Furosemide for Dogs & Horses - Injection (100 mL) - [Congestive Heart Failure]

Furosemide is a diuretic, or a medication used to remove excess fluid from the body. It's used to treat fluid in the lungs, kidney diseases, congestive heart failure and some other heart diseases. It may also be prescribed to aid in the treatment of high blood pressure, high potassium blood levels, fluid in the abdomen and certain types of tissue swelling.

Key Benefits

• Treats excessive fluid accumulation and swelling caused by heart failure and other health problems
• Easy to administer
• Used to treat congestive heart failure and some other heart diseases
• Treats fluid in the lungs and certain kidney diseases
• Also treats high blood pressure, high potassium blood levels, fluid in the abdomen, and certain kinds of tissue swelling
• Sold as 10 mg/ml 60 ml bottle oral solution or by the tablet for dogs and cats and as a 50 mg/ml injectable solution for horses, cats, and dogs

How It Works

Furosemide is a potent diuretic which works by blocking the absorption of salt and fluid in the kidney tubules causing an increase in urine output.

Indications

Furosemide is a diuretic for dogs, cats, horses and cattle to remove excess fluid from the body. Used to treat congestive heart failure, some other heart diseases, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), certain kidney diseases, high blood pressure, high potassium level in the blood, ascites (fluid in the abdomen), and certain kinds of tissue edema (swelling).

Always follow the dosage instructions provided by your veterinarian. Dosage, frequency, and duration of treatment vary with each disease, disease severity, and response to treatment. If you have difficulty giving the medication, contact your veterinarian. May be given with or without food. If using the transdermal gel, apply to the skin as directed by your veterinarian. If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to the regular schedule. Do not give 2 doses at once. This medication should only be given to the pet for whom it was prescribed.

• Furosemide is a loop diuretic available by prescription used to treat fluid retention (edema) in dogs, cats, and horses with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or certain kidney disease. Furosemide is also used to treat high blood pressure.
• Do not give this medication if your pet or horse is not urinating.
• Furosemide can make your pet or horse's skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may occur.
• Discard the open bottle of Oral Solution after 90 days.
• The injectable solution can be administered by IV or IM injection.

Tip: Furosemide will make your pet urinate more often than usual so your pet or horse should have drinking water readily available to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Do not give larger amounts of this medication, or give it for longer than recommended by veterinarian. Your veterinarian may occasionally change the dose of this medication to make sure your pet or horse gets the best results from it. Periodic blood tests as well as kidney or liver function tests may be necessary.

Cautions:

Keep plenty of water available for your pet to drink. Furosemide can make your pet's skin more sensitive to sunlight. There are possible adverse interactions with other drugs, so fully disclose to your veterinarian what you are giving your pet. This medication should not be used in pregnant or nursing animals.

Precautions:

Not for use in animals who are hypersensitive (allergic) to it or sulfa drugs (furosemide is chemically similar to some sulfa drugs). Furosemide will cause your pet to urinate more often. Your pet may have more "accidents" and need to go outside or use the litter box more. Use with caution in animals with kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. Do not use in animals with anuria (inability to produce urine), progressive kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances, water loss (dehydration), liver disease, diabetes mellitus, vomiting, or diarrhea. Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals (female animals nursing their young). Your pet needs to eat and drink well while taking furosemide or the risk of side effects increases. Contact your veterinarian, if your pet is not eating or drinking well. Consult with your veterinarian regarding the physical examinations and laboratory testing necessary prior to and during treatment with furosemide.

Human Precautions:

People with hypersensitivities (allergies) to sulfa drugs should not handle furosemide, or wear gloves and use extreme caution if they do, since allergic reactions could occur just from contact.

Possible Side Effects

May include dehydration with excessive thirst and increased or decreased urine production; or electrolyte imbalances (e.g., low sodium, potassium, or calcium), often with rapid heart rate, weakness, depression, vomiting, and restlessness. If you see any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. Less commonly may see an increase in blood glucose (sugar) level; anemia, resulting in pale gums, tiredness, or weakness; a decrease in white blood cells, making the animal more susceptible to infections; and stomach or intestinal disorders, with vomiting or diarrhea.

Cats: May affect hearing or balance, or cause a tilt of the head. Consult your veterinarian if you notice any of the above side effects. Animals who eat and drink normally are less likely to experience side effects. If your pet experiences an allergic reaction to the medication, signs may include facial swelling, hives, scratching, sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting, shock, seizures, pale gums, cold limbs, or coma. If you observe any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Drug, Food and Test Interactions:

Consult your veterinarian before using furosemide with any other medications, including vitamins and supplements, corticosteroids (prednisone, prednisolone,methylprednisolone), amphotericin B, insulin, probenecid, sulfinpyrazone,gentamicin, other aminoslycoside antibiotics, digoxin, enalapril, theophylline, or NSAIDs such as aspirin, deracoxib (Deramaxx), etodolac (EtoGesic), meloxicam (Metacam), carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl), firocoxib (Previcox), tepoxalin (Zubrin), since interactions may occur.

Signs of Toxity/Overdose:

May include hearing loss, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, lethargy, coma, seizures, heart failure/collapse, and kidney damage, with increased thirst and urination. If you know or suspect your pet has had an overdose, or if you observe any of these signs in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Storage:

Store this medication at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture.