Heart Healthy Dog Food: 4 Vet-Recommended Diets

Reviewed by Rhiannon Koehler, DVM, MPH on 11/20/2024. Published on 11/20/2024

Skip To

Learning that your dog has heart disease is the last thing any pet parent wants to hear from a veterinarian. While the news can feel overwhelming, don’t lose hope. With your vet’s guidance, there may be ways to help slow the progression of canine heart disease and, in some cases, even reverse it. (1) Often, these measures include feeding your pet a heart-healthy dog food diet.

To help you promote your pup’s heart health, we asked leading veterinarians what to look for in a good cardiac diet for dogs. Discover what we learned, plus the scoop on vet-recommended heart-healthy dog food options to consider.

Understanding Heart Disease in Dogs

There are various forms of canine heart disease. The two most common types are mitral valve disease (MVD) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Common signs of heart disease in dogs generally include the presence of a heart murmur, lethargy, chronic coughing, and fainting.

Left untreated, heart disease can progress to congestive heart failure (CHF). Symptoms of this more serious heart condition include difficulty breathing, moist cough, swollen belly, and fainting.

Treatment for heart disease in dogs depends on the severity of the disease. In mild cases, vets may recommend managing the disease on an outpatient basis with heart medicine, cardiac dog food, and/or other measures to keep your dog comfortable. Severe cases usually require hospitalization.

What is the prognosis for dogs with heart disease?

The prognosis for dogs with heart disease varies widely. It often depends on the stage of the disease at diagnosis, says Dr. Martín Ortiz, DVM, an associate veterinarian at Heart+Paw in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Early detection can make a significant difference in your dog’s prognosis. This is why regular veterinary check-ups and physical exams are so crucial, says Dr. Ortiz. “If a heart murmur is detected soon enough, early intervention could lead to better quality of life and increased life expectancy for your pet,” he adds.

These interventions may include a combination of heart-healthy dog food, medications, and lifestyle adjustments. However, Dr. Ortiz cautions that such measures may not change the prognosis if the disease has progressed.

Dogs can live with CHF for months to years. However, “for late-stage heart disease in congestive heart failure — with fluid collection in the lungs, fainting, labored breathing — the prognosis is grave,” Dr. Ortiz says.

Dog Food for Heart Health: How It Helps

While heart-healthy dog food can help promote canine cardiac health, it’s important to understand the limitations of any diet.

“Unfortunately, most heart disease in pets is actually genetic and breed specific,” says Dr. Ortiz. “No current studies show that specific heart-healthy diets can prevent heart problems in dogs,” he cautions.

Heart-healthy dog food may, however, help slow the progression of heart disease in dogs or reduce the severity of their symptoms. And research shows that a change in diet may even help reverse DCM in dogs who have been fed specific grain-free or boutique diets.

“Diet does play an important role in cardiac health for dogs mostly because of the balance of very specific ingredients,” says Dr. Ortiz. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating heart-healthy dog food diets.

Reduced Sodium

Restricted sodium is a key feature of a diet for dogs with heart disease. “Just like in humans, foods with high sodium content draw more fluid into the vessels through osmosis. This increases the workload on the heart and the kidneys,” says Dr. Ortiz.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have anti-inflammatory properties. This can help ease mild inflammation associated with heart disease, says Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, a nutrition specialist at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Clinical trials have also shown that these fatty acids help with heart rhythm, and may improve heart function and blood pressure, adds Dr. Ortiz.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid that helps boost the strength of the heart muscle in dogs. Taurine deficiency in dogs has also been linked to heart conditions in dogs. “We often fortify diets with this amino acid derivative since it has potential to be helpful in things like dilated cardiomyopathy,” says Dr. Wakshlag.

High Protein

Because a low protein diet can contribute to muscle loss in dogs with heart disease, cardiac dog food diets often contain higher levels of protein. However, if your dog has other health complications, like kidney disease, too much protein could be harmful. Check with your veterinarian to ensure the proper balance.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants like vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene neutralize harmful substances (free radicals) that contribute to heart disease.

Heart-Healthy Food for Dogs

You’ll find many commercial dog food formulas that claim to promote heart health in dogs. However, not all of them may be a good fit for your dog’s specific nutritional and cardiac health needs.

That’s why it’s essential to consult your veterinarian before transitioning your dog to a heart-healthy diet. Your vet can determine whether or not your dog would benefit from a prescription diet and recommend a formula based on key factors, such as:

whether or not your dog has been diagnosed with heart disease
your dog’s current heart condition and risk factors
whether your dog needs to lose or gain weight
the presence of other health complications, such as hypothyroidism and chronic kidney disease

Best Dog Food for Heart Problems: 4 Top Picks

Based on criteria from veterinary nutritionists, here are the top dog food options vets recommend for canine heart health.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog CC Cardiocare Dog Food

This innovative prescription diet contains a powerful Cardiac Protection Blend featuring nutrients proven to promote heart health in dogs. The science-backed formula also helps slow the progression of early-stage mitral valve disease, the most common heart issue veterinarians diagnose in dogs. (2)

CardioCare is rich in taurine for heart function, omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation, and antioxidants to help reduce stress on the heart. The high-protein, low-sodium formula was developed by a team of Purina Pro Plan veterinarians, nutritionists, and researchers. And it comes in tasty chicken-flavored dry and canned options to please a variety of palates.

