Can I give this med to dog after he's eaten?

May 4, 2024 6:51 PM

I'm caring for a dog and am supposed to give him a cardiac med on an empty stomach every 12 hours. I f'd up and forgot to give it to him before eating. Can I give it to him on after he's eaten, or should I wait until tomorrow?
posted by swheatie to Pets & Animals (5 answers total)

What is the medication?
posted by cozenedindigo at 7:17 PM on May 4 [1 favorite]

That dosage regime is the same as for the pimobendan med that our venerable terrier is on. If it's that same drug, then according to my vet it's less effective when given on a full stomach than on an empty one due to achieving a lower peak bloodstream concentration, which is the rationale for the empty stomach recommendation. It's certainly more effective when given on a full stomach than when not given at all.
posted by flabdablet at 7:46 AM on May 5 [2 favorites]

Also, given that it's a regularly taken med, one missed dose isn't a disaster even if you did end up skipping it. The fuckup is minor so don't beat yourself up over it.
posted by flabdablet at 7:53 AM on May 5 [1 favorite]

What flabdablet said. Go ahead and give it. The only risk is that it will be slightly less effective.
posted by trip and a half at 8:47 AM on May 5

I take care of dogs regularly, and I have dogs myself. In this situation, you really need to talk to (in descending order of perfection) the dog's vet, his people, or any other vet. Please don't rely on the internet for veterinary advice. Even if nothing goes wrong, this is just bad practice and not the responsible thing to do.
posted by toucan at 10:12 AM on May 5 [7 favorites]