Heparin
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Heparin for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Heparin for pets
(hep-ar-in)
Description:
This medicine helps slow blood clotting. It is often called a “blood thinner.”
Other Names for this Medication:
This medicine may also be called Unfractionated Heparin or UFH.
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: there is no veterinary-labeled version listed.
- For people: heparin sodium is sold in many different strengths and container sizes.
This handout does not include every possible detail about this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace advice from a veterinarian. If you still have questions or need more details, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- This medicine must be given as an injection under the skin (a shot placed just under the skin). Make sure you know the correct way to give the shot. Your pet may need several injections each day.
- Bleeding or bruising may happen. If you notice bleeding or bruising that you did not expect, contact your veterinarian right away.
- If your animal seems unusually tired or uninterested, seems to be struggling to breathe, has difficulty walking, or cannot use the back legs, contact your veterinarian immediately. These signs may mean blood clots have formed.
How is this medication useful?
Heparin is used to lower the chance of abnormal blood clots forming. It does not dissolve clots that are already there. Instead, it helps stop existing clots from getting bigger and helps reduce the chance that new clots will form.
This medicine is used most often in a hospital setting. In some cases, a veterinarian may prescribe it for use at home, with close veterinary guidance.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about every medicine you give your animal. This includes vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share how much you give and how often you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had in the past.
- If your animal has had treatment before for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past side effects your animal has had from medicines. This includes allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine should begin to have an effect within 1 to 2 hours. You will not be able to see the effect just by looking at your animal. Your veterinarian will need to do additional tests to check whether it is working as intended.
This medicine does not last long in the body. Its effect stops within 24 hours. However, the helpful effect may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
If your animal has any of the issues listed below, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
- Do not use it in animals that have an allergy to it, to enoxaparin, to dalteparin, or to pork products.
- Do not give this medicine as a shot into a muscle.
- Use extreme caution in animals with low platelet counts or other problems where bleeding can happen.
- Use extreme caution in animals that are currently bleeding.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that are usually not serious include:
- Pain where the shot was given.
- Redness and itching where the shot was given.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If your animal shows any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Bleeding or bruising.
- Horses:
- gums that look pale, and a lower energy level.
- Dogs & Cats:
- fever.
- Itching, hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing may be signs of an allergic reaction to this medicine.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Follow the label directions exactly. Giving too much can lead to serious bleeding. Contact your veterinarian right away or contact an animal poison control center immediately for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work properly, it must be given exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. It is a good habit to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- If injections are being given outside the hospital, heparin should only be injected under the skin and NOT into a muscle or into a vein. Make sure you understand the correct dose, where to give the shot, and how to give it.
- A small needle (supplied by your veterinarian or pharmacist) is used for the injections. Do not use needles or syringes more than once.
- Heparin is a strong medicine and the amount given is small. Ask your veterinarian or pharmacist to show you exactly how much to draw up and inject.
- Do not shake the liquid heparin. Shaking can harm the medicine and may make it not work. If the vial is cold, warm it by gently rolling it between your hands.
- Use a different injection spot each day. Do not inject too often in the same area.
- If you are giving injections at home, put used needles and syringes into a sharps container right after use. Your veterinarian or pharmacist will help you get these containers. Avoid accidentally poking yourself with the needle. Do not try to remove the needle from the syringe. Keep the container where children and pets cannot reach it. When the container is about three-quarters full, throw it away using the disposal method required in your area.
- Do not use this medicine if the liquid looks different in color or if you see particles in it.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before treatment is finished. Do not stop giving this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
Giving this medicine on schedule is important, because clots can form if doses are missed. If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed dose. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time. Then continue with the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
The injection liquid may be kept at room temperature. If your veterinarian or pharmacist has already filled syringes for you, they may recommend keeping those syringes in the refrigerator. Do not let the liquid freeze. Keep it away from high heat. After a vial has been opened, throw it away after 30 days, or earlier if your veterinarian or pharmacist tells you to. Store it where children and animals cannot access it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are required, but you should take care to avoid accidental needle sticks. Dispose of used needles and syringes correctly by placing them in the sharps container provided by your veterinarian or pharmacist.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a sink and do not flush it down a toilet. If there is a community medicine take-back program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash.
- Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks.
- Then place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later. Do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Do not let your animal take part in activities where it could be hurt or cut.
- While your animal is receiving this medicine, your veterinarian will need to do blood tests to check how well it is working. Do not miss these follow-up appointments.
- Many pain medicines (for example, aspirin, carprofen, etodolac, deracoxib) and other medicines that affect clotting (for example, warfarin, clopidogrel) can also reduce the blood’s ability to clot. Do not give any other medicine to your animal, including non-prescription products, unless you have checked with your veterinarian first.
- This medicine may not be permitted in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”