As cats grow older, they begin to experience serious physiological changes in their bodies - disturbances in the functioning of the heart, problems with blood pressure. If you notice such disturbances in your cat, you should immediately take him to a veterinary clinic. The doctor can prescribe effective drugs to help the heart, such drugs also include Vasotope R. This cardiac drug is produced in Austria. In this article we will tell you how to use the product, and also tell you about side effects and existing analogues.
Instructions for use
- The cat should be given the tablet on an empty stomach in the morning.
- Before this, it must be crushed and then thoroughly mixed with food (any food other than dry).
- Give the cat food, preferably a small portion. In this case, he will be able to eat all the medicine in one go to the bowl.
Vasotope can also be given forcibly. To do this, you need to open your pet’s mouth and place the tablet on the root of the tongue. The swallowing reflex will work, and the pet will swallow the medicine on its own.
General information about the drug
Vazotop is a cardiac stimulating drug that improves the functioning of a dog’s heart. The manufacturer is InterVet GesmbH (Austria), which has long been present on the Russian market as a supplier of high-quality and reliable veterinary products.
The tablet has an attractive meaty taste due to the presence of dry beef extract. This foresight of the manufacturer is explained by the desire to make it easier for dog owners to use oral medications.
The trade name of the drug is “Vazotope R”, the non-proprietary international name is Ramipril, indicating the main active ingredient. Appearance of the medicine: compact tablets with a notch of yellow, pink or whitish color. The multi-colored color is explained by the concentration of the active substance (ramipril).
The Vazotop package contains 28 units of the drug, placed in a plastic container with a screw cap. Two-stage protection against moisture and accidental opening by children is provided. The Vazotop package is designed for a course of administration lasting 2 weeks.
The composition contains the following list of ingredients:
- ramipril Dosages – 0.625 mg, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg;
- additional components, including natural flavoring.
Storage conditions
Valid for up to 3 years from the date of issue, provided the integrity of the packaging is maintained. Storage conditions: dry place, inaccessible to light, temperature from 2 to 30 C. The drug is stored separately from food in places where it will not be found by children and other animals. A pronounced meaty smell can attract their attention - the consequences of such a technique will be the most disastrous.
Narrowly specific points
Vasotop P – available in the form of oral (taken by mouth) tablets, d.v. ramipril:
- Orange color (0.625 mg, no beef taste).
- Beige color (1.25 mg).
- Yellow color (2.5 mg).
- Light pink color (5 mg).
The starch that is part of Vasotope does not contain GMOs. Low-hazard product (hazard class 4).
How it works
When the drug Vasotope enters the digestive system, its components begin to be absorbed into the intestinal walls. When complete synthesis of angiotensin II occurs, the pet’s blood pressure will drop due to its hypotensive properties. The active component of the drug, ramipril, stops the destruction of the protein substance bradycardin, which is why it is possible to achieve a cardioprotective effect.
Approximately 10% of the drug substances after metabolism are excreted in the urine, and the remaining 90% are excreted in the feces. The components are completely eliminated within 48 hours after administration.
How to use vasotope for dogs: features, dosage, contraindications
Vasotope is a cardioprotective drug prescribed for heart failure, high blood pressure, long-term therapy with potent drugs and complications after surgery. The active ingredient, ramipril, stimulates the functioning of the heart muscle. Vasotope is used only according to the instructions, at a dose prescribed by a veterinarian.
Side effects
With a proper course of treatment, your pet will not have any adverse reactions. Therefore, always follow the dosage prescribed by your veterinarian. The main signs of overdose and individual intolerance:
- Constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting.
- Dehydration.
- Loss of coordination in space.
- Loss of interest in food.
- Hypotension.
- Tremor of the limbs.
If you notice at least one of the above signs in your cat, you should contact a veterinary clinic.
Reviews from owners and veterinarian
Andrey (veterinarian), 39 years old, Astrakhan:
“Vasotope is an effective and time-tested ACE inhibitor that has a hypotensive effect. The therapeutic effect is observed within 1-2 hours after taking the medicine and lasts for 24 hours. High blood pressure returns to normal gradually over 3-4 weeks.
The drug is widely prescribed to eliminate heart failure in dogs, as well as to treat cardiopathy and prevent myocardial congestion. In most cases, it is well tolerated by animals. When the drug is abruptly discontinued, there is no rapid increase in blood pressure.”
Irina, 27 years old, Kolomna:
“We were forced to go to the veterinary clinic with complaints of wheezing, shortness of breath, and poor appetite in the dog. After the diagnosis, the doctor prescribed a maintenance course of therapy for the heart. The medicine was used in combination with vitamins. Within 7-10 days after the start of treatment, the dog began to feel better and became happier.”
