Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pimobendan use for heart disease in cats explained
By Gordon, Sonya G et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2025·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of pimobendan in cats: a practical evidence-based review.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with heart disease, particularly one suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF), may benefit from a medication called pimobendan, which helps improve heart function. While traditional treatments like diuretics help manage fluid buildup, pimobendan can enhance the heart's pumping ability and reduce the risk of blood clots. It's generally well tolerated, but some cats might experience mild side effects like vomiting or changes in heart rate. Although pimobendan is not officially approved for cats, it is available in various countries and can be an effective option for managing certain types of heart conditions.
People also search for: cat heart disease treatment · pimobendan for cats · congestive heart failure in cats · cat vomiting after medication
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Cardiomyopathies are a common condition and the leading cause of congestive heart failure (CHF) in cats; however, to date there have been limited therapeutic options available. Commonly used therapeutics include diuretics for CHF and antithrombotics 2 to reduce the risk of arterial thromboembolism (ATE), which do not directly affect myocardial function. This review summarizes the evidence for the use of pimobendan, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor and calcium channel sensitizer, in feline cardiomyopathies. Potential benefits of pimobendan in cats include improved left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, reduced platelet aggregation, reduction in left atrial size, and improved left atrial and auricular systolic function.Drug details:Pimobendan is indicated for the treatment of CHF in conditions associated with systolic dysfunction (including dilated cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and some cases with non-specific phenotypes) and has been used in the treatment of CHF secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A dosage of pimobendan of 0.25 mg/kg PO q12h is generally well tolerated, and an approved oral solution is now available in the UK, EU, USA, Japan and Australia, which may facilitate administration in some cats; it should be noted, however, that pimobendan is not licensed for use in cats and marketing authorizations may vary between countries. Adverse events are uncommon with pimobendan but include gastrointestinal upset (anorexia, vomiting), transient changes in heart rate and possible worsening arrhythmias at higher doses. The use of pimobendan is contraindicated in cats with fixed obstructions of the left or right ventricular outflow tract (ie, congenital heart disease - pulmonic or aortic valvular stenosis). AUDIENCE: This article reviews the use of pimobendan in cats for primary care veterinarians and includes practical case examples that reflect the typical use and recommendations for usage of pimobendan by the authors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41384556/