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2025 Top 5 ACE Inhibitor & Cardiac Prescription Options for Dogs in Canada — Veterinarian-Reviewed Guide to Fortekor Plus, Enacard, Benazepril HCl, Vetmedin & Cardalis (How to Choose)

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

Prescription angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used to lower blood pressure and reduce cardiac workload in dogs with hypertension and congestive heart failure. Common ACE agents include enalapril and benazepril; these drugs are frequently prescribed as part of long-term cardiac management alongside diuretics, pimobendan (often marketed as Vetmedin), or other supportive therapies. Canadian veterinarians and owners favor ACE inhibitors for their proven ability to reduce afterload, improve clinical signs of heart failure, and — in many cases — help control proteinuria associated with renal disease. Key consumer preferences in the Canadian market include reliable efficacy, once- or twice-daily oral dosing, clear dosing increments for weight tiers, availability through local clinics and licensed online pharmacies, transparent pricing, and the requirement for veterinary prescription and monitoring (bloodwork and blood pressure checks) to ensure safety.

Quick Menu

1. Best Combination ACE + Inodilator

2. Best Enalapril (ACE inhibitor)

3. Best Budget Benazepril Generic

4. Market Leader Pimobendan (Vetmedin)

5. Best Alternative Combination ACE + Pimobendan

1
BEST COMBINATION ACE + INODILATOR

Fortekor Plus for Dogs

Fortekor Plus for Dogs

Fortekor Plus is positioned as a leading, practice-friendly option because it combines an ACE inhibitor with a diuretic into a single tablet to simplify chronic heart-failure regimens. That fixed-dose approach reduces pill burden and clinic dispensing complexity compared with single-agent generics, offering veterinarians a technically convenient and often cost-competitive solution for managing canine congestive heart failure. Relative to plain ACE inhibitor products on this list, its main financial advantage is lower overall dispensing cost and improved owner compliance when both modalities are indicated.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • Dual heart support

  • Once-daily dosing

  • Dual heart support

  • Once-daily dosing

Review Summary

86%

"Owners commonly report visible improvement in symptoms and bloodwork with long-term use; tablets are easy to administer though a minority note occasional vomiting or lethargy."

  • Vet-tested, tail-wiggly

  • Contains an ACE inhibitor combined with an inodilator to address both blood pressure and cardiac output in congestive heart failure.

  • Vet-tested, tail-wiggly

  • Contains an ACE inhibitor combined with an inodilator to address both blood pressure and cardiac output in congestive heart failure.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Fortekor Plus is positioned as a leading, practice-friendly option because it combines an ACE inhibitor with a diuretic into a single tablet to simplify chronic heart-failure regimens. That fixed-dose approach reduces pill burden and clinic dispensing complexity compared with single-agent generics, offering veterinarians a technically convenient and often cost-competitive solution for managing canine congestive heart failure. Relative to plain ACE inhibitor products on this list, its main financial advantage is lower overall dispensing cost and improved owner compliance when both modalities are indicated.

  • Dual heart support

  • Once-daily dosing

  • Vet-tested, tail-wiggly

  • Contains an ACE inhibitor combined with an inodilator to address both blood pressure and cardiac output in congestive heart failure.

  • Designed for once- or twice-daily oral dosing under veterinary prescription with formulations matched to dog weight ranges.

  • Dual heart support

  • Once-daily dosing

  • Vet-tested, tail-wiggly

  • Contains an ACE inhibitor combined with an inodilator to address both blood pressure and cardiac output in congestive heart failure.

  • Designed for once- or twice-daily oral dosing under veterinary prescription with formulations matched to dog weight ranges.

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$120-220 CAD

2
BEST ENALAPRIL (ACE INHIBITOR)

Enacard Tablets

Enacard Tablets

Enacard is a widely used enalapril product known for consistent pharmacokinetics and a long clinical track record in canine hypertension and heart disease, which helps practice confidence when compared to newer or combined formulations. It typically offers lower upfront cost than premium branded combos while delivering predictable ACE inhibition, making it a practical baseline therapy for many patients. Compared to generics, Enacard often comes with stronger veterinary support programs and dosing literature that can reduce monitoring time in busy clinics.

4
★★★★☆

  • Blood pressure control

  • Kidney-friendly dose

  • Blood pressure control

  • Kidney-friendly dose

Review Summary

80%

"Most users find Enacard effective for managing hypertension and heart disease in dogs; some dogs experience mild side effects such as decreased appetite or gastrointestinal upset."

  • Pill-palatable perk

  • Enalapril is a widely used ACE inhibitor for managing canine hypertension and heart failure by reducing vascular resistance.

  • Pill-palatable perk

  • Enalapril is a widely used ACE inhibitor for managing canine hypertension and heart failure by reducing vascular resistance.

Increased Safety & Security

Enacard is a widely used enalapril product known for consistent pharmacokinetics and a long clinical track record in canine hypertension and heart disease, which helps practice confidence when compared to newer or combined formulations. It typically offers lower upfront cost than premium branded combos while delivering predictable ACE inhibition, making it a practical baseline therapy for many patients. Compared to generics, Enacard often comes with stronger veterinary support programs and dosing literature that can reduce monitoring time in busy clinics.

