Diets for Pets with Heart Disease

It is now known that the diet is a very important part of medical therapy for heart disease and one in which owners have the most crucial role. New research is showing that proper nutrition may be able to slow the progression of heart disease, minimize the number of medications required, improve the quality of life or, in rare cases, actually cure the disease.

Maintaining Optimal Weight

A key goal for the nutritional management of heart disease is to maintain optimal body weight, because both weight loss and obesity can be harmful to your pet. Owners should watch their pets for loss of overall body weight and loss of muscle (cachexia describes muscle loss seen in animals with heart disease).

Many pets with heart failure will not eat as much, as frequently, or the same things as when they were healthy—this is called anorexia. This can be an important factor in the weight and muscle loss that occurs. Maintaining your pet's interest in food is a tricky, yet important, task but there are several tips to achieving this.

First, try giving more frequent, but smaller meals. Cats frequently are more interested when the food is warmed. Dogs are less predictable, but will usually prefer one temperature over another (try different temperatures—warmed, room temperature, cold or even near-frozen).

Another method to manage reduced or changed appetite in an animal with heart disease is to gradually replace their current food with a new one. For example, switch from a dry food to a canned food or change to a different brand. However, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the diet that is most appropriate for your pet.

Finally, flavor enhancers such as cooked meat or fish (without any salt; avoid deli meats) for dogs and cats, or sweeteners (such as yogurt, maple syrup, applesauce or honey) for dogs may be added to the diet to promote eating. Fish oil may be given to help with cachexia.

As it is important to make sure animals are not too skinny, it is also necessary to make sure they are not too heavy. Owners often find that severely overweight dogs and cats with heart disease that successfully lose weight, appear to have less trouble breathing and are more comfortable. A special diet may be prescribed for your dog or cat to help treat the heart disease as well as to maintain their optimal body weight.

Important Nutrients for Pets

Nutritional deficiencies are now uncommon in dogs and cats unless owners are feeding a nutritionally unbalanced diet. If your animal is eating a homemade, raw or vegetarian diet, or a diet made by a small company, please let your veterinarian know this as it could be important in the diagnosis or treatment of your pet.

Even if your pet doesn't have a specific nutritional deficiency, increasing the levels of certain nutrients may have benefits in the treatment of heart disease. Nutrients that may need to be supplemented are described below. It is important to keep in mind that dietary supplements have little regulation so quality control can be a big problem. Cummings School recommends using dietary supplements that bear the logo of the United States Pharmacopeia Dietary Supplement Verification Program (DSVP), which tests human dietary supplements for ingredients, concentrations, dissolvability and contaminants. Another good resource is ConsumerLab.com, which performs independent testing of dietary supplements primarily for human supplements but also for pet products as well.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid which, if deficient, can cause a specific heart disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in cats. Complete and balanced commercial cat foods have enough taurine but diets that are not complete and balanced (labeled as for intermittent or supplemental use only), vegetarian diets or homemade diets can be too low in this nutrient. If your cat is diagnosed with DCM, the cardiologists will usually test their blood taurine level to see if they are deficient and prescribe supplements to help treat the disease.

Dogs, unlike cats, are not thought to require taurine in the diet. However, certain breeds (Cocker spaniels, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, English setters, Labrador and Golden retrievers) may require some in the diet to avoid a deficiency. Lamb and rice diets, very low protein, and high fiber diets in these predisposed breeds may make it more likely for them to develop taurine deficiency. Dogs of these predisposed breeds that develop DCM may have their blood tested for taurine levels. Most dogs with DCM do not have taurine deficiency but when levels are low then taurine supplementation can help in the management of heart failure.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

Certain types of fatty acids present in fish oil (called omega-3 fatty acids) have been shown have a positive effect in dogs with heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids do not help to prevent heart disease as they do in people. This is because in people, omega-3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect in coronary artery disease, which does not occur in dogs and cats. In pets with heart disease, fish oil is recommended for dogs and cats who have reduced or altered appetite or any muscle loss (cachexia). Omega-3 supplements can also be used (in addition to appropriate medication) in the treatment of dogs with abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

Fish oil may be purchased over-the-counter at almost all human pharmacies but dose and quality of the products vary widely. Cummings School generally recommends a one gram fish oil capsule that contains 180mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 120mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The quality control of the individual product should be checked to ensure your pet is getting the right amount and is not getting unwanted nutrients or contaminants. Various ways to check quality control of dietary supplements are mentioned above.

