Clopidogrel Tablets, 75mg

Antiplatelet Tablets to Prevent Blood Clots in Dogs and Cats

Product Description

Clopidogrel 75mg Tablets are a prescription antiplatelet medication used by veterinarians to prevent abnormal blood clot formation in dogs and cats. It works by permanently locking onto P2Y12 receptors on platelets, stopping them from clumping together and forming clots that can lead to stroke, paralysis, or lung injury. It is most commonly used in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to prevent feline aortic thromboembolism, and is also prescribed for dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and other conditions linked to excessive clotting.

Benefits

• Feline ATE Prevention: Lowers the risk of feline aortic thromboembolism in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a potentially devastating cardiac complication.
• Superior to Aspirin in Cats: The FAT CAT clinical trial showed clopidogrel is both safer and more effective than aspirin at preventing arterial thromboembolism in cats.
• Canine Hypercoagulability Management: Used in dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, renal disease, neoplasia, and other conditions that raise clotting risk.
• Pulmonary and Cerebral Clot Prevention: Helps stop potentially fatal blood clots from forming in the lungs, brain, or other vital organs in pets at risk.
• Well Tolerated in Cats: Most cats handle this medication without major issues, with mild nausea or reduced appetite being the most common early reactions.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients

Clopidogrel Bisulfate

How to Use

Clopidogrel 75mg Tablets are a prescription-only medication. A valid veterinarian prescription is required to purchase this product.

Please follow your veterinarian's specific instructions for the dosage and administration of this medication for your pet.

Disclaimer: Dosage and administration of this medication must be determined by a licensed veterinarian. Always consult your veterinarian before administering or adjusting any prescription medication for your pet.

Clopidogrel tablets have an intensely bitter taste, which can make giving them to cats particularly tricky. Wrapping the tablet fully inside a soft pill pocket or pill wrap treat is the best way to keep the taste hidden and stop your pet from biting into it. A pill shooter or pill gun is also worth using to get the tablet as far back on the tongue as possible. Pairing the dose with food can also help take the edge off any nausea.

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Additional Information

Precautions

• Never Stop Without Veterinary Guidance: Cutting this medication off without speaking to a veterinarian first can sharply raise the risk of dangerous clot formation.
• Avoid in Bleeding Disorders: Pets with active pathological bleeding or a known tendency toward unusual bleeding or bruising should not receive this medication.
• Avoid Known Allergies: Pets with a known sensitivity to clopidogrel or related thienopyridine medications should not be given this medication.
• Caution Before Surgery: Any planned surgical procedure needs to be discussed with a veterinarian while the pet is on clopidogrel, as bleeding risk is elevated.
• Caution in Liver Disease: This medication needs liver processing to become active, so reduced hepatic function can affect how well it works in some animals.
• Monitor for Bleeding Signs: Keep an eye out for unusual bruising or bleeding, and flag any black or tarry stools to a veterinarian without delay.
• Drug Interaction Risk: Share a full list of your pet's current medications, including NSAIDs, aspirin, and anticoagulants, with your veterinarian before starting clopidogrel.

Possible Side Effects

• Nausea and Reduced Appetite: A drop in appetite and mild nausea are what cats most often experience when first starting clopidogrel treatment.
• Vomiting: Some pets may vomit, especially if the tablet is bitten into or given without food; pairing with a meal often helps ease this reaction.
• Increased Bleeding Risk: Since this medication keeps platelets from clumping, even minor injuries may bleed for longer than usual and should be checked by a veterinarian.
• Gastrointestinal Bleeding Signs: Black or tarry stools can point to upper gastrointestinal bleeding and should be brought to a veterinarian's attention right away.

Storage Information

• Room Temperature: Tablets do best at room temperature inside a tightly closed container, kept away from excess heat.
• Protect From Moisture: Keeping the container sealed and away from humid environments helps the tablet hold its potency over time.
• Out of Reach: Keep this medication somewhere children and untreated animals in the home cannot get to it.

NOTE: For generic medications, the product image shown may not reflect the actual item received. Generic medications can vary in size, color, and shape between orders depending on the manufacturer. Additionally, your medication may arrive packaged in a HardyPaw Pharmacy vial.

Shipping & Return

We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.

For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.

Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why is clopidogrel the preferred antiplatelet medication for cats with heart disease?

Ans: The FAT CAT clinical trial established that clopidogrel outperforms aspirin in both safety and effectiveness for preventing arterial thromboembolism in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Aspirin tends to cause significant gastrointestinal trouble in cats, while clopidogrel is better tolerated and does a more reliable job of keeping clots at bay.

Q2: What is feline aortic thromboembolism and how does clopidogrel help?

Ans: Feline aortic thromboembolism happens when a clot blocks the aorta, leaving cats unable to use their back legs and in significant pain almost instantly. It is most common in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Clopidogrel helps by stopping platelets from clumping together, lowering the chance of a clot forming or coming back in cats with heart disease.

Q3: Why is clopidogrel so difficult to give to cats and how can this be managed?

Ans: Biting into a clopidogrel tablet almost always triggers instant vomiting in cats because of how bitter it is, which means the dose is lost before it can do anything. A soft pill pocket or pill wrap that fully hides the tablet is the best approach, and a pill gun helps get it far enough back that the cat swallows it before the taste registers.

Q4: What conditions in dogs require clopidogrel treatment?

Ans: Dogs may need clopidogrel for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, arterial thrombosis tied to renal disease, heart disease, neoplasia, corticosteroid use, or portal venous thrombosis from hepatic disease. The goal is to slow platelet activity and stop existing clots from growing in dogs with known or high-risk thromboembolic conditions.

Q5: What signs of bleeding should I watch for in a pet on clopidogrel?

Ans: Keep a close eye out for unusual bruising, cuts that bleed longer than expected, black or tarry stools, blood in vomit, pale gums, or sudden weakness. Black stools are particularly concerning as they point to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Any of these signs should be reported to a veterinarian straight away rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.