Vetmedin Chewable Tablets
Vetmedin (pimobendan) chewables are widely regarded as the clinical gold standard positive inotrope for canine congestive heart failure, holding a leading position because of extensive clinical trial support and consistent veterinary adoption. Compared with the other products on this list, Vetmedin's technical advantage is its established evidence base and veterinarian familiarity, while its trade-brand pricing can be higher than generics or compounded alternatives.
Chewable, tasty
Boosts cardiac output
Chewable, tasty
Boosts cardiac output
Review Summary
"Owners report rapid improvement in exercise tolerance and quality of life after long-term use; chewable tablets are generally palatable though some dogs resist and the cost is a frequent complaint."
Vet-trusted classic
Contains pimobendan, a proven positive inotrope and vasodilator widely used in canine congestive heart failure.
Vet-trusted classic
Contains pimobendan, a proven positive inotrope and vasodilator widely used in canine congestive heart failure.
Increased Safety & Security
Vetmedin (pimobendan) chewables are widely regarded as the clinical gold standard positive inotrope for canine congestive heart failure, holding a leading position because of extensive clinical trial support and consistent veterinary adoption. Compared with the other products on this list, Vetmedin's technical advantage is its established evidence base and veterinarian familiarity, while its trade-brand pricing can be higher than generics or compounded alternatives.
Chewable, tasty
Boosts cardiac output
Vet-trusted classic
Contains pimobendan, a proven positive inotrope and vasodilator widely used in canine congestive heart failure.
Chewable, palatable tablet formulation improves owner compliance for twice-daily dosing.
Chewable, tasty
Boosts cardiac output
Vet-trusted classic
Contains pimobendan, a proven positive inotrope and vasodilator widely used in canine congestive heart failure.
Chewable, palatable tablet formulation improves owner compliance for twice-daily dosing.
$120-280 CAD
Cardisure Flavoured Tablets
Cardisure flavoured tablets offer a more palatable, cost-competitive pimobendan option tailored to ease administration in picky eaters and small dogs, making it a market leader among flavored generics. Financially it often undercuts brand-name Vetmedin while providing similar active-ingredient benefits, though it may have fewer large-scale clinical studies directly referenced by clinicians compared with the originator brand.
Flavour-first chew
Enhances activity
Flavour-first chew
Enhances activity
Review Summary
"Users find Cardisure generally as effective as brand pimobendan at a lower cost and appreciated the flavored formulation for easier dosing, though tablet consistency and manufacturer variability are sometimes noted."
Dog-approved taste
Generic/flavoured pimobendan tablet offering the same active drug as brand options at often lower cost.
Dog-approved taste
Generic/flavoured pimobendan tablet offering the same active drug as brand options at often lower cost.
Increased Safety & Security
Cardisure flavoured tablets offer a more palatable, cost-competitive pimobendan option tailored to ease administration in picky eaters and small dogs, making it a market leader among flavored generics. Financially it often undercuts brand-name Vetmedin while providing similar active-ingredient benefits, though it may have fewer large-scale clinical studies directly referenced by clinicians compared with the originator brand.
Flavour-first chew
Enhances activity
Dog-approved taste
Generic/flavoured pimobendan tablet offering the same active drug as brand options at often lower cost.
Flavoured chewable form increases acceptability for fussy eaters while allowing standard dosing schedules.
Flavour-first chew
Enhances activity
Dog-approved taste
Generic/flavoured pimobendan tablet offering the same active drug as brand options at often lower cost.
Flavoured chewable form increases acceptability for fussy eaters while allowing standard dosing schedules.
$70-180 CAD
Pimobendan Compounded Oral Suspension
Pimobendan compounded oral suspensions are best-in-class for dose flexibility and precise dosing in very small or debilitated patients, offering a technical advantage where tablet splitting is impractical. These compounded preparations are usually more affordable for tailored regimens than branded tablets, but they carry variability and regulatory differences versus manufactured products like Vetmedin or Cardisure.
Liquid, easy-dose
Precise titration
Liquid, easy-dose
Precise titration
Review Summary
"Compounded pimobendan suspension is praised for precise dosing and ease of administration in small or picky dogs, but reviews commonly cite variability between compounding pharmacies and concerns about stability over time."
Custom flavoring
Compounded oral suspension provides adjustable concentrations for accurate dosing in small dogs and kittens.