Polina, 49 years old, Vladimir:
“They gave the Rottweiler Vasotope to relieve high blood pressure. Used simultaneously with a diuretic. The appointment was made by a specialist. The dog took the tablets well because they have a meaty taste. The course of therapy passed without complications, there were no adverse reactions.”
Larisa, 34 years old, Kursk:
“Last year I had to treat my dog with this drug. I would like to note that the cardiotonic is inexpensive, effective and has no side effects. The animal took the tablets with pleasure, because they added meat extract. After the course of therapy, there was an improvement. The dog has become more active, more cheerful, and more resilient.”
Analogs
We have collected the main analogues in this list, and arranged them in descending order according to their similarity to the composition of Vazotope:
- Vazosan. This is a complete analogue, since identical components are used in manufacturing. The drug is available in 3 dosages, the cost is approximately 20% lower compared to the drug Vazatop.
- Tritace. The drug is almost similar to the composition of Vasotope. The tablets contain 5 mg of the active ingredient ramipril. A package (28 tablets) costs an average of 1,050 rubles.
- Norwax. The composition of the product differs, but it is considered an analogue due to its mode of action. It costs about the same as Vazotop R.
- Cardiovet. This product contains 2 main components: enalapril and malic acid. Working together, they are able to restore normal heart function and also significantly reduce blood pressure.
Cardiovet
Is it possible?
Vasotope is a cardiac stimulant that can be prescribed to dogs if they have:
- chronic and acute failure, accompanied by congestion in the heart muscle;
- high blood pressure.
The medicine is included in the treatment of cardiomyopathy of various origins, and is also used for prophylactic purposes to prevent the development of myocardial ischemia.
There are a number of restrictions for taking Vasotope, including:
- aortic stenosis;
- mitral valve stenosis;
- kidney and liver dysfunction;
- hypersensitivity to the constituent components of the drug.
The drug is available in the form of tablets intended for oral use. At the veterinary pharmacy you can purchase medications in different dosages (1.25 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg). The amount of active and excipients in them differs.
When eliminating symptoms of cardiac pathology, veterinarians often prescribe Vazotop instead of another popular cardiotonic drug Vetmedin.
Reviews
Peter: Our Persian cat Emelyan turned 3.5 years old last month. And my wife and I began to notice that after a long game he began to feel short of breath. That is, he breathes loudly with hissing for 5-7 minutes after the game. And this began to scare me very much, so I went to the clinic with Emelya for an examination. He was diagnosed with heart failure, as the mitral heart valve periodically did not work. The doctor prescribed Vazotop R tablets for my pet, I bought them in an online store for 1,200 rubles. After 4 weeks of treatment, the cat began to feel noticeably better; his pulmonary spasms and shortness of breath completely disappeared. I recommend this drug to all cat owners who are faced with similar problems.
Sofia: My favorite Siamese turned 8 years old this year. Once every six months we make sure to go to the clinic, and recently during an examination the doctor discovered high blood pressure. He prescribed Vasotope tablets, but at first she refused to swallow the tablet. But after 2-3 doses she no longer resisted. At first, the course of treatment was 2 weeks, later we went to an appointment, and the doctor extended the therapy to a month. During this time, the functioning of the cardiovascular system was restored. The drug is a little expensive, but the health of your beloved pet is more expensive in any case.
Therapeutic effect
Vasotope
used for the treatment of congestive heart failure (chronic cardiac decompensation of NYHA functional classes II-IV) in dogs. Vasotope is often prescribed in combination with diuretics and cardiac glycosides, in particular digoxin or methyldigoxin.
Administration of ramipril to sick dogs with congestive heart failure improves cardiovascular function, reduces related clinical signs and improves prognosis. Clinical studies have also shown that ramipril reduces mortality in dogs with acute and chronic heart failure due to atrioventricular valve endocardiosis or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In humans, ramipril improves survival from acute myocardial infarction.
Side effects
If the medicine is used strictly in accordance with the doctor's prescription, then the risk of side effects is minimal. It must be said that even a single dose 20 times higher than prescribed does not provoke a deterioration in the animal’s health. However, in such a case, one should not exclude the risks of a sharp decrease in blood pressure, which can affect well-being: the manifestation of depression, apathy or ataxia. However, if you have an allergy or intolerance to certain components, the following side effects are possible:
- respiratory tract - sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchospasm;
- foamy salivation (increased salivation);
- Gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract) - vomiting, diarrhea, dysphagia, dyspepsia, nausea, constipation;
- CNS (central nervous system) - paresthesia, neuralgia, tremor, convulsions, neuropathy;
- decreased or loss of appetite.
If any of these signs occur, you should immediately stop taking the drug and contact your veterinarian.
