Pet Health Guide - Heart

Heart Disease

The inability of the heart to adequately pump blood and deliver the necessary supply to the internal organs and tissues is perhaps the simplest definition of heart failure. This circulatory system has a never ending responsibility in the everyday life of your pet that includes:

• Transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues
• Transportation of carbon dioxide to the lungs and kidneys
• Distribution of hormones
• Maintenance of temperature regulation and urine formation

Although cardiac disease does develop in animals, it does not approach the incidence seen in man. Canine heart disease affects approximately 11% of dogs in North America. Cardiac diseases are more common in breeds with a genetic predisposition, overweight dogs and older dogs.

Cats, to a lesser extent than dogs, can suffer from heart murmurs, arrhythmias, enlargements, insufficiency and acute or chronic cardiac failure. There are also numerous congenital and inherited abnormalities that affect the heart.

Many pets with sub-clinical heart disease do not exhibit signs at the time of diagnosis. Owners are often surprised to find out their dog or cat suffers from compromised cardiac function. The majority of untreated animals, diagnosed with some early form of heart disease, eventually develop heart failure.

The clinical syndrome of cardiac failure or dysfunction is characterized typically by conditions that require medication in order to regulate the heart and stop the progression of cardiac disease. These conditions include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Decreased blood flow
• Increased heart rate

Clinical Signs

• Weakness
• Exercise intolerance
• Disorientation
• Labored breathing
• Swelling and edema affecting the limbs and body
• Fatigue
• Excessive coughing (especially at night or in the morning hours)
• Reluctance to lie down
• Abnormal gum color
• Cold limbs or paws (primarily in cats)

Classification of Heart Disease

Class I: No limitations of physical activity; activity does not cause symptoms
Class II: Slight limitation of physical activity; ordinary activity causes symptoms
Class III: Marked limitation of physical activity; symptoms occur with less than ordinary activity
Class IV: Extreme limitation of physical activity; symptoms present at rest

The different classifications of heart disease are closely correlated with quality and life expectancy. Clinical research has shown that untreated dogs with Class I heart disease generally have a life expectancy of 2-4 years whereas untreated dogs with Class II to IV heart disease have an average life expectancy of less than 1 year. If you suspect a heart condition in your dog or cat, see your veterinarian immediately. Remember, a healthy heart can benefit from regular exercise, specific supplements and a heart healthy diet.

Heart Disease & Diet Recommendations - Dogs

Diet plays a critical role in helping to address cardiac insufficiency. Diets that are appropriate for Class III-IV heart disease are inappropriate for Class I-II cardiac patients because of their restricted sodium and protein proportions. Likewise, high dietary potassium is not appropriate for the management of Class I-II heart disease patients whereas it is not uncommon to have high potassium rations in commercial diets made for Class III-IV cardiac patients.

The important role of any diet made for Class I-II heart disease is to significantly slow the disease progression, delay the occurrence of congestive heart failure and postpone end-stage disease.

Feeding Plan Considerations (Class I-II)

1. Mildly restrict salt, essential minerals, and saturated fats. Total elimination of salt is not recommended because it can lead to renal failure. Early heart diseased patients should receive no more than .22% salt by dry weight.
2. Maintain proper magnesium (.07g/3.5 oz of food.) and potassium (.75g/3.5 oz of food) levels.
3. Reduce phosphorus levels to ~40%-45% to control secondary kidney disease.
4. Maintain protein levels ~18% -24%. Low protein will contribute to lean muscle wasting and exercise intolerance.
5. Maintain crude fat levels~10%-14%.
6. Lower potassium levels to 75% or less.
7. Provide arginine, carnitine (100mg/day/dog) and taurine (50-100 mg/day/dog) to promote improved blood flow and heart muscle function.

Feeding Plan Considerations (Class III-IV)

1. Class III-IV heart patients should receive no more than.10% salt by dry weight in their diets.
2. Maintain proper magnesium (.07g/3.5 oz of food.) and potassium (.75g/3.5 oz of food) levels.
3. Limit phosphorus levels to ~30%-35% to control secondary kidney disease.
4. Maintain protein levels ~18% -24% . Low protein will contribute to lean muscle wasting and exercise intolerance.
5. Maintain crude fat levels~10%-14%.
6. Increase potassium levels to more than 75%.
7. Provide arginine, carnitine (100mg/day/dog) and taurine (50-100 mg/day/dog) to promote improved blood flow and heart muscle function.

Heart Disease & Diet Recommendations - Cats

Feeding Plan Considerations (Class I-II)

1. Maintain protein levels at ~34%-36%.
2. Maintain crude fat levels ~19%%.
3. Restrict salt to no more than 400 mg/100 g.
4. Reduced phosphorus levels to less than 60% to control secondary kidney disease.
5. Balance magnesium levels ~.05%-.09% and potassium levels to less than 1%
6. Provide taurine (250-500mg/day/cat) to promote improved blood flow and heart function.
7. Always provide plenty of fresh/clean filtered or distilled water.

Feeding Plan Considerations (Class III-IV)

1. Reduce water retention by restricting salt intake ~240 mg/100 g. Typical commercial cat foods have a salt content of 0.45-0.90% (450- 900 mg/100 g diet dry matter).
2. Dietary salt restriction is classified as mild (400 mg/100 g diet dry matter) to severe (240 mg/100 g diet dry matter). In view of these values, commercial cat foods cannot be classified as mild in salt restriction. Therefore, commercially prepared low-salt diets or recipes must be substituted in cases of Class III-IV heart disease. Eliminate all treats containing inappropriate salt levels.
3. Reduced phosphorus levels to ~35%-50% to control secondary kidney disease.
4. Balance magnesium levels ~.05%-.09% and potassium levels ~1%.
5. Provide Taurine (500mg/day/cat) to promote improved blood flow and heart function.
6. Always provide plenty of fresh/clean filtered or distilled water.

Note: The veterinary prescription food formulations and their ingredients are specific for heart disease dogs. Potential allergic ingredients (wheat, corn, soy) if included, are discount in lieu of the benefits afforded by this diet.

Canine Prescription Heart Diets

(**) contains beet pulp/sugars

Feline Prescription Heart Diets

Dog & Cat Supplements

• Brewers Yeast & Garlic (dogs only) can help eliminate fluid buildup and control atherosclerotic disease while a banana (3” strip AM & PM) is a good source of potassium for those animals on diuretics.
• Supplement with (marine) Omega 3-fatty acids (@ 20 mg/lb/day) for antioxidant protection.
• Vitamins high in B-complex’s and either Cardio-Strength for Dogs or Cardio-Strength for Cats (contains CoEnzyme Q-10) or CoEnzyme Q-10 to help support healthy cardiac function.