  • Blood pressure control

  • Kidney-friendly dose

  • Pill-palatable perk

  • Enalapril is a widely used ACE inhibitor for managing canine hypertension and heart failure by reducing vascular resistance.

  • Available in multiple tablet strengths for flexible dosing, usually administered once or twice daily as directed by a veterinarian.

  • Blood pressure control

  • Kidney-friendly dose

  • Pill-palatable perk

  • Enalapril is a widely used ACE inhibitor for managing canine hypertension and heart failure by reducing vascular resistance.

  • Available in multiple tablet strengths for flexible dosing, usually administered once or twice daily as directed by a veterinarian.

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$45-95 CAD

3
BEST BUDGET BENAZEPRIL GENERIC

Benazepril HCl Tablets

Benazepril HCl Tablets

Benazepril HCl tablets represent the generic, best-value entry in ACE inhibitor therapy and are chosen primarily for affordability and wide availability across formularies. Their technical advantage is interchangeability and flexible dosing across many sizes, which can decrease long-term medication spend versus branded alternatives, though they may lack the additional support services offered by some manufacturers. For clinics focused on cost management in chronic cardiovascular care, benazepril generics are often the most economical foundational ACE inhibitor.

4.1
★★★★☆

  • Long-lasting action

  • Tablet-splittable

  • Long-lasting action

  • Tablet-splittable

Review Summary

82%

"Generic benazepril is praised for similar effectiveness to brand-name ACE inhibitors at a lower cost, with reliable long-term control and only occasional side-effect reports."

  • Mild aroma — sniff-approved

  • Generic benazepril offers an affordable ACE inhibitor option for chronic management of canine heart disease and hypertension.

  • Mild aroma — sniff-approved

  • Generic benazepril offers an affordable ACE inhibitor option for chronic management of canine heart disease and hypertension.

Increased Safety & Security

Self-Improvement & Personal Growth

Benazepril HCl tablets represent the generic, best-value entry in ACE inhibitor therapy and are chosen primarily for affordability and wide availability across formularies. Their technical advantage is interchangeability and flexible dosing across many sizes, which can decrease long-term medication spend versus branded alternatives, though they may lack the additional support services offered by some manufacturers. For clinics focused on cost management in chronic cardiovascular care, benazepril generics are often the most economical foundational ACE inhibitor.

  • Long-lasting action

  • Tablet-splittable

  • Mild aroma — sniff-approved

  • Generic benazepril offers an affordable ACE inhibitor option for chronic management of canine heart disease and hypertension.

  • Typically dosed once daily and available in several strengths to accommodate different dog sizes and treatment plans.

  • Long-lasting action

  • Tablet-splittable

  • Mild aroma — sniff-approved

  • Generic benazepril offers an affordable ACE inhibitor option for chronic management of canine heart disease and hypertension.

  • Typically dosed once daily and available in several strengths to accommodate different dog sizes and treatment plans.

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$30-80 CAD

4
MARKET LEADER PIMOBENDAN (VETMEDIN)

Vetmedin Chewable Tablets

Vetmedin Chewable Tablets

Vetmedin (pimobendan) is a market leader in canine cardiac care as a positive inotrope and vasodilator frequently used alongside ACE inhibitors to improve clinical outcomes in congestive heart failure. Although not an ACE inhibitor itself, its clear survival and quality-of-life benefits make it a standard complementary therapy to the ACE products listed here, and its established efficacy can reduce downstream treatment costs by stabilizing patients more quickly. Practically, clinicians favor pairing Vetmedin with ACE inhibitors for a combined pharmacologic strategy rather than as a standalone blood-pressure agent.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Heart strength boost

  • Chewable flavored

  • Heart strength boost

  • Chewable flavored

Review Summary

90%

"Vetmedin chewables are frequently described as life-changing for dogs with congestive heart failure, improving energy and appetite; a small percentage report diarrhea or reluctance to eat the tablets."

  • Energy return — zoom!

  • Pimobendan (Vetmedin) is a leading inodilator that enhances cardiac contractility and causes vasodilation in dogs with heart failure.

  • Energy return — zoom!

  • Pimobendan (Vetmedin) is a leading inodilator that enhances cardiac contractility and causes vasodilation in dogs with heart failure.

Increased Safety & Security

Vetmedin (pimobendan) is a market leader in canine cardiac care as a positive inotrope and vasodilator frequently used alongside ACE inhibitors to improve clinical outcomes in congestive heart failure. Although not an ACE inhibitor itself, its clear survival and quality-of-life benefits make it a standard complementary therapy to the ACE products listed here, and its established efficacy can reduce downstream treatment costs by stabilizing patients more quickly. Practically, clinicians favor pairing Vetmedin with ACE inhibitors for a combined pharmacologic strategy rather than as a standalone blood-pressure agent.

  • Heart strength boost

  • Chewable flavored

  • Energy return — zoom!

  • Pimobendan (Vetmedin) is a leading inodilator that enhances cardiac contractility and causes vasodilation in dogs with heart failure.

