Heart disease is a pretty common problem for humans, but many people are unaware that it’s also quite common in our canines. In fact, more than 10% of pets examined by veterinarians have some form of cardiovascular disease.
If your dog has been diagnosed with heart disease, it can be a scary and stressful time for you as a pet owner. But with today’s advanced knowledge of nutrition and canine medicine, your dog has a better chance than ever to continue living a fulfilling life with heart disease. One of the biggest factors will be your dog’s food intake.
Providing your pooch with proper nutrition can keep them fighting against heart disease at full capacity. We took the time to search for and compare the best dog foods for canines with heart disease to help relieve some of the stress you’re surely feeling. The following reviews will share everything we learned while testing these foods so that you can be certain you’re giving your dog the best nutrition possible without trying them all yourself.
Royal Canin Vet Diet Early Cardiac Dry Food – Best Overall
Protein content:
5%
Fat content:
5%
Fiber content:
7%
Grain-free:
No
The best overall dog food for heart disease is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Early Cardiac Dry Food. Since it’s a veterinary diet, a prescription from your vet is required for purchase. This food is highly palatable and nutritionally complete, and it contains nutrients specifically with supporting the cardiovascular system in mind. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, arginine, carnitine, and taurine all help support the heart, while a moderate sodium content helps the heart function efficiently without becoming overloaded. It’s preserved with mixed tocopherols, which help support your dog’s immune system, and this food helps maintain a healthy body weight. This food retails for a premium price, which some pet owners might not be able to afford for daily meals.
Cons
Prescription only
Premium price
Pros
Highly palatable
Contains nutrients specific to supporting cardiac health
Moderate sodium content
Mixed tocopherols support immune function
Helps maintain a healthy body weight
Spot & Tango Dog Kibble – Best Value
Protein content:
Varies
Fat content:
Varies
Fiber content:
Varies
Grain-free:
Varies
The best dog food for heart disease for the money is the foods available through Spot & Tango Dog Kibble. These foods are available in freeze-dried and wet food formulas. They are available only through a subscription plan, although you can cancel anytime. Some of the recipes are grain-free, while others are not, allowing you and your vet to select the recipes that will fit your dog’s needs the best. These foods all contain visually recognizable ingredients and are supplemented with added nutrients to meet all of your dog’s needs, even with heart disease. There are multiple protein bases available as well, allowing you to meet the needs of dogs with food sensitivities.
Cons
Subscription plan
Pros
Freeze-dried and wet food formulas available
Grain-free and recipes with grain available
Contain visually recognizable foods
Nutritional supplementation is built into the foods
Different proteins available
Hill’s Prescription Heart Care Chicken Flavor
Protein content:
5%
Fat content:
5%
Fiber content:
5%
Grain-free:
No
The Hill’s Prescription Diet h/d Heart Care Chicken Flavor food is the premium choice for dog food for heart disease. It’s a prescription-only food that is formulated specifically with the needs of dogs with heart disease in mind. It’s designed to help support a normal blood pressure level and minimize fluid retention when the heart is not functioning at peak capacity. It’s supplemented with nutrients to help dogs on diuretics recoup lost nutrients. It contains antioxidants that support the immune system and protect kidney function. It’s low in sodium and contains l-carnitine, taurine, and phosphorus to support heart health. This food retails for a premium price and is only available in one bag size.
Cons
Prescription only
Premium price
One bag size available
Pros
Designed to support blood pressure and prevent fluid retention
Helps recoup lost nutrients due to diuretics
Antioxidants support immunity and kidney function
Low in sodium
Contains l-carnitine, taurine, and phosphorus for heart health
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food
Protein content:
5%
Fat content:
5%
Fiber content:
0%
Grain-free:
No
We all want our puppies to have a strong start to life after weaning. While we can never prevent all health issues—as some are out of our control—we can help ensure that we feed our puppies a healthy diet. This is why we recommend Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food for heart-healthy meals. Dog food designed for puppies provides nutrients and ingredients needed for brain development and heart health, such as DHA from fish oil, antioxidants, and vitamins C and E. The first two ingredients in this recipe are chicken and brown rice, both healthy foods that can help your puppy thrive. However, not all puppies have the same palate, and some pet owners have noted that their pups were too enthused with the flavor.