With capsules of this size most dogs and cats can be given one capsule per 10 pounds of body weight. Fish oil is relatively safe but if your pet has a bleeding disorder or is already eating a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, supplementation should be carefully considered with your veterinarian. Fish oil supplements should contain vitamin E as an antioxidant, but other nutrients should not be included. Cod liver oil and flax seed oil should not be used as sources of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs and cats.

Restricted Nutrients for Pets

While supplementing important nutrients may prove beneficial, it is equally true that reducing the levels of certain nutrients may have benefits in the treatment of heart disease. Nutrients that may need to be restricted are described below.

Sodium

Depending on the severity of heart disease, decreasing the amount of sodium in the diet can be beneficial. In pets with mild heart disease (those that are not showing any symptoms), only mild sodium restriction is recommended. If the heart disease is more advanced, causing a condition known as Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), greater sodium restriction is advised. Talk to your veterinarian about the diet that would be most appropriate for your dog or cat. Diets that are low in protein should be avoided unless the pet has severe kidney disease. Cummings School provides a reduced sodium diet list in the PDF format for your convenience.

While it is important to feed the most appropriate pet food given your animal's type, level of heart disease and other medical issues, it is also necessary to remember that large amounts of sodium can also come from treats, table food and the foods you might use to give daily medications. A list of treats for dogs with heart disease is also provided in the PDF format. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about which treats can be safely fed to your pet.

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Can animals have high blood pressure?

Just like people, our pets have blood pressure too and they also risk developing high blood pressure. While high blood pressure in humans can cause more serious health issues, high blood pressure in animals is usually associated with a more critical health issue, because hypertension is typically the result of an existing underlying disease.

High blood pressure in dogs is often associated with Cushing’s disease or hyperadrenocorticism. Cushing’s disease is when a disorder, usually a benign tumor, allows an excess of cortisone to be released into the bloodstream.

Cats often develop high blood pressure as a result of having hyperthyroidism and/ or kidney disease. Hyperthyroidism is an overproduction of a thyroid hormone that results in increased metabolism.

If your pet has already been diagnosed with, and is being treated for, hypertension, your veterinarian will need to treat the underlying condition that caused the high blood pressure. It is also likely your veterinarian will also want to measure your pet’s blood pressure every three months moving forward. The vet may also suggest performing other tests, such as a complete blood count, blood chemistry panel, and a urinalysis every six months.

For most of us our pets are part of the family, so make sure they get a regular annual check-up with their veterinarian. Don’t ignore your vet’s advice, or at least get a second opinion before you make a potentially life and death decision on your fur baby's behalf.

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DID YOU KNOW: Dog ownership linked with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Dog lovers know how much warmth and comfort their canine companions add to their lives. But they might not know that a growing body of evidence suggests that having a dog may help improve heart health.

Pet ownership, especially having a dog, is probably associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. This does not mean that there is a clear cause and effect relationship between the two. But it does mean that pet ownership can be a reasonable part of an overall strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.

According to Harvard Medical School, several studies have shown that dog owners have lower blood pressure than non-owners — probably because their pets have a calming effect on them and because dog owners tend to get more exercise. The power of touch also appears to be an important part of this "pet effect." Several studies show that blood pressure goes down when a person pets a dog.

There is some evidence that owning a dog is associated with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A large study focusing on this question found that dog owners had lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels than non-owners, and that these differences weren't explainable by diet, smoking, or body mass index (BMI). However, the reason for these differences is still unclear.

Dogs' calming effect on humans also appears to help how people handle stress. For example, some research suggests that people with dogs experience less cardiovascular reactivity during times of stress. That means that their heart rate and blood pressure go up less and return to normal more quickly, dampening the effects of stress on the body.

If you own a dog or are thinking about it, the potential benefits for your heart health are a nice plus. However, pets should not be adopted for the primary purpose of reducing heart disease risk. And definitely don't add a dog to your life if you're not ready or able to take care of one, including making sure it gets enough exercise.

