Dog heart medication UK — Vetmedin, Cardalis, Fortekor
Compare pimobendan, benazepril, furosemide, torasemide prices. Cardisure is a generic Vetmedin alternative at less than half the price.
Heart medication is the longest-running prescription most dog owners ever pay for. A small-breed dog with mitral valve disease often takes pimobendan (Vetmedin), benazepril (Fortekor) and a diuretic for the rest of their life. At UK vet prices that's typically £100-£150 per month and £1,200-£1,800 per year.
Switching every component to a VMD-approved online pharmacy more than halves that. The biggest single saving comes from swapping branded Vetmedin for generic Cardisure (same active ingredient — pimobendan — at less than half the price), and from generic benazepril (Nelio) instead of Fortekor.
For advanced heart failure where furosemide is no longer adequate, the newer loop diuretic torasemide (Upcard, Isemid) is dramatically cheaper online — typically £25-£35 versus £48-£55 at the vet.
From 23 September 2026 the CMA Order forces vets to disclose cheaper alternatives. Ask explicitly for generic pimobendan and generic benazepril on your written prescription. Bundle all three heart medications onto one prescription to pay £46 in fees rather than three separate £21 fees.
Every heart medication in our index
9 products listed. Click any to see the per-weight calculator and online price comparison.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cardisure as good as Vetmedin?
- Yes. Cardisure is generic pimobendan — same active ingredient, same dose, made by Eurovet/Dechra. It is bioequivalent to branded Vetmedin and costs less than half the price. Ask your vet to write the prescription generically (as 'pimobendan') so you can fill it with whichever brand is cheapest in stock.
- Can I switch my dog from Fortekor to Nelio mid-course?
- Yes, on your vet's instruction. Both are benazepril; the dosing is identical. Many practice teams default to the branded Fortekor unless asked. From 23 September 2026 they must disclose cheaper alternatives — ask explicitly.
- Why is heart medication marked up so heavily?
- Lifelong dispensing makes chronic medications the highest-margin category for vet practice dispensaries. Every monthly refill adds to the practice's recurring revenue. Online pharmacies operate at higher volume and lower per-item margin — the same product at a fraction of the price.
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We track prices monthly across every VMD-approved UK online pharmacy. Be the first to know when heart medication gets cheaper.
Indicative monthly cost across all 9 products in this category (cheapest online pack-equivalents summed): £5.12. Always verify the current price on the pharmacy site before purchase. Not medical advice.