Cons
Some puppies do not like the taste
Pros
Chicken and brown rice are the main ingredients
Contains vitamins and minerals that support brain and heart health
Good source of omega fatty acids
Purina One +Plus Joint Health
Protein content:
27%
Fat content:
12%
Fiber content:
5%
Grain-free:
No
The Purina One +Plus Joint Health food contains fish oil and is a great source of omega fatty acids, which support heart health. It supports muscle health, which is important for the heart, and calcium, which can also help support cardiac function. It contains antioxidants to support the immune system as well. It’s highly palatable and contains a combination of crunchy kibble and meaty morsels. It’s more budget-friendly than many of the other dog foods that support cardiac health, and it’s appropriate for adult and senior dogs. This food is not recommended for small breed dogs, though. It’s also highly digestible and contains no fillers.
Cons
Not recommended for small breed dogs
Not formulated specifically for dogs with heart disease
Pros
Great source of omega fatty acids
Supports muscle health
Contains added calcium and antioxidants
Budget-friendly option
Digestible and contains no fillers
ACANA Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe
Protein content:
27%
Fat content:
17%
Fiber content:
6%
Grain-free:
No
The ACANA Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe food is a great moderate fat and protein food for small breed dogs with heart disease. It’s high in fiber thanks to the grains, but it’s free of gluten. The grains in this food support optimum gut health, and it’s free of potatoes and legumes, which have shown a potential link to worsening heart disease. It’s a good source of omega fatty acids, which support cardiac health, as well as skin, coat, muscle, joint, eye, and brain health. It’s a budget-friendly food pick and the bag sizes are optimized for small dogs. This food is not suitable for dogs of medium breeds or larger.
Cons
Not recommended for medium breed and larger dogs
Pros
High in fiber but free of gluten
Good source of omega fatty acids
Budget-friendly option
Bag sizes are optimized for small breed dogs
Perfectus Plentiful Poultry & Ancient Grain Recipe
Protein content:
25%
Fat content:
14%
Fiber content:
5%
Grain-free:
No
The Perfectus Plentiful Poultry & Ancient Grain Recipe dog food contains a balanced mix of chicken protein and ancient grains. It’s formulated to support cardiac health, as well as digestive, skin, and coat health. It’s a great source of omega fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants, and it contains added taurine to support cardiac health. It’s free of fillers and comes in a resealable bag, allowing you to maintain maximum freshness. It contains unique grains, like sorghum, and it’s free of legumes and potatoes. It’s highly palatable and features 80% high-quality protein from chicken. This food retails for a premium price.
Cons
Premium price
Pros
Supports cardiac, digestive, skin, and coat health
Great source of omega fatty acids, probiotics, and antioxidants
Resealable bag
Highly palatable
SquarePet VFS Active Joints Dry Food
Protein content:
30%
Fat content:
14%
Fiber content:
3%
Grain-free:
No
The SquarePet VFS Active Joints Dry Food is a high-protein food with moderate fat content. It contains New Zealand green-lipped mussels, sunflower oil, krill meal, and herring oil, all of which help support cardiac health through their omega fatty acid content. It’s a good source of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, and turmeric, all of which support immune health and help decrease inflammation. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for extra support of your dog’s joints. It’s free of chicken, making it a good option for dogs with chicken sensitivities. This is one of the most premium-priced products we reviewed, so it can get quite expensive.
Cons
Premium price
Pros
Great source of omega fatty acids
Good source of anti-inflammatories and immune-boosting ingredients
Supports the joints
Free of chicken
Dave’s Pet Food Restricted Sodium Chicken Recipe Canned Food
Protein content:
39%
Fat content:
34%
Fiber content:
4%
Grain-free:
Yes
The Dave’s Pet Food Restricted Sodium Chicken Recipe Canned Food is a good option for dogs with heart disease due to its low sodium and high protein contents. It’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals, as well as lean protein to support your dog’s overall health. Since it’s a canned food, it can help support hydration without overloading your dog on water intake. It’s free of fillers and byproducts. This food is grain-free, so it’s important to discuss the pros and cons of a grain-free diet for your dog with heart disease with your vet. It also retails for a premium price.
