Fortekor Dosage Calculator For Dogs
Recommended Dose Results
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Quick answer: For dogs with heart failure, the standard starting dose of Fortekor (benazepril hydrochloride) is 0.25 mg per kilogram of body weight, given once daily by mouth. Your vet may double this dose if your dog’s condition needs it. Fortekor dosage for dogs is a prescription only drug, and the dosage, the strength of the tablet, and any modifications should always be provided by your veterinarian.
this guide will show you the official dosing chart so that you know what your veterinarian is prescribing and why.
What Is Fortekor?
Benazepril hydrochloride is a heart and blood-pressure medication and its brand name in veterinary medicine is Fortekor. It is a drug of a type known as ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) – the same type of drug as human drugs such as enalapril and ramipril, but designed and administered in a form specific to pets.
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Produced by Elanco (previously by Novartis Animal Health), Fortekor is available as flavored, scored tablets in three dosages: 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 20 mg. The tablets are divisible along the score line and this is how the vets adjust doses to dogs of varying sizes.
Quick facts:
- Active ingredient: benazepril hydrochloride.
- Drug name: Violette
- Prescription: Veterinary prescription only (non-OTC)
- FDA approved in dogs: Heart failure due to mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Form: Oral tablets (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 20 mg), can be given with or without food.
How Fortekor Works
When the heart of a dog is not pumping effectively, it triggers a hormone system known as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. This system constricts blood vessels and makes the body to retain salt and water which is a normal reaction but in heart failure it becomes detrimental as it makes the heart work even harder.
Benazepril inhibits the enzyme which produces angiotensin II, the hormone that causes this narrowing of the vessels. The outcome: blood vessels become relaxed, blood circulation is enhanced and the heart does not need to work so hard to pump blood. This can alleviate coughing, enhance energy levels and in certain instances prolong the survival of dogs with congestive heart failure.
What Is Fortekor Used For in Dogs?
The officially approved use of Fortekor in dogs is the treatment of heart failure due to mitral valve regurgitation or dilated cardiomyopathy, used in combination with normal heart failure treatment (which may include diuretics such as furosemide, pimobendan, or digoxin).
Fortekor can also be found online in reference to chronic kidney disease in dogs. It is interesting to note that this is not a formally approved sign in all markets. The European regulators examined the evidence of benazepril usage in canine chronic kidney disease and found that the evidence did not support the usage of the drug in dogs per se, despite the drug being used in feline chronic kidney disease. Vets continue to use it off-label in dogs with kidney-related protein loss, at their clinical judgment, however, it is a choice to be made by your veterinarian, not a self-prescription.
Summary: Fortekor in dogs is primarily a heart drug. Any other use should be directed and monitored by your vet.
Below is the dosing information based on the official veterinary product labeling of Fortekor for dogs dosage. This chart is just a reference and educational aid, but your veterinarian will dictate the specific dose, strength of the tablet and schedule of administration to your particular dog.
Fortekor Dosage Chart for Dogs By Weight
Standard Starting Dose
Benzazepril 0.25mg/kg body weight, orally once a day.
| Dog’s Weight | Fortekor 2.5 mg | Fortekor 5 mg | Fortekor 20 mg |
| 2.5 – 5 kg (5.5–11 lb) | ½ tablet | — | — |
| Over 5 – 10 kg (11–22 lb) | 1 tablet | ½ tablet | — |
| Over 10 – 20 kg (22–44 lb) | — | 1 tablet | — |
| Over 20 – 40 kg (44–88 lb) | — | 2 tablets | ½ tablet |
| Over 40 – 80 kg (88–176 lb) | — | — | 1 tablet |
Source: official Canadian and EU veterinary product information of Fortekor Flavor Tabs.
Important facts about the Dosing Table
- Once-daily dosing. Fortekor is usually administered once a day, usually at approximately the same time of day.
- You can increase the dose (still once a day) when your vet feels that this is clinically necessary, say when the first dose is not sufficiently controlling the symptoms. Do not self-prescribe.
- Can be given with or without food. You need not schedule it with meals unless your vet advises otherwise.
- The treatment is usually open-ended. The majority of dogs on Fortekor heart failure remain on it long-term, as it is not curing but managing a chronic illness.
- There is no dose reduction that is typically required with kidney impairment. Since the active form of the drug benazeprilat is excreted primarily in bile, and not in the kidneys, in dogs, vets do not usually need to reduce the dose in dogs with decreased renal activity, but blood tests are still performed as a precaution.
