Vetmedin (meg)

    • Gold Top Dog

    Vetmedin (meg)

    So, has anyone had experience with Vetmedin for CHF? Tiki's vet had lunch with the drug rep and he's made some special arrangements with her. I know it's expensive - one of the IMHA dogs is on it and I looked at the pricing on Dr's Foster and Smith and almost fell over. If I understood Dr. J's message correctly, it's a situation I should take advantage of - I'm not sure how much I should post on a public board, so please excuse my vagueness.

    I know it sounds horrible, but I'm guessing one of the reasons the reps are doing this is to have their medication dispensed to a wider population, since it's a fairly new drug. I'm OK with Tiki being a 'test subject', I think, if in the long run it's going to help other dog with heart problems.

    Really, I think we've just not got too much to lose. I don't post about her too often, but she's at the point where BF and I have discussed 'the end'. She does have a good quality of life for the most part, but she also can't *do* a lot of the things her Westie brain wants her body to do. She can't go up and down stairs, and she hasn't even been able to go for as long of walks like she used to be able to when we adopted her six months ago.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I know two dobes who are on it because of DCM, & a lab who is taking it for CHF. 

    The lab is doing much, MUCH better after starting it.  He's being treated with Vetmedin, & lasix  right now, & he is finally able to breathe comfortably, & move around with ease again.  Prior to taking Vetmedin, he was on enalapril.  The difference between him before Vetmedin, & after Vetmedin is amazing. 

    Both dobes are doing ok right now, but DCM is a very unpredictable disease & quite honestly, they could both drop dead tomorrow no matter what drugs they are taking.

    The cardiologist that I use for our guys says that it is the "gold standard" in heart drugs.  If he was to suggest treating my dogs with it, I would use it in a heartbeat.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Agnes is taking Vetmedin in addition to the Lasix and Enalapril.  We added it to help reduce the horrible hacking cough she had at night.  It's helped a lot.

    Like Tiki, Agnes is on borrowed time.  I've got her on herbals also, plus I homecook, so she gets no additional sodium.  She also gets the homemade cough syrup to help with the cough in betweens meds time. 

    Meg, I forget, is Tiki heartworm positive?  Or does she just have CHF?

    I know Agnes is more tired, we don't always go the whole 3 blocks when we walk.  It's like she's winding down, which sounds like Tiki's situation.

    • Gold Top Dog
    We don't think she's HW+, she was tested at the shelter, in August, and she was tested again in February.

    Her ECG shows 'Sick Sinus Syndrome', plus congestive heart failure.

    I appreciate the insight, ladies.

    • Gold Top Dog

    BEVOLASVEGAS
    The cardiologist that I use for our guys says that it is the "gold standard" in heart drugs.

    I heard the same thing when I was researching this drug awhile ago!  It's supposed to be this BIG breakthrough drug for treating CHF (and other heart problems) in dogs these days due to how it dilates the blood vessels in the front adn back of the heart...makes it pump much better then the previous treatment protocols of just using diuretics and ACE inhibitors.  I've also heard it might be better to use with the older drugs.  I'm not sure if htis is true or not though.  I remember trying to read the technical aspects of hte drug but it was well over my head!  LOL

    I have yet to actually SEE a dog on this drug yet though.