Interesting that you are on the human version - apparently so is the vet! I had asked him about any side effects of Furosemide, and he said it could cause potassium deficiency, but very rarely and not at the dosage Witty is on.

And talking about dosage - I am waiting for him to ring me back as I'm querying the tablets he's given me. The sticker says he's to have half a 40mg tablet twice a day - that's what he was on before. However, the foil strip says they're 20mg tablets. So I wonder if he's given me the wrong ones. If they're half the strength I suppose I could give a whole tablet twice a day instead of half, but I need to check.

As I have three dogs of different sizes, it is very much a habit of mine to carefully check the correct dosage of any supplements or worming or flea medication etc.

Sorry to hear you're not happy with the diuretic you're now on - though I suppose the important thing is if it does its job!

Actually your vet is incorrect as Furosemide is a loop diuretic and is potassium-sparing one, which is why salt substitutes such as Lo-salt are not recommended for someone taking it. It is the thiazides [such as the one I have to take now] which cause excretion of potassium [and magnesium although in a lesser amount], and require additional potassium.

I will have a check on the recommended dosage of Benefortin and get back to you.

OK, the chart for the dosage of Benefortin is here:

http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Boe...0_mg_and_20_0_mg_tablets_for_dogs/-58614.html

Thanks for that link - very useful. Witty is 8kg so the 2.5mg tablets he's been given for Benefortin is the correct dosage, which is reassuring!

It was the Furosemide the vet got wrong. He rang back, very apologetic, and offered to bring round the right ones, but I've got to go into town anyway so I'll call and collect them. David, the usual vet is on holiday - I doubt that he would have made a mistake.

Perhaps I misunderstood what he said about Furomeside and potassium but anyway, I'll be glad when David is back on Monday!

Dosage for Furosemide for dogs:

http://www.drugs.com/vet/furosemide-tablets.html

It is just a matter of knowing what the drug actually is, and exactly where to find correct site and then link to it. Just googling will not help as there could be dozens of different sites so it is necessary to know which one to go to.

It's really good to know that Amy lived to the age of 16 whilst on the medication. Many thanks Meg.

Dottie as half junior aspirin each day for her heart problem.

That's interesting - I've heard about aspirin being used for humans of course, but not for dogs on a regular basis. I have a vague recollection of reading that aspirin should never be given to cats but it was safe in small doses for dogs for pain relief.

Aspirin should not be given to a dog who is on any ACE inhibitor, including Benefortin.

You can buy dog aspirin too. if I can't get hold of the junior aspirin, then I will buy the 120mg dog ones, I do prefer the junior ones as they only 50mg which makes them 25mg as only have half one given.

CANINE ASPIRIN 120mg 75 Chewable Tablets


CANINE ASPIRIN ADVANCED 300mg 120 Chewable Tablets

Janet - there is a free Webinar coming up soon about heart murmurs, which might interest you.

http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/...5a4c5cf66c93dc0192635c3bfe2057a9264ab4b095a3c

Thanks Malka.

I'm quite paranoid about giving dogs any kind of drugs - always double check dosage and any contra-indications, possible adverse effect etc. The one time I didn't, I regretted it. I gave Milbemax (think that's it) worming tablets to the three dogs I had at the time. Witty and Bogie were absolutely fine. But Gertie, the elderly lurcher, was in a state of collapse. It turns out that they should not be given to collies or any collie mix - we never knew Gertie's breeding but, being a lurcher, there was a good chance she was part collie. So, lesson learned - what is safe for one dog may not be safe for another.

I had no idea there was such a thing as Dog Aspirin - many thanks 6JRT's!

That's brilliant Malka. I've registered and made a note in my diary.

Janet, the Webinars last for about an hour and you can put questions to be [hopefully] answered when it finishes - the person giving the Webinar answers them.

The actual website http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/ is brilliant. They send out emails about all sorts of dog [and cat] problems and what to do, some of which I save in Bookmarks so I can check back on them if necessary.

If you look at the main website and click on The Experts you will see that they are all top of their particular field and it is one site that I trust implicitly, especially as it does not appear to be run by any pet food company!