Atenolol Given For Dog Heart Disease

My Snoopy, a 15 year old cocker spaniel, has just been put on Atenolol for his heart. Has anyone had to give this to their dog and how were the results? Any after side affects from being on this medication? I can't find much information on-line regarding this medication being used for dogs. I guess it may still be fairly new. I can find a lot of information on it for humans. But that is about it.

I just lost his mother (16 years old) on May 21, 2004 to heart disease and kidney disease. I am emotionally drained with what I had to go through with her the past two years. She had a different heart problem and was on different medications. Her medications contributed to the kidney disease. So, I'm trying to find out what Atenolol is going to have me facing with Snoopy.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Show me a dog, and I’ll show you a picture of happiness.
Barb, Snoopy and Rambo

 

I've never heard of that medicine. With some meds they will make a human type and then make one very similar for animals. Vet will probably have the bloodwork drawn up every few months to make sure internal organs are working properly. I think I will look it up.

 

Atenolol is a human medication. My cat is on atenolol and enalapril for a heart condition. They both lower blood pressure (in different ways, I think). They said he could get dizzy if he moves really quickly or jumps - and this is a CAT, LOL. But I have not noticed any negative side effects. He seems more lively and plays more since being on the medication. He is 13 years old.

I really don't like my cat being on daily medication, but I don't know what else to do. He resists all attempts to get him on a better diet, which might have prevented the problem in the first place. I have some supplements that a holistic vet prescribed for him that are supposed to help (they are actually canine cardiac products) but since he will only eat kibble I can't give them to him. They are too big to pill him with, so they need to be ground up and hidden in something, but he won't even eat tuna or anything else that it can be hidden in.

Anyway, atenolol is a beta-blocker. Here is a page with some more info: http://www.drugs.com/atenolol.html

You might consider finding a Yahoo group for canine heart diseases. Those people can be really helpful, especially when you are just starting out.


Jamiya

 

puttin,

Yes, I will make sure he has frequent blood tests, even if the vet doesn't suggest it. The vet is laid back. He really doesn't seem to get into offering too may suggestions, unless you keep asking different questions. Which I guess could be a 'good thing' sometimes. That way I don't go running home trying all of these remedies. :lol:

Jamiya,

Thank you for sharing your information and providing me with the website. I will try and find a dog forum regarding pet heart disease, like on Yahoo.
I know I'm probably being paranoid because of what I had to go through with Trixie.
And I have a cat too! Her name is Baby. I only had to give her pills one time. A cat is much harder than the dogs. I had to open her mouth and put in down her throat. And those teeth do not tickle.

Show me a dog, and I’ll show you a picture of happiness.
Barb, Snoopy and Rambo

 

Atenolol is a very common human medication. Have you ever heard of Propranolol? If you have, it's basically the same thing. Atenolol is a beta blocker and is used for treating hypertension, congestive heart failure, and many other heart problems. It slows how fast your dog's heart beats so that there is enough time for the heart to fillup with blood and for that blood to be pumped to the rest of the body. It also reduces the work the heart has to do to pump blood to the body. The only side effects are really a decreased pulse and aggravation of asthma (others such as impotence won't affect your dog). I wouldn't worry about this medication because it is in very common use and is very safe.

(I'm a medical student and have found that most animal medications are actually human ones with different dosing schedules. )
Good luck!

 

enmoor2,

Welcome to the post!

And thank you for your information. I'm starting to feel a little better with the additional information I have gotten from everyone.

Show me a dog, and I'll show you a picture of happiness!
Barb, Snoopy and Rambo

 

Seebr,

Thanks for the welcome! I've been a lucker for a while. I've always had animals, but I got a pomeranian last october and began reading the topics here shortly after that. But I didn't feel the need to register until I saw your question and thought I'd help out. This is a great site, by the way..

Erin

 

Yes it is a heart drug I should know I was on it for around 6 months after my last attack 1 1/2 years ago. If I remember it made me rather sleepy and dizzy. I also lost my apatite for awhile.Between taking that twice a day and shots in my stomach and coumadin I felt like s.. most all the time so if your guy seems a little out of it for awhile don't be surprised.
allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, or trouble breathing. I was lucky that I had few side affects but each of us react differently to drugs and so do our pets.

2pyrs