Benazepril tablet for dogs & Cats

About Benazepril for dogs & cats. The liver converts ACEPTOR® (Benazepril) into its active form, benazeprilat. This metabolite inhibits the enzyme responsible for converting angiotensin-I into angiotensin-II, which functions as a vasoconstrictor and promotes aldosterone production in the adrenal cortex.

By preventing angiotensin-II formation, ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients and decrease vascular resistance in patients with congestive heart failure.

In dogs with heart failure, low dosages (0.1 mg/kg q12h) of benazepril improved clinical symptoms without significantly affecting blood pressure.

In cats with chronic renal failure, benazepril reduced systemic and glomerular capillary pressures while enhancing renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rates. The drug benazepril hydrochloride for dogs & cats also improved appetite in some cases.

Because benazepril lacks a sulfhydryl group, it avoids the immune-mediated reactions sometimes associated with other ACE inhibitors.

Pharmacokinetics

• In Dogs: ACEPTOR® rapidly absorbs and transforms into benazeprilat, which peaks approximately 75 minutes post-administration. The elimination half-life of benazeprilat averages 3.5 hours in healthy dogs.
• In Cats: Benazeprilat’s ACE inhibition persists for 16–23 hours due to its high affinity for ACE, despite its relatively fast elimination.

Both benazepril and benazeprilat primarily exit the body via the kidneys. Mild to moderate renal dysfunction does not significantly affect their elimination because biliary clearance compensates for reduced renal function. Hepatic dysfunction and age do not significantly alter benazeprilat levels.

Indications

ACEPTOR® (Benazepril) serves as a vasodilator for managing heart failure and as an antihypertensive agent, particularly in dogs. Research indicates that ACE inhibitors increase survival rates in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy and mitral valve disease when compared to a placebo.

Benazepril effectively alleviates clinical signs associated with valvular heart disease and left-to-right cardiac shunts. It also benefits patients undergoing adjunctive treatment for chronic renal failure or protein-losing nephropathies.

In cats, benazepril treats hypertension, aids in managing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and reduces protein loss linked to chronic renal failure.

Dosage and Administration

Administer benazepril orally to dogs and cats at a dosage of 0.25–0.5 mg/kg once or twice daily.

Contraindications

Avoid using benazepril in animals with known hypersensitivity to ACE inhibitors. Exercise caution when treating patients with hyponatremia, sodium depletion, coronary or cerebrovascular insufficiency, hematologic abnormalities, or collagen vascular diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Closely monitor patients with severe congestive heart failure during the initial stages of therapy.

Warnings

• Keep out of children’s reach.
• For veterinary use only.

Adverse Effects

• In Dogs: While its adverse effects in dogs remain largely undefined, hypotension, renal dysfunction, and hyperkalemia may occur.
• In Cats: Overdoses (2 mg/kg once daily for 52 weeks) in healthy cats led to increased food intake and weight gain.

Reproductive and Nursing Safety

Benazepril crosses the placenta. High doses of ACE inhibitors in rodent studies caused lower fetal weights and higher fetal and maternal death rates, though no teratogenic effects were observed. Use benazepril during pregnancy only if its benefits outweigh potential risks to offspring.