Nom Nom Blog
14 Facts About Pet Heart Health
Nothing warms our hearts like the love of our pets. That’s why taking care of their hearts is so important. And it’s why we put our whole hearts into making fresh food that keeps your beloved pets happy and healthy not just on February 14 but year-round!
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, here are 14 facts about the health of your pets—and the impact having pets has on your heart, too.
1. Dogs have a larger heart to body mass ratio than all other mammals.
2. Cats have dogs and humans beat when it comes to heart rate. A typical cat heart beats at 140-220 beats per minutes, whereas dogs are at 60-140, and humans at 60-100 (except for when you’re really excited about your pet’s fresh food delivery!).
3. The best screening test for heart disease is having your veterinarian listen to your pet’s heart with a stethoscope twice a year as part of a wellness exam.
4. People who love pets live longer, have less
5. Dogs are just as prone to getting heart disease as people are. In fact, dogs and people share over 400 ailments and illnesses.
6. Unlike people, dogs and cats don’t typically have heart attacks from clogged arteries, because both animal species are very efficient at digesting fats. They carry more of their cholesterol in HDL vs. LDL, so saturated fats aren’t a problem and are actually a very good source of energy.
7. Cats with heart disease are susceptible to dangerous blood clots that can break off and cause paralysis of the legs (aortic thromboembolism), an important reminder that heart health should always be checked by a vet.
8. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may help reduce inflammation in the body—and when it comes to heart health, they have been shown to help manage abnormal rhythms and to prevent muscle loss. That’s why all of Nom Nom’s recipes are fortified with heart-healthy omega-3s!
9. Taurine, an amino acid that dogs (but not cats) can make, helps the heart pump effectively. Deficiency can cause the heart to weaken, so we’ve got lots of high-quality protein to help dogs make taurine, and we add additional taurine to both our cat and dog foods.
10. The heart’s a muscle, and muscle is made from protein. Because it’s so good for pets, Nom Nom recipes include large amounts of heart-healthy animal protein.
11. Selenium is an antioxidant that fights damaging free radicals that can contribute to heart disease and cancer in your dog. That’s why you’ll find it in all of our recipes.
12. Leaky valves are a common cause of heart disease in dogs. Medical treatments can help immensely, but a group of veterinarians has been doing open heart surgery to replace damaged valves, a procedure which will soon be available in the United States.
13. Overweight pets can be predisposed to cardiovascular disease. To prevent overfeeding, our meals are pre-portioned so your pet gets the amount that’s just right.
14. Believe it or not, human, dog, and cat hearts are nearly identical. There are only some slight differences in a few valves and the coronary vessels, or blood vessels, that supply the heart with blood and nutrients.
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Feeding your pet Nom Nom is a heart-healthy choice—and it'll warm your heart when you see how happy it makes them!
Effective March 28, 2022: we have discontinued our cat foods at this time, due to supply chain and ingredient issues. We are so sorry. Read more here.
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