Why You Can’t Use a Generic “Calculator” for This
Dosage calculators of Fortekor will be advertised online. Treat these cautiously. The appropriate dose of your dog is not only about its weight, but also about:
- Does your dog have heart failure, kidney disease, both or neither?
- What other drugs your dog is currently on (diuretics, pimobendan, digoxin)
- Present blood pressure and hydration condition.
- Recent bloodwork kidney and electrolyte values.
- The way your dog has been reacting thus far (some dogs require the dose doubled; others do not)
A weight-only calculator cannot take any of that into consideration. The chart above indicates what the official label suggests as a starting dose – but the prescribing and any changes is always done by your vet.
How to Give Fortekor to Your Dog
- Give it at the same time every day. Stability aids in the regulation of drug levels.
- With or without food – there is no large difference in the absorption of Fortekor whether with or without food, so you can choose which one your dog will find easier to swallow.
- When you cut a tablet, keep the other half in the original blister pack, out of the light, and use it within approximately 2 days to be the most effective.
- Missed a dose? Take it when you remember, except when it is nearly time to take the next dose – then you can omit the missed dose. Do not administer two doses to make up. In case of doubt, call your veterinary clinic.
- Don’t stop abruptly without talking to your vet, especially if your dog is being treated for heart failure. The abrupt discontinuation of heart drugs may lead to a relapse.
Side Effects of Fortekor in Dogs
Fortekor is usually well-tolerated, and there is a low number of serious adverse events reported. The most common effects in dogs (which remain unusual in general) are:
| Side Effect | Frequency Notes |
| Lethargy / low energy | Most commonly reported |
| Vomiting | Reported occasionally |
| Diarrhea | Reported occasionally |
| Increased thirst (polydipsia) | Reported occasionally |
| Increased urination (polyuria) | Reported occasionally |
| Coughing | Reported occasionally |
| Wobbliness / poor coordination (ataxia) | Rare, usually tied to low blood pressure |
The primary safety indicator to monitor is the signs of low blood pressure (lethargy, wobbliness, weakness), particularly in the case of Fortekor use in combination with diuretics. When you see these signs, call your vet – it may be necessary to change the diuretic dose but not the Fortekor dose.
In extremely isolated instances, fatality has been reported in relation to adverse events or as a natural course of the underlying heart or kidney disease of the dog – not necessarily due to the drug itself. This is the reason why frequent vet checkups are important during treatment.
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When to Call Your Vet Immediately
Immediately call your veterinarian in case your dog exhibits:
- Collapse or fainting
- Severe drowsiness or unresponsiveness.
- Continuous diarrhea or vomiting.
- Pale or bluish gums.
- Breathing problems or coughing that gets worse.
- Symptoms of an allergic reaction (swelling of the face, hives, breathing problems)
Fortekor Overdose in Dogs
Fortekor is well-tolerated by dogs, with a large safety margin – experiments reported in the official product literature have found that healthy dogs did not exhibit any symptoms even with doses of 200 times the normal dose. Nevertheless, transient low blood pressure can be caused by accidental overdose (such as a dog getting into a full bottle) and symptoms include weakness, lethargy or wobbliness.
In case you think your dog has overeaten Fortekor than the prescribed amount, call your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital or pet poison helpline immediately, instead of waiting to see whether the symptoms develop.
Drug Interactions With Fortekor
| Medication / Substance | Interaction Notes |
| Diuretics (e.g., furosemide) | Often prescribed together for heart failure, but combination increases the risk of low blood pressure — monitored closely by vets |
| Digoxin | Commonly used alongside Fortekor for heart failure; no demonstrated adverse interaction in approved use |
| Antiarrhythmic drugs | Can be combined under veterinary supervision |
| Other blood-pressure-lowering drugs (calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers) | May have an additive blood-pressure-lowering effect |
| NSAIDs (e.g., carprofen, meloxicam) | In other species, combining ACE inhibitors with NSAIDs has been linked to reduced kidney blood flow and reduced drug effectiveness — tell your vet about any NSAID use |
| Potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics | Use with caution; ACE inhibitors can affect potassium levels |
Always report to your vet on all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter products your dog consumes prior to beginning Fortekor, including flea/tick prevention and joint supplements.
Who Should Not Take Fortekor
- Dogs that are known to have hypersensitivity to benazepril or other ACE inhibitors.
- Pregnant or nursing dogs – the safety has not been determined in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs, so it is used only when the veterinarian determines that the benefit exceeds the risk.
- Dehydrated dogs or those with acute kidney failure without direct veterinary advice, as ACE inhibitors may influence blood flow to the kidneys.