Highlights

Contains low sodium content, which vets recommend for dogs with heart disease
Formulated with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and enhanced with higher level of vitamin E
Available in both dry and canned varieties
Purina is a long-standing, trusted brand that relies on experts to formulate its prescription diets

Things to Consider

It can’t be purchased without a prescription from your veterinarian
The CardioCare diet can run roughly three times the cost of standard dry dog food diets

Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Early Cardiac Diet for Dogs

Royal Canin’s Early Cardiac Diet stands out as a strong option for dogs diagnosed in the early stages of heart disease and pet parents who want to promote canine cardio health.

The formula is carefully balanced to help maintain cardiac health and delay the progression of heart disease. It features moderate levels of sodium to reduce stress on the heart, along with a trio of amino acids (arginine, carnitine, and taurine) to help prevent deficiencies linked to DCM.

Royal Canin is another trusted pet food brand, and it employs board-certified veterinary nutritionists to formulate its prescription diets.

Highlights

Moderately reduced sodium levels
Contains antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids in the form of both EPA and DHA
Formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
Royal Canin is a trusted, well-established pet food company

Things to Consider

It requires a prescription from your veterinarian
As with other therapeutic diets, expect to pay more than you would for heart-healthy dog foods available without a prescription
This formula is currently only available in dry form

Hill’s Prescription Diet Dog h/d Heart Care

This prescription diet from Hill’s offers a balanced approach to managing heart health without sacrificing essential nutrients. It’s specifically tailored to help ease the symptoms of heart disease in dogs so they can stay active and comfortable.

The low-sodium formula helps reduce the workload on your dog’s heart, normalizing blood pressure and minimizing fluid retention. It’s supplemented with taurine for heart muscle metabolism and powerful antioxidants, including Vitamin E and beta-carotene. This diet also helps support liver and kidney health, a bonus for dogs facing multiple health issues.

Hill’s has a long-standing reputation for scientific innovation and quality in nutrition. The brand’s h/d diet was developed by veterinarians and nutritionists and comes in both dry and canned varieties.

Highlights

Low sodium content helps minimize fluid retention and maintain normal blood pressure
Contains antioxidants like vitamins E and beta-carotene
Contains high levels of taurine
Developed by veterinarians and nutritionists
Hill’s is a well-established pet food company

Things to Consider

Requires a prescription from your veterinarian
Pricier than standard dog food diets

Royal Canin Breed Diets

For pet parents seeking heart-healthy dog food that doesn’t require a prescription, Royal Canin breed diets may be the solution.

While any dog can have heart disease, it’s more likely in some breeds than others. Golden Retrievers, for example, are at higher risk of developing DCM, notes Dr. Ortiz. Other breeds predisposed to heart disease include: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, Miniature Schnauzers, Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, and Shih Tzus.

Royal Canin’s breed-specific diets are individually formulated to address the unique nutritional and health needs of each breed. For example, the Royal Canin Golden Retriever diet contains a precise balance of calories and fats to support a healthy weight, plus taurine, EPA, and DHA to promote heart health.

Highlights

Tailored to fit the specific heart health and nutritional needs of breeds prone to heart disease disease.
No prescription required
Many formulas available for both puppies and adult dogs

Things to Consider

Breed-specific diets may not be a good nutritional fit for other breeds living in your home
More affordable than prescription cardiac diets, however still pricier than standard diets

Cardiac Diets for Dogs FAQs

What is the best dog food for heart disease?

It depends on the stage of your dog’s heart disease and the presence of other health conditions. Ultimately, your veterinarian can best determine what the optimal heart-healthy dog food diet is for your pup.

How much sodium should be in heart-healthy dog food?

For dogs diagnosed with heart disease, veterinarians generally recommend reduced sodium dog food. These diets typically contain less than 0.3 percent sodium (100 mg per 100 kcals). However, depending on what stage of heart disease your dog has, your vet may recommend going even lower. In some cases, dogs may require only 50 mg of sodium per 100 kcals, says Dr. Wakshlag.

What shouldn’t you feed a dog with heart problems?

Avoid giving dogs with heart problems any dog food with high sodium content. And since people foods often contain higher levels of sodium, it’s best to avoid those, too. Veterinarians also generally recommend against feeding grain-free or boutique diets, especially for breeds that are predisposed to DCM.

Can healthy heart dog food prevent heart problems in dogs?

Feeding your dog heart-healthy dog food will not prevent heart problems, but it can help slow the progression of heart disease. This can ultimately translate to better life quality.

Reference

Walker, A L et al. “Association of diet with clinical outcomes in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.” Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology vol. 40 (2022): 99-109. doi:10.1016/j.jvc.2021.02.001
Li, Q., Heaney, A., Langenfeld-McCoy, N. et al. “Dietary intervention reduces left atrial enlargement in dogs with early preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease: a blinded randomized controlled study in 36 dogs.” BMC Vet Res 15, 425 (2019). doi:10.1186/s12917-019-2169-1