Introduction
Something you already know:
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in humans that make it out of their twenty's.
What you may not know:
In older dogs and cats, kidney disease is the number one cause of death but heart disease is a close second killer.
And now that it's becoming common for veterinarians to recommend screening chest radiographs as part of middle aged and senior preventive wellness program we're finding that lots of pets have enlarged hearts; an early indication of heart disease.
Knowing that your pet has heart disease, whether because of the radiographic evidence found during screening radiographs ... or because of symptoms; shortness of breath, coughing, exercise intorerance, lung congestion and so forth ... we can slow the progression of the heart disease, minimize symptoms, and help prevent a cardiovascular accident with medications and diets that are helpful in heart disease
Certain nutrients have been shown to be beneficial in helping to support heart muscle function:
Arginine may help improve blood flow and exercise tolerance in pets with heart disease.
Carnitine deficiency has been linked to heart disease in some dogs (Boxers and possibly Cocker Spaniels) and supplementation may improve heart muscle function.
Taurine Some dogs and cats with cardiomyopathy have low blood levels of taurine. and supplementation through the diet can benefit pets with heart disease.
Sodium should be mildly restricted in early heart disease.
Potassium deficiency is associated with irregular heart beat and muscle weakness.
Magnesium is involved in energy production in heart muscle. It is important to supply the appropriate levels of this essential nutrient.
Protein levels need to be high quality and in high enough levels to prevent muscle wasting and exercise intolerance.
Energy levels or carbohydrates need to be appropriate to maintain ideal body weight.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids like Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docasohexaenoic (DMA) improve blood flow to heart muscles and reduce cardiac inflammation and muscle wasting.
Veterinarians have available several good therapeutic diets disigned to improve life span and quality of life to pets with heart disease.
We have a variety of choices of high quality diets designed especially for pets with heart disease and a few others that while designed for other disease are also suitable for heart disease. This is good because heart disease patients frequently also have other problems. Diabetes, weight problems, and kidney disease are common co-diseases
Purina CV (Cardio-vascular) low sodium diet for cats and dogs
Hills G/D, H/D or R/D diets (Geriatric Diet, Heart Diet, or Reducing Diet)
Royal Canin Early Cardiac EC22 for dogs.
Website Directory
"What To Expect When You Go To The Vet"
if your pet should have a problem with ...
To include Femoral Head Removal, Hip Dysplasia, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Panosteitis, Radiographic Demonstrations, Disc Disease, and Bone Surgery
Strokes, Vascular Diseases, Anemias, DVT, DIC, Blood Parasites, Rat Poison, & Bleeding disorders
Cardiology Heart disease in Cats, Cardiac Hypertrophy, Valvular disease, Cardiac Insufficiency, Congestive Heart Failure, Heartworm Disease, and a little history about the milestones in treating heart disease
Cats: general information page and directory of diseases and problems specific to cats including vaccine recommendations, leukemia, feline viral infections, feline upper respiratory disease and cats that just aren't feeling well.
Dermatology: Skin problems including allergies, rashes, bacterial infections, and itching. Hair Loss, Yeast Infections, Hormonal Problems
Heart disease; Cardiac diseases, vascular diseases, stroke, & heartworms
Hormone Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease
Infectious Diseases Colds, Distemper, Parvo, Leptospirosis, Bruceellosis, Panleukopenia, Feline AIDS, Leukemia, Hepatitis, Kennel Cough, Ringworm, Rabies, FIP, Canine Herpes, Toxic Shock Syndrome, & More
Intestinal problems: diarrhea, constipation, torsion, indigestion, and gas. Also pancreatitis, vomiting, esophagitis, colitis, parvo and other types of dysentery
Metabolic Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease
Parasite Problems Fleas, Ticks, Heartworms, Intestinal Worms, Mosquitos, Lice, Mites, and other welfare recipients
Poisons Snakes, Insects, household chemicals, plants, and foods that might poison your pet
Skeletal-Muscular Problems Arthritis, Fractures, ACL, Ligament Injuries, Disc Disease, Pannus, and many other problems of the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments
Skin Problems: allergies, rashes, bacterial infections, and itching. Hair Loss, Yeast Infections, Hormonal Problems
Surgery: Spays, Castrations, Testicle Recipes, Soft Tissue Surgery, Hard Tissue Surgery (Bones), C- Sections, Declawing, Tumor Removal and Cancer Surgery
Other Topics on This Site
Zoonotics: Diseases, worms, and parasites people get from pets.
Includes information about Prescription diets used to treat disease, and a discussion about the pet food industry
Includes information about feline and canine heat or estrus, breeding, C-Sections, pyometra or Infected Uterus, dystocia, no milk, mastitis, & brucellosis
Also newborn care, undescended testicles, and alternative to spaying and castration
WildLife Page: Taking care of baby bunnies, squirrels, and birds. A very funny story about beavers, and other misc information
Our Dog Page: a directory of problems of concern in dogs including parvovirus, distemper, canine herpes, and other diseases