February is American Heart Month, and we feel it's essential to raise awareness for heart disease in dogs and remind all pet owners about the importance of recognizing the early signs, and how proper diet is key in keeping their hearts healthy.

Studies show that owning a dog is good for our hearts in several ways. They encourage us to be more active, help reduce feelings of loneliness, and even lower blood pressure. All that is really important for keeping heart problems and strokes away, and it might even help us live longer.

However, the heart health of our canine companions also requires our attention because the ways we care for their hearts are different from how we look after our own.

When it comes to dogs, everything in their bodies needs to work together just right to keep them healthy, each part of their body plays a role in them being active, joyful, and hopefully living a long life. And the heart is a super important piece of that whole puzzle. A primary strategy for supporting their heart health is paying close attention to their diet.

Heart Problems Are a Major Concern For Dogs

Some studies show that heart disease is among the top four reasons why dogs pass away, and it might even be the second most common cause. There isn’t one single thing that causes heart disease in dogs. Getting older, being overweight, their breed, and what they eat can all play a part. 

While heart problems tend to develop as dogs get older, the most frequent issue involves the heart valves wearing out, a problem estimated to affect around 10% of dogs. When these valves start to fail, they can leak, which can lead to fluid building up in the lungs. 

To check for heart disease in dogs, vets usually take X-rays, listen to their heart and lungs, or do an ultrasound of the heart, which is also called an echocardiogram.

Common Signs of Heart Problems in Dogs

No matter the specific heart problem your pooch has, it's necessary to recognize the signs early. Approximately 95% of heart conditions in dogs tend to appear once they are considered senior, it's much easier to manage these problems if they're found soon after they start. 

That's why your dog's vet needs to do basic heart checks during their regular checkups.

• Trouble breathing and excessive panting

• Changes in their behavior

• Noticeable weight loss, happening quickly…

• A cough that won't go away

• Fainting or suddenly collapsing

• Tiring easily or not being able to exercise like they used to

If you notice any of these signs in your pet, it's important to take them to the vet for a checkup. To help prevent heart issues, there are some things pet owners can do, such as keeping their pets at a healthy weight, feeding them a healthy diet, making sure they get regular exercise including a variety of activities, and taking them for regular vet visits.

Nutrition's Role in Your Dog's Heart Health

Fish oil and Omega-3s for dog hearts:

Omega-3 fatty acids are a special kind of fat that can help lower inflammation and reduce muscle loss in dogs that have heart disease. What's different from humans is that these fats don't stop pets from getting heart disease in the first place. So, while they're helpful in some ways, they're not a preventative measure for heart problems in pets.

Fish oil, which is a source of omega-3s, is often recommended for dogs that have congestive heart failure, especially if they have lost muscle or aren’t eating well. Fish oil supplements can also be helpful, along with prescribed medications, for dogs with some abnormal heart rhythms. 

While fish oil is generally safe, it’s not the right choice for every pet. Vets might avoid fish oil for pets that have certain stomach issues, bleeding problems, or if their regular food already has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Healthy Dogma includes fish oil along with other healthy clean ingredients, in both its Skin & Coat PetMix and PetMix Tender Tummy recipes.

Vitamins & minerals:

Micronutrients actively support your dog's heart health. Fresh, unprocessed foods contain ingredients that help reduce inflammation and antioxidants that can help the heart recover from damage. 

For example, vitamin E is known to support heart health and aid in normal healing after an injury. Other supplements, like coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), can also be beneficial since CoQ10 helps to improve muscle and valve function by optimizing the heart's energy levels. 

Moreover, magnesium is essential for keeping the heart's blood flow and electrical activity healthy. Pets that have ongoing stomach problems, diarrhea, or kidney disease, or those that eat highly processed pet food such as kibble, can sometimes develop deficiencies, especially in magnesium. Unfortunately, all these deficiencies can negatively affect heart function. Therefore, ensuring your pet receives enough magnesium can help maintain healthy heart function in the long term.

Macros or macronutrients:

Your dog's heart is a special muscle that needs top-notch, easily usable amino acids to build proteins and keep its constantly beating cells healthy. This means their food has to have the right amounts of essential amino acids - 10 for dogs and 11 for cats.

We know that dogs and cats, as carnivores, need excellent proteins and balanced amino acids from meat to stay healthy. It makes sense that a carnivore's heart health works best when they eat high-quality meat. 

The proteins from legumes used in grain-free foods aren't as complete as meat proteins for carnivores. They’re missing some essential amino acids, like taurine, which is very important for the heart to work well. Although dogs don’t need as much taurine as cats do, making sure they have enough can help support their heart function.

Final Thoughts

In honor of American Heart Month let's all stay informed and spread awareness! Share helpful articles and blogs like this one with your friends and family. Remember, a diet that supports heart health is key to a healthy pet, and this is just as important as caring for your own well-being. And finally, make sure your pooch never misses their routine checkups – early detection is key to a healthy heart.

Healthy Dogma wishes you and your pets a happy and healthy American Heart Month! And just a friendly reminder – while you might be tempted to share, chocolate is not good for your dog’s heart and could make it beat too fast, so be sure to keep all that chocolate for yourself.