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Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries for Dogs

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Sweet Potato

• 1 tbsp Coconut Oil (melted)

• Spices - Turmeric, Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

2. Wash and peel the sweet potato

3. Cut the sweet potato into evenly sized long skinny (fry shaped) pieces

4. Coat with oil and spices - Mix in a large bowl or Ziploc bag

5. Place fries on baking sheet in one layer

6. Bake for 15 minutes

7. Flip over fries for even baking

8. Bake for another 10-15 minutes

9. Let cool before giving to your dog

Don't have Tumeric or Cinnamon?

Here are a few other dog-friendly spice options to use from your pantry:

• Basil

• Cinnamon

• Coriander / Cilantro

• Dill

• Garlic (in small amounts)

• Ginger

• Marjoram

• Oregano

• Parsley

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Tarragon

• Thyme

• Turmeric

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Understanding Bad Dog Breath

Bad dog breath is very common and dog owners simply get used to it. But it should not be that way. Most times, canine halitosis is a sign of poor periodontal health.

The term “doggy breath” is normally used in a condescending way to refer to people who have stinky breath. You’d think that this is because a dog always has bad breath, but this really couldn’t be farther from the truth.

What does a dog's stinky breath smell like?

Usually, a dog’s breath is known to stink of fish, poop, urine, acetone, ammonia, sewer, garbage, dead animals, rotting cheese, blood, and other similar smells.

In fact, it is abnormal for a dog’s breath to consistently stink. Bad odors coming from your dog’s mouth are indicative of diseases and disorders. If your dog’s mouth stinks like any of the smells mentioned, it means that they have a problem that needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.

A dog’s breath, just like human breath, should smell of nothing in particular.

Is bad dog breath a symptom or a medical condition?

Stinky dog breath is a symptom as well as a medical condition, depending on what it smells like.

Halitosis is a medical condition where the dog suffers from chronic bad breath due to disease and poor oral hygiene. If a dog’s teeth are not brushed properly, it can lead to plaque and tartar buildup that causes a bad smell.

In some cases, certain specific smells may indicate that something is wrong with the dog’s internal organs. It could be a symptom of something more serious, like tumors or kidney disease.

A study even showed that there seems to be a correlation between bad breath in the human owner and their dog.

Causes for Bad dog Breath

As discussed above, bad dog breath can be a symptom as well as a medical condition. As a condition, bad breath in dogs is caused by a number of factors. The main factor being a lack of oral hygiene for extended periods of time.

Periodontal Disease

Poor oral dental hygiene is the number one cause for stinky dog breath or halitosis in dogs.

Not brushing your dog’s teeth for a long time and not changing toothbrushes regularly could be the root of the problem. They cause a plaque or tartar buildup on the teeth. Over time, this plaque gets so thick it starts to push the teeth away from the gums.

Consequently, this creates more space for bacteria to thrive inside the gums and mouth, resulting in bad breath as well as teeth and gum infections. Cavities, root infections, and a condition called gingivitis are all caused by poor dental hygiene.

By far, most cases of stinky breath and halitosis in dogs can be traced back to poor periodontal health.

Kidney Disease

If your dog’s breath smells strongly of ammonia or urine, it could be a symptom of kidney disease.

The logic behind this is that if the kidneys aren’t functioning properly, urea in the dog’s body isn’t being eliminated. The residual urea remains in the dog’s system for longer than it should and causes an ammonia smell and urine-like breath.

Kidney disease, which causes halitosis, is in fact also caused by periodontal disease. When neglected, dental disorders in dogs can become advanced and cause an overflow of germs and bacteria into the mouth. These get ingested and enter the bloodstream, causing long-term damages to kidneys and liver.

Toxic Plants

If your dog’s breath smells like rotting cheese or toxic fumes, it could mean that they have consumed a poisonous plant.

It’s normal for dogs to be seen chewing and eating plants when they have an upset stomach—it helps them vomit.

However, domestic dogs lack the sense to differentiate poisonous plants from the safe ones and sometimes end up eating the former. This causes an acidic, rancid smell from their mouth. In some cases, the dogs will eliminate the poisonous plant from their system, but sometimes, medical intervention will be needed.

Diabetes

When your dog’s breath smells like chemicals or gives off a whiff of acetone, it’s likely that they are suffering from diabetes. Diabetes can also cause your dog’s breath to smell sickly sweet like your breath smells after drinking very sweet tea.