Contraindications
There are the following contraindications that should never be forgotten:
- The medicine is strictly forbidden to be given to pregnant and lactating cats.
- For eye diseases caused by severe hypertension, the medicine is prescribed with extreme caution and only under the constant supervision of a veterinarian. The same applies to cases where the animal exhibits symptoms of neurological disorders.
Note! The drug is not recommended for the treatment of pets with decompensated renal and liver failure, as well as acute heart failure.
Customer Reviews
Vasotope was prescribed to us after our Himalayan cat (quite old - 14 years old) began to have pressure surges. The product is really good - it helps.
Svetlana, 56 years old
The cost is high, but the result is worth it. After completing the full course, nothing has bothered the dog for almost a year. True, there was an unpleasant moment - I wore it a little at first.
Pavel, 35 years old
I have a German Shepherd who spends all his time outdoors with active walks.
I don’t know where the heart failure came from. But Vazotop helped a lot - a good drug. Sergey, 44 years old
Vasotope R for dogs and cats: application, instructions
Cardiovascular pathologies occur not only in humans; pets are also susceptible to the disease. However, it is often hereditary. Less commonly, the cause of disease is poor lifestyle and constant stress. Today, Vasotope for cats and dogs is recognized as an effective drug for the prevention and treatment of CVD (cardiovascular diseases), which has proven its effectiveness in clinical trials and in practice.
Dosage of the drug
Note that Vazotop is one of the few products whose dosage depends solely on the weight of the animal. Therefore, you need to follow a simple rule: the pet must be weighed before starting treatment, and the more accurate the scales used for this, the better.
Common dosage of the drug:
- The standard dose with which treatment is always started is 0.125 mg of the active substance per kilogram of live weight. It must be remembered that this dose can be adjusted downwards, but it should be increased (especially in the case of cats) solely according to objective indications!
- If long-term use of the medication does not produce an effect, the dose is increased to 0.25 mg of the active substance per kilogram of the cat’s weight.
Note! In cases of minimal effect, diuretics are included in the treatment regimen. In this case, there is no need to increase the dose of Vazotop R, since its effect will “automatically” be enhanced.
Contraindications for use
Like any other medicine, Vazotop has its contraindications for use. Treatment of pets is not prescribed in the following cases:
- individual intolerance;
- aortic stenosis;
- renal failure;
- hypertensive cardiomyopathy;
- chronic diseases and pathologies of the liver;
- pregnancy and lactation.
It is important to know that it is contraindicated to include potassium-sparing diuretics in the treatment complex - this contributes to the occurrence of hyperkalemia. In addition, a reduced sodium content in a pet's diet, coupled with high doses of diuretics, can trigger hypotension or acute renal failure. If the animal is undergoing surgery, the drug should be stopped at least 24 hours before. This is due to the fact that local anesthesia or deep anesthesia includes substances with a hypotensive effect.
Analogues of Vazotop and prices
The main advantage of the drug is its speed. However, not all pet owners have the opportunity to use the drug due to its high cost. In addition, the animal may exhibit allergic reactions to the medicine, so doctors often prescribe cheaper analogues, for example:
- Fortecor - has a pronounced hypotensive effect. The active ingredient is benazepril hydrochloride. The medicine is available in blisters of 14 tablets. In one pill, the dosage can be 5 or 20 mg;
- Cardiovet is a drug intended to stabilize the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The main component is also Ramipril, the dose of which in one tablet varies in the range of 2.5-20 mg. Available in packs of 30 tablets;
- Norvax - improves heart function and lowers blood pressure. The main component is amlodipine. Available in tablets with a dosage of 5 and 10 mg;
- Vazosan is completely identical to Vazotop, but the price of the drug is significantly lower;
- Tritace - intended to normalize blood pressure. Despite the fact that the medicine is produced for people, it is often prescribed to pets. It includes Ramipril in dosages of 2.5, 5 and 10 mg. Available in tablets packed in blister packs.
It is important to know that in case of cardiovascular diseases of cats or dogs, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate.
Before using Vasotope for cats, the instructions must be carefully studied, a medical examination of the pet must be carried out and a doctor must be consulted.
Form of production and composition
The active component in the structure of the drug is Ramipril, an antihypertensive drug intended to maintain blood pressure levels in hypertension. Vazotop is produced in tablets, which are packaged in bottles with two-stage protection against moisture. To determine the content of the main component, the pills are colored in one of four tones: beige tablets contain 0.625 mg, orange - 1.25, yellow - 2.5, pink - 5 mg.
The auxiliary components are the following: hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium stearyl fumarate, pregelatinized starch, silicon anhydride and iron oxide. To facilitate oral administration by pets, the manufacturer has included powdered beef extract.
