Benazecare tablets are beef flavoured divisible oval tablets containing benazepril hydrochloride in two strengths, Benazecare 5mg and Benazecare 20mg. Benazepril is indicated for the treatment of congestive heart failure in dogs and the treatment of chronic renal insufficiency in cats.

Benazecare Flavoured Tablets. are indicated for the treatment of congestive heart failure in dogs and the treatment of chronic renal insufficiency in cats.

After oral administration, benazepril is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and hydrolysed into benazeprilat, a highly specific and potent inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Benazeprilat produces significant inhibition of plasma ACE activity for more than 24 hours after a single dose in both dogs and cats. Inhibition of ACE leads to a reduced conversion of inactive angiotensin I into angiotensin II and therefore reduction in the effects mediated by angiotensin II, including vasoconstriction of both arteries and veins, retention of sodium and water by the kidney and remodelling effects (including pathological cardiac hypertrophy and degenerative renal changes).

In dogs with heart failure, benazeprilat lowers the blood pressure and volume loading effect on the heart. In cats with renal insufficiency, benazeprilat reduces the protein loss in urine and normalises the elevated glomerular capillary pressure and reduces systemic blood pressure. Reduction in glomerular hypertension retards the progression of kidney disease by inhibition of further damage to the kidneys. Benazepril has been shown to increase the appetite, quality of life and the survival time of cats particularly in advanced disease.

Benazeprilat is excreted equally by both biliary and urinary routes in dogs and primarily via the biliary route in cats and therefore no adjustment of the dose of Benazecare is necessary in the treatment of cases with renal insufficiency. Onset of clinical efficacy can be expected approximately 1 week after initiation of treatment with benazepril hydrochloride.

Dosage and administration; In both dogs and cats, Benazecare should be given orally once daily with or without food. The duration of treatment is unlimited.

Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs; The recommended dose is 0.25 mg benazepril hydrochloride/kg body weight, to be given orally once daily. The dose may be doubled, still administered once daily, if judged clinically necessary and advised by the veterinary surgeon. Benazepril may be given with digoxin, diuretics and anti-arrhythmic drugs as necessary.

Chronic renal insufficiency in cats; The recommended oral dose is 0.5 mg benazepril hydrochloride/kg body weight. For oral use only. Do not use in any dog that has evidence of cardiac output failure, for example, due to aortic stenosis. Do not use in cases of known hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients. On rare occasions in dogs, transient signs of hypotension such as lethargy and ataxia may occur especially at the start of treatment.

In cats with chronic renal insufficiency, benazepril may increase plasma creatinine concentrations at the start of therapy. This effect is related to the therapeutic effect of the product in reducing blood pressure, and therefore is not necessarily a reason to stop therapy in the absence of other signs. As is routine in cases of chronic renal insufficiency, it is recommended to monitor plasma creatinine during therapy.

Benazepril reduced erythrocyte counts in normal cats at high doses, but this effect was not observed at the recommended dose during clinical trials in cats with chronic renal insufficiency. As is routine in cases of chronic renal insufficiency, it is recommended to monitor erythrocyte counts during therapy. Benazepril may increase food consumption and body weight in cats. Emesis, anorexia, dehydration and lethargy have been reported on rare occasions in this species.

As is routine in cases of chronic renal insufficiency, it is recommended to monitor plasma creatinine and urea during therapy. The efficacy and safety of benazepril has not been established in cats below 2.5 kg body weight.

Do not use in pregnant or nursing bitches or queens, or in bitches or queens intended for breeding. Studies in laboratory animals (rats) have shown embryotoxic effects of benazepril at non-maternotoxic doses (urinary tract abnormalities in the foetus). The safety of the product has not been assessed during breeding or in pregnant or lactating dogs and cats. Benazepril reduces ovary/oviduct weights in cats when administered daily at 10 mg/kg for 52 weeks.