A diabetic dog lacks insulin. And without insulin, it becomes very difficult for the dogs to break down the sugars that they consume. In order to derive the necessary sugars, the dog’s body starts breaking down fat. This results in the dog’s body going into ketosis, and ketones are a byproduct of this. These ketones smell like acetone causing their breath to smell like chemicals.

This is a very serious disorder and may even cause blindness, dehydration, and weaknesses in the dog. It must be treated with urgency and due care.

Pica and Coprophagia

Pica and coprophagia are eating disorders in dogs when the animals believe inedible items to be food and try and eat them. This is what causes their breath to smell of whatever it is that they have eaten – from paper to poop!

Pica refers to the act of eating objects like shoes, paper, wood, etc. Most dogs tend to eat toys, rocks, wood, and even chew off some fabric. This could be dangerous as they may choke on the small parts.

Coprophagia is more distasteful and refers to a dog’s habit of eating feces, either their own or of other animals. This causes their breath to smell like poop, for obvious reasons. While coprophagia may harm the dogs by causing an infection transmitted via the bacteria and viruses in the fecal matter, it won’t necessarily kill the animal.

Both these disorders are caused by the behavioral traits of the dogs and sometimes by wrong training practices also.

Oral Tumors

Oral tumors or advanced dental diseases that cause an influx of bacteria into the mouth can make the dog’s breath smell like garbage or sewers. It gives off an extremely foul odor. In extreme cases of negligence, these oral tumors may bleed and give off an unpleasant metallic odor due to blood iron content.

Dogs usually develop oral tumors, lesions, and masses, as a result of poor oral hygiene. Over a period of time, negligence of periodontal health causes the gums to deteriorate and finally rot. This causes the teeth to fall out, gums to bleed, and teeth sockets to develop tumors. The rotting flesh and bacteria in the mouth cause the stinky breath in the dogs.

Diet

Vet-approved dog food can also cause bad breath in dogs. Meat, bones, and other food items tend to get stuck in their teeth, causing their mouth to stink. Sometimes, it could just be that the food that is not being digested properly and is giving off a bad smell.

It’s a good idea to speak to your vet about what food to feed the dog. Very dry meals food that is too wet could also be causing the issue. Undigested food could be sending stomach acids and gases up into the mouth and causing a stench. Favor raw feeding or freeze-dried and even human-grade dog foods when possible.

Treatment for Halitosis in Dogs

The treatment of halitosis depends on the severity of the problem and the cause of the condition. One size doesn’t fit all in this case.

Obviously, it is always better to try and eliminate the root cause of the problem instead of finding temporary solutions like dental chew sticks and fresh smelling herbs.

Here’s what to do if your dog’s bad breath problem persists or gets worse.

Dental Cleaning

Most bad breath problems in dogs are due to poor oral hygiene. So the first thing you must do is visit a dog-dentist to get your pet’s teeth cleaned thoroughly.
Get the vet to perform an exhaustive dental and mouth checkup—they’ll look for lesions, tumors, cavities or rotting food inside the mouth.

To get rid of all the plaque that has been building up over a period of time, you may need multiple dental sessions. Speak to your vet about dental hygiene maintenance for your dog. The market is full of innovative products that help you maintain your dog’s dental health with little-to-no effort. Get regular dental follow-ups done until your dog breath smells like nothing.

Vet Treatment

If the stench persists in spite of thorough plaque removal, the root cause could be something else. You’ll have to speak to your vet and get the necessary tests done in order to confirm what the problem is first.

If your dog has a kidney or liver problem or is found with oral lesions and tumors—you must take utmost care and follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.

In such a scenario, your dog’s breath is a telltale sign of how their health is improving.

Dietary Changes

If your dog suffers from coprophagia or pica, it could be that eating feces is a sign of poor nutrition in your dog. Your dog could be relying on feces for the nutrition that they aren’t getting from the food you give them. Find out the root cause and get to it.

If the bad breath is due to certain foods that your dog finds difficult to digest, start making the necessary changes to their diet.

In order to cure bad dog breath, you’ll need to have a lot of patience. Finding the right diet for your dog will require some trial and error.

Incorporate fresh fruits, veggies, and other healthy foods like probiotic yogurt into your dog’s diet. This will not only cleanse the internal system but will also help them keep their teeth clean.

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