Cons
Grain-free food
Premium price
Pros
Low sodium and high protein
Supports overall health
Supports hydration
Free of fillers and byproducts
Stella & Chewy’s Stella’s Solutions Healthy Heart Support
Protein content:
40%
Fat content:
32%
Fiber content:
5%
Grain-free:
Yes
Stella & Chewy’s Stella’s Solutions Healthy Heart Support is a great supplement to a heart-healthy diet but can also be fed as the primary diet. However, it is grain-free, so it may not be ideal for all dogs with heart disease, but it’s also free of legumes and potatoes. This food is rich in omega fatty acids to support your dog’s cardiac health. It can be served as-is or rehydrated, leaving the option of how to feed it up to your dog’s preferences. This food retails for a premium price, and a bag will not last many dogs for more than a few meals when fed as the primary food source.
Cons
Grain-free food
Premium price
Small bag size
Pros
Can be fed as a supplement or primary diet
Free of legumes and potatoes
Rich in omega fatty acids
Can be fed rehydrated or as-in
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Food for Heart Disease
Now you’ve seen our top dog food choices for canines with heart disease, but you might be wondering how we choose these five foods over all the others.
For us, it all starts with an understanding of heart disease in dogs. What exactly is heart disease and what are its effects for our pooches?
Then, it comes down to the type of nutrients that will give our dogs the best fighting chance against heart diseases of any type. We look for the food that’s packed with the most beneficial and health-boosting nutrients that are specifically formulated to provide the nutrients that a dog with heart disease needs.
Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you in the dark. If this all sounds like information that you need to know as the owner of a dog with heart disease, that’s because it is. And to make it easy for you to digest, we’ve included it all in this short buyer’s guide.
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure doesn’t always happen in dogs with heart disease. However, dogs with heart disease are at a much higher risk of heart failure as this is the final stage of severe heart disease.
Like it sounds, heart failure is when the heart fails. It can be caused by a number of processes including fluid buildup, decreased blood flow, or extremely low blood pressure.
Many dogs with heart disease will never experience heart failure, but only dogs with heart disease are at risk since it is caused by severe heart disease.
What is Canine Heart Disease?
We’ve all heard of heart disease, but what exactly is it?
Actually, heart disease is a pretty wide-ranging term. Pretty much any abnormality of the heart can be called heart disease. These abnormalities can be physical, functional, congenital, acquired, etc. They can even be short or long in duration. Basically, anything wrong with your heart can fall under the umbrella of heart disease.
Signs Your Dog Might Have Heart Disease
It can be terrifying to find out that your beloved best friend has heart disease. But if you catch it early on, your chances of mitigating the disease and helping your dog to live a long, healthy, happy life are much better.
Of course, if you want to catch heart disease early, you’re going to need to know what to look for. The following five symptoms are often the first early indicators that your dog may have heart disease. Keep an eye out for these symptoms and if you see your dog exhibiting any of them, it might be time to get some professional help.
Difficulty Breathing
Having a hard time breathing is often one of the first symptoms that dogs with heart disease will display. This might present itself as hard, labored breathing that seems to require a lot of force, or you might see them breathing rapidly.
If you only see your dog breathing hard occasionally or after physical exertion, then there’s probably nothing to worry about. A dog that has difficulty breathing due to heart disease will usually have trouble breathing all or most of the time.
You might notice your dog’s posture change in an attempt to make it easier to breathe. They may stretch their necks out and spread their legs wide apart. Since most dogs with heart disease find it more difficult to breathe lying down, you’ll likely notice your dog sitting or standing for long periods instead.
Coughing
Many dogs cough for reasons completely unrelated to heart disease. But if your dog has a cough that persists for several days and doesn’t want to dissipate, then it could be due to heart disease.
When the heart can’t pump efficiently, fluid can buildup in the lungs causing your dog to cough in an attempt to expel the extra fluid.
In some forms of heart disease, the heart actually swells and enlarges. This can cause it to press on your dog’s airways, which can result in continuous coughing.
As a general rule, if your dog has a cough that continues for days or weeks, you should take them to the vet. It could very likely be a sign of something much more serious.