Custom flavoring
Compounded oral suspension provides adjustable concentrations for accurate dosing in small dogs and kittens.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Pimobendan compounded oral suspensions are best-in-class for dose flexibility and precise dosing in very small or debilitated patients, offering a technical advantage where tablet splitting is impractical. These compounded preparations are usually more affordable for tailored regimens than branded tablets, but they carry variability and regulatory differences versus manufactured products like Vetmedin or Cardisure.
Liquid, easy-dose
Precise titration
Custom flavoring
Compounded oral suspension provides adjustable concentrations for accurate dosing in small dogs and kittens.
Useful when tablets are impractical; requires a veterinarian prescription and compounding pharmacy preparation.
Liquid, easy-dose
Precise titration
Custom flavoring
Compounded oral suspension provides adjustable concentrations for accurate dosing in small dogs and kittens.
Useful when tablets are impractical; requires a veterinarian prescription and compounding pharmacy preparation.
$40-120 CAD
Digoxin Elixir
Digoxin elixir is a time-tested inotropic and rate-control agent that remains valuable as an adjunct in specific cardiac cases, distinguished by low per-unit cost and liquid dosing options for dose titration. Compared to pimobendan-based products in this list, digoxin has a narrower therapeutic index and requires closer monitoring, so its financial advantages must be balanced against increased monitoring needs and more limited positive inotropic efficacy in canine heart failure.
Liquid rate-control
Steady rhythm aid
Liquid rate-control
Steady rhythm aid
Review Summary
"Owners report digoxin can be effective for rate control and symptomatic improvement, but many emphasize its narrow therapeutic window, need for frequent monitoring, and occasional side effects make long-term use more challenging."
Old-school powerhouse
Digoxin elixir is a cardiac glycoside with positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects used for certain arrhythmias and heart failure cases.
Old-school powerhouse
Digoxin elixir is a cardiac glycoside with positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects used for certain arrhythmias and heart failure cases.
Increased Safety & Security
Digoxin elixir is a time-tested inotropic and rate-control agent that remains valuable as an adjunct in specific cardiac cases, distinguished by low per-unit cost and liquid dosing options for dose titration. Compared to pimobendan-based products in this list, digoxin has a narrower therapeutic index and requires closer monitoring, so its financial advantages must be balanced against increased monitoring needs and more limited positive inotropic efficacy in canine heart failure.
Liquid rate-control
Steady rhythm aid
Old-school powerhouse
Digoxin elixir is a cardiac glycoside with positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects used for certain arrhythmias and heart failure cases.
Liquid formulation allows fine dose titration but has a narrow therapeutic index requiring careful monitoring of blood levels.
Liquid rate-control
Steady rhythm aid
Old-school powerhouse
Digoxin elixir is a cardiac glycoside with positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects used for certain arrhythmias and heart failure cases.
Liquid formulation allows fine dose titration but has a narrow therapeutic index requiring careful monitoring of blood levels.
$25-70 CAD
Fortekor Plus Tablets
Fortekor Plus tablets combine ACE inhibition with additional cardiac support in a single-tablet format to reduce pill burden and potentially lower overall therapy costs for long-term management. As a market leader among combination therapies, it offers convenience and potential cost savings versus using separate agents like Vetmedin and an ACE inhibitor, although combination formulations can limit individualized titration compared with using individual products.
Two-in-one combo
ACE inhibitor pairing
Two-in-one combo
ACE inhibitor pairing
Review Summary
"Reviewers appreciate the convenience of a combination cardiac medication and report improved clinical signs in many dogs, though they frequently note the need for blood pressure and renal monitoring and mention higher cost as a drawback."
Once-daily simplicity
Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor (benazepril) with an inotrope provides afterload reduction plus increased contractility.
Once-daily simplicity
Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor (benazepril) with an inotrope provides afterload reduction plus increased contractility.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Fortekor Plus tablets combine ACE inhibition with additional cardiac support in a single-tablet format to reduce pill burden and potentially lower overall therapy costs for long-term management. As a market leader among combination therapies, it offers convenience and potential cost savings versus using separate agents like Vetmedin and an ACE inhibitor, although combination formulations can limit individualized titration compared with using individual products.
Two-in-one combo
ACE inhibitor pairing
Once-daily simplicity
Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor (benazepril) with an inotrope provides afterload reduction plus increased contractility.
Designed for multi-targeted management of canine congestive heart failure to simplify dosing regimens.
Two-in-one combo
ACE inhibitor pairing
Once-daily simplicity
Combination tablet pairing an ACE inhibitor (benazepril) with an inotrope provides afterload reduction plus increased contractility.
Designed for multi-targeted management of canine congestive heart failure to simplify dosing regimens.
$90-220 CAD