Veterinarians may prescribe the drug enalapril for canines to treat kidney disease, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and urinary protein loss. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby provides pet owners with all the information they require about enalapril, including its uses, side effects, dosage details, precautions, and more.
There are many similarities between human medicine and veterinary medicine. For instance, a number of drugs designed for humans can be safely prescribed for pet health issues. One such medication is enalapril maleate.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as enalapril, are a class of prescription drugs. Enalapril is most frequently prescribed by veterinarians to senior dogs who have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or high urine protein levels.
Enalapril is FDA-approved for use in humans and dogs. The medication can be obtained as a tablet, oral liquid, or injectable form. The generic drug enalapril maleate is present in the majority of commercial formulations. However, enalapril is also sold under the trade names Lotrial®, Vasotec®, Enacard®, and Glioten®.
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What Is Enalapril Used for in Dogs?
When used as a vasodilator to treat canine heart disease, the ACE inhibitor enalapril maleate facilitates easier blood flow in your pups. It can also be used to treat protein-losing nephropathy, a kidney disorder, or kidney disease. Vasotec (human form) and Enacard (veterinary form) are popular brand names for enalapril, but there are also generic versions available. All forms can be given to dogs with proper dosing.
Angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) are essential for the body’s production of the hormone angiotensin II, which causes sodium and water retention and vasoconstriction by constricting blood vessels. Despite the fact that they are vital in a healthy dog, when there is disease, these processes make the heart and kidneys work less effectively. Enalapril and other ACE inhibitors like it stop the production of angiotensin II and dilate blood vessels, a process known as vasodilation. In order to improve the function of the heart and kidneys, this lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow to those organs.
Enalapril has a few uses in veterinary medicine.
Enalapril is frequently prescribed for canines suffering from heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure. It improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart, which lessens some of the strain on the ailing organ. Enalapril can prevent or lessen common heart disease symptoms in dogs, such as fluid buildup in the lungs and an intolerance to exercise. Additionally, especially when combined with furosemide, it might prolong a dog’s life when suffering from heart disease.
Enalapril may be used in dogs with chronic kidney disease because it can increase blood flow to the kidneys and improve the kidneys filtering ability. It can also reduce protein loss in the urine, a common occurrence with chronic kidney disease and a disorder called protein-losing nephropathy.
Enalapril is sometimes used to treat high blood pressure in humans, but its considered less effective when used alone in dogs with hypertension. However, enalapril may be used alongside other prescription medications to manage blood pressure in dogs.
What are the precautions or contraindications for using enalapril?
In a similar vein, enalapril shouldn’t be administered to people who already have acute kidney injuries. There is a chance that it might exacerbate the harm.
Enalapril should also not be given to dogs or cats who have acute heart failure because it can cause a sharp reduction in blood flow to the kidneys. The veterinarian will wait to begin enalapril once a patient with congestive heart failure has stabilized because it takes a few days for it to be beneficial to the heart.
Dogs with chronic heart failure frequently require enalapril in addition to a diuretic (i e. water pill) like furosemide. As a side effect of relieving the heart’s workload, the combination of these two drugs can reduce blood flow to the kidneys. For this reason, when enalapril and furosemide (Lasix®) are combined, the veterinarian will carefully monitor your dog’s kidney values.
Additionally, veterinarians frequently combine enalapril with other heart drugs like pimobendan (i e. Vetmedin®) as combination therapy for heart failure.
When a dog consumes enalapril, the liver converts it into enalaprilat, which is the active form. Enalapril may not be metabolized by the liver in cases of canine liver disease or liver damage. Also, in rare instances, enalapril may cause acute liver damage. The reason for this is unknown.
Enalapril should be used with caution in animals who are dehydrated and in animals whose blood potassium levels have already increased (i e. hyperkalemia). Enalapril can cause blood potassium levels to rise even more, which could result in a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia. This risk is increased when enalapril is combined with a potassium-sparing diuretic like spironolactone.
Enalapril shouldn’t be taken before having surgery because it lowers blood pressure. Enalapril can cause dangerously low blood pressure when combined with sedatives or anesthetics, both of which can lower blood pressure.
Pregnant dogs should not take enalapril. Enalapril can impair fetal kidney development and raise the possibility of fetal death.
Your veterinarian will also want to know the names of any additional medications and dietary supplements your dog is taking before prescribing enalapril. This is significant information that may help to avoid harmful drug interactions.
Depending on the medication, combining the two medications can raise the risk of side effects like diarrhea and vomiting. It could also have a negative effect on how the body metabolizes enalapril. While not exhaustive, the following list of drugs should be used with caution (or not at all) when taking enalapril:
FAQ
How much is too much enalapril for dogs?
Consumption of toxic substances: In dogs, 100 mg/kg may be toxic and 200 mg/kg may be fatal.
Can my dog overdose on enalapril?
Enalapril overdoses can be serious because they can result in dangerously low blood pressure and long-term kidney damage. Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center if you see or suspect an overdose for more information.
How much is too much enalapril?
The typical dosage range for high blood pressure is 10 to 40 mg per day. If you should take the medication once or twice daily, your doctor will decide. The maximum dose is 40 mg per day.
Can dogs take enalapril twice a day?
In the USA, enalapril is authorized to treat dogs with CHF secondary to DCM and MMVD. Other than the USA, several other nations have approved benazepril to treat canine CHF. Enalapril and benazepril should be administered at a dosage of 0 for the treatment of canine CHF. 25–0. 5 mg/kg, PO, once to twice daily.