  • Available as palatable chewable tablets to aid administration and commonly used alongside ACE inhibitors for congestive heart disease.

  • Heart strength boost

  • Chewable flavored

  • Energy return — zoom!

  • Pimobendan (Vetmedin) is a leading inodilator that enhances cardiac contractility and causes vasodilation in dogs with heart failure.

  • Available as palatable chewable tablets to aid administration and commonly used alongside ACE inhibitors for congestive heart disease.

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$160-320 CAD

5
BEST ALTERNATIVE COMBINATION ACE + PIMOBENDAN

Cardalis Tablets

Cardalis Tablets

Cardalis is presented as a premium ACE inhibitor option aimed at clinics that prioritize formulation variety and manufacturer-backed practice support, offering packaged dosing options and supply-chain reliability that can justify a higher per-tablet price. Its niche is in providing predictable product availability and additional veterinary resources, which some practices find reduces administrative overhead compared with sourcing multiple generics. Compared with the more economical benazepril generics or single-agent enalapril, Cardalis trades a higher unit cost for convenience, consistent supply, and vendor service.

4.2
★★★★☆

  • Combo therapy

  • Stable blood pressure

  • Combo therapy

  • Stable blood pressure

Review Summary

83%

"Cardalis (combination therapy) is valued for convenience and good symptom control in chronic cardiac patients, though reviewers commonly note the need for electrolyte and kidney monitoring."

  • Two-in-one convenience — hooray

  • Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor with pimobendan to target both neurohormonal activation and reduced cardiac output.

  • Two-in-one convenience — hooray

  • Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor with pimobendan to target both neurohormonal activation and reduced cardiac output.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Cardalis is presented as a premium ACE inhibitor option aimed at clinics that prioritize formulation variety and manufacturer-backed practice support, offering packaged dosing options and supply-chain reliability that can justify a higher per-tablet price. Its niche is in providing predictable product availability and additional veterinary resources, which some practices find reduces administrative overhead compared with sourcing multiple generics. Compared with the more economical benazepril generics or single-agent enalapril, Cardalis trades a higher unit cost for convenience, consistent supply, and vendor service.

  • Combo therapy

  • Stable blood pressure

  • Two-in-one convenience — hooray

  • Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor with pimobendan to target both neurohormonal activation and reduced cardiac output.

  • Helps reduce pill burden by delivering two complementary therapies in one prescribed formulation tailored to canine dosing.

  • Combo therapy

  • Stable blood pressure

  • Two-in-one convenience — hooray

  • Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor with pimobendan to target both neurohormonal activation and reduced cardiac output.

  • Helps reduce pill burden by delivering two complementary therapies in one prescribed formulation tailored to canine dosing.

Order Now

$130-260 CAD

What the Research Says About ACE Inhibitors in Canine Cardiac Care

A body of veterinary research and clinical guidelines supports the use of ACE inhibitors for managing systemic hypertension and as a component of multi-drug therapy for congestive heart failure in dogs. Evidence indicates ACE inhibitors reduce vascular resistance and lower blood pressure, can reduce glomerular proteinuria in kidney disease, and are commonly recommended in combination with diuretics and other cardiac drugs for symptomatic heart failure. Outcomes and benefits depend on correct dosing, timely veterinary monitoring, and appropriate combination with other cardiac medications when indicated.

Mechanism: ACE inhibitors reduce angiotensin II formation, decreasing vasoconstriction and cardiac afterload, which helps lower blood pressure and ease cardiac workload.

Blood pressure control: Multiple clinical studies and practice guidelines show ACE inhibitors effectively lower systemic blood pressure in hypertensive dogs when dosed and monitored appropriately.

Cardiac management: In congestive heart failure, ACE inhibitors are a standard element of multi-drug regimens; they are not always sufficient alone but contribute to symptom control and improved quality of life when combined with diuretics and, where indicated, pimobendan.

Renal benefit: ACE inhibitors can reduce proteinuria in dogs with glomerular disease; veterinary protocols emphasize monitoring creatinine and electrolytes, as renal function can change after starting therapy.

Safety and monitoring: Research and clinical practice stress baseline and follow-up bloodwork (renal panel, electrolytes) and blood pressure checks within days to weeks after initiation or dose change to detect azotemia or hyperkalemia early.

In Canada in 2025, ACE inhibitors remain a cornerstone of veterinary cardiac care. This category highlights five commonly prescribed options you will encounter: Fortekor Plus for Dogs, Enacard Tablets, Benazepril HCl Tablets, Vetmedin Chewable Tablets (commonly used alongside ACE inhibitors as an adjunctive in heart failure), and Cardalis Tablets. For many Canadian dogs requiring ACE inhibition as part of a broader heart-failure plan, Fortekor Plus for Dogs is often the best first-choice option due to its dosing flexibility and formulation designed for canine use — though the ideal product depends on your dog's diagnosis, weight, kidney function and concurrent medications. We hope you found the information you were looking for; if you want to refine or expand your search, use the site search to filter by active ingredient, dosage, form, or veterinary guidance options.

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