Healthy Food To Treat Heart Disease In Dogs

Not only can poor diet be instrumental in leading to heart disease, but once diagnosed it can also be something that can help alleviate symptoms.

One of the effects of heart failure is fluid retention, which in turn causes increased pressure on the heart, and symptoms such as coughing and abdominal swelling. For this reason it is important that your dog is not fed any food with high sodium content or salty snacks (especially those for human consumption). You may want to consider feeding your dog only homemade dog food, or alternatively if this is not an option, there are often a number of low-sodium, natural ingredients foods.

Royal Canin has a range of dog food available through your vet that are made specifically for a number of health products including cardiac problems as do Hills Science Plan. Alternatively, brands such as Burns dog food, NatureDiet and James Wellbeloved are all brands that are made with high quality, often hypoallergenic and organic ingredients with no additives.

Some vets believe that supplements can help in the treatment of heart disease. Coenzyme Q for example is thought to have benefits for people with dilated cardiomyopathy so is sometimes prescribed for dogs. In a similar vein Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in humans so some vets suggest that dogs with heart problems can benefit from them.

Vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol), L-carnitine, and taurine have all been shown to have some benefits in the treatment in heart disease. A deficiency in taurine in fact has been shown to be the cause of heart problems in some dogs so as it is non-toxic it is often prescribed. Other supplements with preliminary evidence, include magnesium, and the B vitamins.

Although not for everyone, some people have also found that certain herbal and homeopathic remedies can alleviate symptoms. Hawthorn or Crataegus, for example, is a strong anti-oxidant and has been shown to increase the ability of the heart to contract, as well as causing the outside blood vessels to dilate, making heart contraction easier. Arnica is thought to help with heart health especially in elderly dogs and Kali phos and Calc flour help to maintain blood flow and healthy blood vessels respectively.

Both clinical observation and interventional trials with various breeds have provided clear evidence for the benefit of numerous supplements on canine heart disease. Appropriate levels of certain dietary nutrients have been shown to increase life span, improve life quality, reduce symptoms and physical evidence of disease, and decrease mortality rates in these animals.

As with any serious illness, these supplements and foods should not be picked up from your local pet supplies store unless recommended by a vet and in combination with the correct medication for your pet’s heart condition. You should also ensure that your dog has an exercise regime which has been recommended by your vet as it is important to keep them active.

Although unfortunately normally fatal, with the correct regime hopefully your dog should be more comfortable and should be able to extend their life for a number of months or even years.