💊 Med cost guide
How much does Vetmedin cost?
Vetmedin (pimobendan) is an inodilator from Boehringer Ingelheim, used for congestive heart failure (MMVD, DCM) in dogs — lifelong, dose scales with weight. Here's what it actually costs in the US — and how to pay less.
Typical monthly cost
$50–$180 / month
Small dogs on 1.25 mg sit near the low end; big dogs on 10 mg twice daily near the top. Usually stacked with cheap generics (furosemide, enalapril, spironolactone).
What you'll pay
| Typical price | Unit |
|---|---|
| $50–$180 | per ~50-60 tablets (one month) |
Roughly $1/tablet at competitive online retail per PharmacyChecker; GoodRx coupon low $105.29 for common fills; vet retail higher. Intermittent backorders have squeezed supply.
Label dosing (for cost context, not a recommendation): Public label: ~0.5 mg/kg total daily, split into two doses — so ~60 tablets/month.
Why it costs what it does
Vetmedin comes as: chewable tablets (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 mg), twice daily at home. A few things set the price:
- This one is already near the price floor for its category — generic competition keeps it cheap, and the bigger recurring line item is usually the monitoring visits, not the medication itself.
Cheaper alternatives to ask your vet about
Pimomedin (Cronus Pharma), the first FDA-approved generic pimobendan chewable, was approved 2024-04-25 and launched to the US market in June 2026 — ask whether your vet or pharmacy stocks it yet, as generic pricing should undercut brand as distribution ramps. International pharmacies list generic pimobendan from ~$0.49/tablet. Compounded pimobendan exists but quality varies — a vet conversation, not a default.
Never switch, split, or stop a prescription on your own — bring these options up at your next visit and let your vet make the call for your pet.
Before you fill
Price-check before you buy
The same prescription can vary 2–3× between the vet's shelf, online pet pharmacies, and retail. A written prescription is yours to fill anywhere — vets are required to provide one on request.
Disclosure: Meow Howl may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never influence our pricing research.
Help paying for Vetmedin
- Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP) — Worth a price check on any expensive monthly med if you already hold a membership.
- The Pet Fund — The right fit for chronic-condition medication costs; wrong fit for emergencies.
Sources & price verification
- GoodRx — coupon low $105.29 (accessed 2026-06-11)
- PharmacyChecker — ~$1/tablet competitive pricing and shortage discussion (accessed 2026-06-11)
- PharmacyChecker — international generic from $0.49/tablet (accessed 2026-06-11)
- FDA CVM — Pimomedin (Cronus Pharma) approved 2024-04-25 as first generic pimobendan chewable; 1.25/2.5/5/10 mg strengths (accessed 2026-06-12)
- Business Wire (Cronus Pharma) — US market launch of generic pimobendan chewables, June 2026 (accessed 2026-06-12)
How we verify these prices
Prices aggregated 2026-06-11 from public retailer listings (Chewy Rx, Petco, Heartland Vet Supply, EntirelyPets Rx, BudgetPetCare, PetBucket), GoodRx coupon pages, manufacturer pages, and 2026 vet-cost guides. Vet-administered injectables (Librela, Solensia, Cytopoint, Adequan loading) use published clinic-price surveys because the drug is not sold direct to consumers. Ranges are medication-only unless noted; exam/administration fees are flagged separately. Prices move — re-verify before publishing figures on a page, and show the per-item verified date.
Last verified: June 11, 2026 · Region: US · Currency: USD
