Heart Healthy Dog Food (For Heart Issues)

It turns out that dogs are just as prone to getting heart disease as people are. But unlike people, dogs don’t typically have heart attacks from clogged arteries, because they are very efficient at digesting fats and their fats are carried in the bloodstream differently than in people.

Leaky valves are a common cause of heart disease in dogs, and overweight pets can also be predisposed to cardiovascular disease. 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.

If your dog has been diagnosed with having heart disease or a heart condition like congestive heart failure or an enlarged heart, you may want to consider looking at their diet. Diets elevated in protein (>75 grams per 1000 calories) with supplemental taurine are commonly recommended.  Avoidance of high salt foods is a recommendation of many cardiologists once a pet has heart failure. 

Overall, fresh food can be a very healthy option for dogs. When you choose a food that's prepared in small batches with fresh, whole ingredients and no artificial fillers, you can see exactly what your pup is getting.

While Nom Nom is not a prescription diet, we do serve a number of pets with heart disease. Our recipes are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists & PhD animal nutritionists, and made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and no artificial ingredients or fillers. They are carefully balanced with the right amount of protein to help maintain muscle mass, strength, and support all the essential functions of the body. Because it’s so good for pets, our recipes specifically include large amounts of heart-healthy animal protein and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil that may help reduce inflammation in the body. When it comes to heart health, omega-3s have been shown to help manage abnormal rhythms and to prevent muscle loss. The high-quality protein in our meals helps dogs make taurine (an amino acid that helps the heart pump effectively) and we add additional taurine as well. And to prevent overfeeding and help your dog maintain a healthy weight, our meals are custom-portioned so your pet gets the amount that’s just right.

The chicken and turkey recipes are the highest protein recipes and a good place to start for pups with heart conditions. However, any of our meat recipes are likely to be fine, but it's a good idea to consult with your vet whenever making a dietary change for your pup.

If you have a dog with heart problems and are interested in trying a fresh diet as a heart-healthy dog food, please make sure to discuss it with your vet first. Our team will also ask to learn more about your pet’s health history when determining if NomNomNow is right for you.