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Can I open my dog's large Vetmedin capsules and mix with food?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Can Vetmedin (pimobendan) capsules be opened and sprinkled into food? The capsules are quite large for my dog to swallow and I can't find a monograph indicating whether the capsule is immediate release or sustained/extended release.
1 Answer
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 4th, 2019
Hello, thank you for your question.
As a general rule I try to avoid breaking open capsules and spreading them on the food as this could mean that your dog doesn't always get the exact amount of medication. For example, if your dog didn't finish all of his meal how would you know exactly how much of the pimobendan medication he had received.
To help your dog with the larger capsules you could try hiding it in a slice of deli meat/cheese or could try some peanut butter. Another option would be to try creating a small meatball of canned food with the capsule in the middle.
Hope this helps!
As a general rule I try to avoid breaking open capsules and spreading them on the food as this could mean that your dog doesn't always get the exact amount of medication. For example, if your dog didn't finish all of his meal how would you know exactly how much of the pimobendan medication he had received.
To help your dog with the larger capsules you could try hiding it in a slice of deli meat/cheese or could try some peanut butter. Another option would be to try creating a small meatball of canned food with the capsule in the middle.
Hope this helps!
16Pet Parents found this answer helpful