Lisinopril for Dogs

Lisinopril is a drug known as an ACE inhibitor, which can be prescribed to dogs suffering from heart problems. If your dog is suffering from heart disease, this may prolong his life by reducing the amount of work his heart has to do.

Heart Disease in Dogs

Heart disease in dogs is similar to heart disease in humans with one major exception—dogs don't suffer from heart attacks. There is no plaque buildup in their arteries that cause them to clog. Rather, their hearts just begin to wear out over time.

The first part of the heart to fail are the valves, which are no longer able to push the fluid through efficiently, causing buildup in the heart. This causes the heart to enlarge and struggle to work.

Often the first symptom of heart disease is a cough because some of the fluid pushes back into the lungs. However, this often goes undiagnosed as it can also be a symptom of a common cold.

Other symptoms include:

  • pale or blue gums
  • lethargy
  • loss of appetite
  • rapid breathing 
  • weak pulse

A veterinarian can easily diagnose heart problems by listening with a stethoscope since the weakened valves produce murmurs.

The end result of heart disease is congestive heart failure, at which time the heart is so enlarged it can no longer function to circulate blood. Drugs such as Lisinopril can be prescribed to prolong the length of time before this occurs.

Use of Lisinopril

Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor, which means that it increases the diameter of your dog's blood vessels, allowing blood to flow through more easily. This reduces the amount of work your heart must do to push the fluid through, prolonging your dog's heart indefinitely.

By allowing blood to flow through more smoothly, Lisinopril decreases your dog's heart rate, which preserves the heart's remaining strength. Because of this, your dog must stay on the medication for the remainder of his life to continue this process.

It's important to give the required dosage on time. However, if you forget, never double the dosage, which can cause the vessels to dilate too much.

Side Effects of Lisinopril

As with all medications, your dog may have an allergic reaction to Lisinopril, characterized by facial swelling, hives, shock or seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if this occurs.

Most common side effects include diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite. However, there can be more serious side effects such as weakness, cough or collapse. Medication may cause kidney dysfunction, characterized by increased thirst and urination, or high potassium levels, which can be recognized by weakness, low heart rate and weak pulse.

Dogs who are pregnant, have ACE inhibitor sensitivity or have certain illnesses, such as kidney problems, low sodium levels or lupus, shouldn't take Lisinopril, so consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns. It also shouldn't be used with certain medications.

However, if your dog can tolerate it, Lisinopril can help reduce the work done by your dog's heart, prolonging his life if he suffers from heart disease.

 

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