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Once your dog reaches a certain age, there’s every chance you might need a script for their Viagra. But it’s not for what you might think. Here’s the incredibly common ailment it’s now helping in both males and females…
That little blue pill is seemingly full of surprises! But it’s actually having an uplifting effect on a whole new generation of dogs with heart disease. In fact, with congestive heart failure a sadly common and debilitating condition for (especially small) dogs over the age of eight, it can make all the difference in improving the quality of life. That’s because one of the hallmarks of heart failure is a build up in blood pressure in the vessels of the heart as the heart loses its ability to pump effectively. This pressure build-up leads to fluid leaking from the blood vessels and into the lungs causing coughing and shortness of breath.
This is where Viagra comes in. The drug is incredibly effective at relaxing the muscle in those blood vessels, relieving that high blood pressure and reducing the fluid build-up in the lungs. In fact, the blue pill was originally developed as a heart and lung medication but then took on an unexpected career change!
So for dogs struggling with congestive heart failure and the low energy levels and coughing that are commonly part of that condition, this pill 'could' help along with their existing treatments. Obviously speak with your vet to see if it’s right for them.
It’s going to make for some fun conversations at the pharmacy when you have that script filled and have to insist it’s for the dog… Sure it is!
