: Don’t administer famotidine to your canine with out discussing its use together with your veterinarian.
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Famotidine is a stomach-acid reducer that’s typically used “off label” in canine. “Off label” means the medicine isn’t permitted by the FDA to be used in canine, however veterinarians could prescribe it. Famotidine is on the market as an injectable that may be administered at a veterinary hospital and an oral kind that’s accessible over-the-counter (OTC).
The most effective-known model title is Pepcid-AC. There are additionally generic equivalents. Famotidine can be utilized in circumstances of abdomen ulcers, esophagitis, gastritis, reflux issues, issues that lead to hypersecretion of abdomen acid (gastrinoma, systemic mastocytosis), and abdomen points associated to kidney illness. Nevertheless, it is best to have a analysis out of your veterinarian earlier than utilizing this medicine.
Famotidine Is Not an Antacid
Technically, famotidine is an H2 receptor antagonist that competitively inhibits histamine-induced gastric acid secretion from the abdomen parietal cells. Antacids scale back current abdomen acids, whereas medicines like famotidine scale back the quantity of acid produced by the abdomen. Typically, this drug class has a superb security profile, and antagonistic effects are unusual if therapeutic doses are administered.
Famotidine shouldn’t be utilized in canine with a recognized hypersensitivity to it or different H2 receptor agonists. It must be used with warning in canine with diminished kidney or liver perform or coronary heart illness. Canine taking an anticoagulant ought to have prothrombin occasions monitored. Famotidine can even affect the absorption of different medicines as a result of it alters the traditional acidity of the abdomen.
Famotidine is 42 occasions stronger than cimetidine (model title Tagamet) in lowering abdomen acid secretion. In comparison with omeprazole (model title Prilosec), famotidine has a weaker effect in canine. Given chronically over time, tolerance is understood to develop, making famotidine much less effective for extended remedy. If given twice every day, abdomen acidity regresses to the untreated state by day 14.
After administration, peak focus of famotidine within the blood is achieved inside two hours. It does cross the placenta and distributes to the milk in nursing females. Famotidine is cleared out of the system by way of the kidneys.
Famotidine Dosage for Canine
The really helpful dosage is 0.5 to 1 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of physique weight—or about 0.25 to 0.5 mg per pound of physique weight. It may be given by mouth or by injection each 24 hours. If given orally, it’s greatest given half-hour previous to a meal.
The over-the-counter model of famotidine are available in 10 mg and 20 mg tablets. Be certain the famotidine you get on your canine comprises no different lively substances and that you just administer correct dosages, beneath the steering of your veterinarian.
Overdosage by way of intravenous administration may end up in vomiting, elevated coronary heart charge, and hypersalivation. Power overdosage by way of oral administration may end up in gentle weight reduction. Total, H2 antagonists have pretty broad margins of security.
When you have a canine who you assume would profit from remedy with famotidine, please examine together with your veterinarian earlier than administering it. In case your canine is on different medicines, they may be much less effective as a result of altered acidity of the abdomen. Additionally, a canine who isn’t consuming or vomiting might need an issue that can’t be solved with famotidine alone.
Oral Famotidine Dosage Chart for Canine
Really helpful dosage may be given each 24 hours by mouth.
Physique Weight (lbs.)Famotidine Dosage
5 -102.5 mg
11 – 215 mg
22 – 4410 mg
45 – 6615 mg
67 -8820 mg
89 – 13230 mg
133 – 17640 mg