Fatigue
If you notice that your dog seems to tire out much quicker than they used to, it could be a sign of heart disease. This might be accompanied by more sleeping and resting than usual.
You might find that dogs who were excited for playtime or exercise before don’t seem to be interested any longer. This is likely due to the excessive fatigue caused by heart disease.
Changes in Behavior
When your dog’s behavior changes, your first thought likely isn’t heart disease. But this disease can have many effects on your dog, including major behavioral changes.
Some of the most common changes in behavior that you’re likely to see due to heart disease are changes in eating habits, a loss of desire to play, no longer wanting to participate in activities they enjoy, or seeking isolation.
While these types of behavioral changes aren’t enough to diagnose heart disease from, they’re certainly enough to warrant a trip to the vet for further study.
Collapsing or Fainting
All of the organs and systems in your dog’s body rely on blood to function. When heart activity decreases because of heart disease, those organs aren’t getting enough blood, which deprives them of vital nutrients such as oxygen. Oxygen deprivation can easily lead to fainting or collapse.
The brain also receives reduced blood flow in dogs with heart disease. This alone can result in collapse.
For most dogs with heart disease, fainting and collapsing will be triggered by physical activity. If you notice your dog faints when you play with them or take them on a walk, then it’s time to visit the vet.
Seek a Professional Opinion
We’ve discussed quite a few of the signs that might clue you into your dog’s growing heart troubles. However, only a trained and qualified veterinarian can diagnose heart disease.
Take note of all of the signs and symptoms your dog is displaying. This is all valuable information that can help your vet to correctly diagnose your dog’s health concerns.
But that’s not where the vet’s role ends. Your veterinarian can also help you to formulate the ideal diet for your dog to keep them healthy and provide the nutrients they need to fight off heart disease and live a long life.
While the foods we picked are some of the best all-around choices for most dogs with heart disease, every case is unique. Your dog may have special needs above and beyond those of other dogs. So, it’s best to get the individualized, specific care that your canine needs from your vet.
Choosing the Best Dog Food for Heart Disease
So, what do the best dog foods for canines with heart disease contain?
These foods are packed with the vital nutrients that will give your dog a fighting chance against heart disease. This includes nutrients like:
Protein
Dogs require 22 amino acids to make the proteins that their bodies need for healthy functionality. Naturally, your dog can’t fight off any infectious diseases if its body is struggling just to keep up with its amino acid needs. That’s why the best foods for dogs with heart disease include plenty of protein from diverse, whole-food sources to ensure that your dog is getting all of the amino acids it needs. This allows their body to focus on fighting diseases and getting healthy instead of focusing on finding deficient amino acids.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants protect against cellular damage. Any compound can be an antioxidant, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, and more. Some of the most common antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. These health-boosting nutrients are great for reducing inflammation and bolstering the immune system.
Supplements
Supplements are concentrated forms of nutrients that are normally consumed through food. But some nutrients are difficult to get in the amounts our dogs need from natural sources alone. This is particularly true when your dog has heart disease and needs high levels of very specific nutrients.
For this reason, we prefer foods that are fortified with vital supplements like taurine and l-carnitine. These supplements can help many dogs with different heart concerns, and they’re an extra line of defense for a dog that’s fighting against disease.
You Might Need a Prescription
There’s one thing to keep in mind that you may not have considered. For some of these foods, you’ll actually need a prescription from your vet. This means that your veterinarian will need to provide authorization before you can even get these foods for your dog. While that may seem like overkill, it’s a great way to ensure that only dogs who need the specialized nutrients in such foods will get them.
Final Thoughts
While reviews can be beneficial when finding the right diet for your dog with heart disease, it really comes down to a decision to be made between you and your veterinarian. However, the top pick for dogs with heart disease on our search is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Early Cardiac Dry Food, which is a prescription diet.
The budget-friendly pick is the food from Spot & Tango, which provides a subscription service. For a premium product, the Hill’s Prescription Diet h/d Heart Care Chicken Flavor food is another prescription diet that is formulated specifically for dogs with heart disorders. Our vets recommend that heart patients be on prescription heart foods as a gold standard but your own dog’s vet is best placed to make recommendations tailored to you and your pet so reach out to them to help you make this important decision.