Monitoring While Your Dog Is on Fortekor
Since Fortekor is used to manage a chronic condition, periodic recheck visits are usually recommended by most vets and usually include:
- Blood pressure checks
- Kidney values (BUN, creatinine) and electrolytes, especially potassium
- Physical examination and in the case of heart patients, occasional repeat chest X-rays or echocardiogram.
- An assessment of symptom control (coughing, exercise tolerance, appetite) control.
The frequency of these checks depends on the state of your dog and the recommendation of your veterinarian – usually every few months after your dog has become stable, and more often immediately after the introduction of the medication or increase in dose.
Fortekor Dosage Storage
- Store at or below 25°C (77°F) in a dry place.
- Store 2.5 mg pills in the dark.
- When you cut a tablet, put the remaining half into the blister pack and take it in approximately 2 days.
- store out of reach of children and pets – an accidental ingestion by some other pet or a child should be immediately followed by a call to a poison control resource.
Myth vs. Fact
| Myth | Fact |
| “I can use a weight-based online calculator instead of my vet’s prescription.” | Dosing also depends on kidney function, other medications, and how your dog responds — a calculator can’t account for that. |
| “Fortekor cures heart failure.” | It manages symptoms and can slow progression, but it doesn’t cure the underlying heart disease. |
| “If my dog feels better, I can stop the medication.” | Stopping abruptly can cause symptoms to return or worsen. Any changes should go through your vet. |
| “Fortekor is approved for kidney disease in dogs the same way it is in cats.” | It’s approved for feline chronic kidney disease; the evidence for canine chronic kidney disease specifically was judged insufficient by EU regulators, so use in dogs for this purpose is typically off-label. |
| “More is always better for a struggling heart.” | Doubling the dose is sometimes appropriate, but only under veterinary direction — too much can cause low blood pressure. |
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FAQs
What is the use of Fortekor in dogs?
Fortekor for dogs medication is licensed to treat heart failure in dogs with mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy, administered along with conventional heart failure therapy.
How much Fortekor is to be fed to my dog?
The normal dose is 0.25 mg per kg body weight a day but the specific strength and quantity of the tablet varies with the weight of your dog, condition and other drugs – never ignore your vets prescription.
Is it possible to take Fortekor with food?
Yes. Fortekor may be administered with or without food; there is no significant difference in terms of absorption.
What should I do in case I forget to take a dose?
Take the dose you have missed as soon as you remember it, unless it is near the next dose, in which case, skip it and continue with the regular schedule. Don’t double up.
Is Fortekor safe in dogs when used long-term?
Yes, in the majority of dogs with chronic heart failure, Fortekor is to be used on a long-term (and, in most cases, a life-long) basis with periodic visits to the veterinarian.
What are the most common side effects?
Drowsiness, vomiting, diarrhea, more thirst or urinating, and coughing occasionally. The primary aspect to observe is signs of low blood pressure (weakness, wobbliness).
Does Fortekor have any kidney effects?
Fortekor did not show signs of kidney toxicity in dogs during clinical trials, and since the drug is excreted primarily via the bile, dose changes due to kidney malfunction are not normally required, although vets still keep an eye on kidney levels as a precaution.
Fortekor vs. benazepril?
Yes. The brand name is Fortekor; the active ingredient is benazepril hydrochloride. There are also pharmacies that sell generic benazepril pills.
Is it safe to use Fortekor in pregnant dogs?
Pregnant or nursing dogs have not been proven to be safe, so it is only administered when a vet believes that the advantage is greater than the risk.
Does Fortekor come over the counter?
No. Fortekor is a prescription drug and should be dispensed on a diagnosis and prescription by a vet.
What is the difference between Fortekor and Vetmedin?
They operate in different ways: Fortekor is an ACE inhibitor which dilates blood vessels, whereas Vetmedin (pimobendan) strengthens the pumping of the heart. Heart failure is administered together with many dogs, as prescribed by a cardiologist or a vet.
Final Thoughts
By alleviating the symptoms of heart failure such as coughing and loss of energy and in most cases enabling dogs to live longer, more comfortable lives, Fortekor can make a real difference to the lives of dogs living with heart failure. However, it is a prescription drug, which must be administered and adjusted by a veterinarian familiar with the entire medical history of your dog, not just his weight.
The chart above will help you to know what your vet is prescribing and why, to maintain recheck appointments, and to call your vet immediately in case you notice any sign of lethargy, weakness, or other changes. It is that combination, right dose, regular monitoring and timely communication with your vet, that actually keeps dogs safe and comfortable on this medication.
