Also sold as Diovan, Entresto (with sacubitril)
The human product is the problem: the strength, the coating, or an added ingredient makes it wrong for a dog even when the active ingredient is familiar.
Valsartan is a human blood-pressure medication in the same family as losartan, and the concern after a dog swallows one is the same: low blood pressure showing as weakness or collapse. Combination products matter here: Entresto pairs valsartan with sacubitril, and Diovan HCT adds a diuretic, so the box is worth reading before you call. Keep the packet or prescription bottle: the strength and the number missing are what make the advice specific.
Educational reference. Not individualized veterinary advice.(more)
See this page's cited references for supporting information and our Sources page for the reference organizations we use. Citations do not imply that those organizations reviewed or endorsed DogSafe.
Part of Heart and blood-pressure medication on our medication safety hub.
Part of our guide to Dog Ate an ACE Inhibitor or ARB: Blood-Pressure Pill Guide.
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Exposure details to have ready
These are the questions a veterinarian or poison-control operator will ask. Fill in what you know and leave the rest blank. This tool does not estimate a dose or a risk score: medication risk depends on the exact ingredient, strength, and formulation, so the assessment has to come from the clinician on the call.
- Keep the package, blister pack, or prescription bottle. The strength and the full ingredient list are what make the advice specific.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian or poison-control professional tells you to. It is the wrong move for several medications and can cause harm on its own.
- Do not give milk, food, salt, hydrogen peroxide, or any home remedy on your own.
- Do not give a second dose of anything to make up for one you think was missed.
- Count what is left in the packet, so the number missing can be worked out.
Your exposure summary
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Why Valsartan needs caution
Valsartan is a human blood-pressure medication in the same family as losartan, and the concern after a dog swallows one is the same: low blood pressure showing as weakness or collapse. Combination products matter here: Entresto pairs valsartan with sacubitril, and Diovan HCT adds a diuretic, so the box is worth reading before you call.
Part of the Human Medicine Exposures guide
For related dog-safety questions and product-by-product answers, see the complete human medicine exposures guide.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, wobbliness, a racing or unusually slow heart, or collapse
Related items
Check the exact item or ingredient before assuming two similar exposures carry the same risk.
What to do next
Keep the box or blister pack, count what is missing, note the strength and the time, and say on the call that this was a human product.
🚨Step-by-step: what to do in the first 10 minutes →Available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
My dog got into valsartan: what matters first
Two different questions bring people here: whether a vet may prescribe valsartan to a dog, and what to do when a dog has swallowed some. The answers are not the same, so this page keeps them apart.
1. Start with the exact item
Valsartan is a human blood-pressure medication in the same family as losartan, and the concern after a dog swallows one is the same: low blood pressure showing as weakness or collapse. Combination products matter here: Entresto pairs valsartan with sacubitril, and Diovan HCT adds a diuretic, so the box is worth reading before you call. Browse the complete human medicine exposures guide →
2. Check the details that change the answer
Record the amount, time, dog weight, and any missing packaging or plant parts. A clear label or photo prevents a look-alike from driving the decision. What to do in the first 10 minutes →
3. Use related pages before making assumptions
Nearby products and look-alikes can have different ingredients or hazards. Use the linked cluster pages to identify the closest exact match instead of treating every exposure as the same. Open a closely related item page →
FAQ
A human tablet is not a scaled-down dog dose. The strengths are chosen for a human body, and coatings, combination ingredients, and extended-release designs make the human product behave differently again.
Prevent further access and keep the packaging. Do not attempt to work out a dog-sized fraction of a human dose, and do not induce vomiting unless directed.
Call for any uncertain amount, for a combination or extended-release product, for a dog that already has heart or kidney disease, and for any sign at all.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — poisonings from human prescription drugs
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — medication hazards in pets
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Poisonings from human prescription drugs
- Pet Poison Helpline: Top 10 human medications poisonous to pets
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control