There are many people who do not harbor any type of doubt when it comes to welcoming an animal in their home, since the dog is one of the most common options and it should not surprise us, it is very It is true that we are dealing with man's best friend and that the loy alty of a dog often leaves us perplexed.
Fostering a dog is synonymous with assuming a great responsibility and giving it all the attention, affection and care it needs so that it can enjoy a full and happy life, however, over the years they are also susceptible to numerous diseases.
In this article we show you how you can help your friend through optimal nutrition, exposing you the basics of feeding for dogs with heart problems.
Cardiac pathologies in dogs
Between 20 and 40% of the dog population suffer from heart valve damageand curiously, the same percentage is overweight, so we can see how the nutritional status and eating habits influence the he alth of our pets, in the same way that human nutrition also triggers numerous pathologies.
If we extrapolate these percentages to small breeds, such as Yorkshire or Pekingese, the rate increases, since 60% of these dogs suffer from some type of heart problem.
Cardiac pathologies in dogs result in heart failure, that is, the pumping of the heart is reduced and with this fact the supply of oxygen, blood and nutrients to the tissues also decreases, which It globally affects your entire body.
As we have mentioned before, diet is directly related to this type of pathology (although other factors are involved) and it is possible to prevent them if we feed our friend properly, however, if the disease has already been diagnosed, we must know that an adequate diet must be part of the treatment.
Recognizing the symptoms of heart failure in dogs
If our dog suffers from a heart disorder we must Warn it as far in advance as possible, so that we can quickly go to the vet, who will prescribe a dietary and sometimes pharmacological treatment. Heart failure in dogs can manifest as follows:
- Fatigue before any type of physical activity such as walking or playing
- Cough
- Accelerated breathing
- Rapid pulse
- Loss of appetite
We can take our dog's pulse by placing our index and ring fingers on the inside of our pet's thigh, normal heart rates are as follows:
- From 100 to 160 beats per minute for dogs weighing less than 13 kilos
- From 60 to 100 beats per minute for dogs weighing more than 13 kilos
Specific nutritional requirements for dogs with heart problems
The diet of a dog with heart problems must cover the following specific nutritional requirements:
- Low s alt content: Common s alt or sodium chloride retains fluids, which translates into greater blood volume, since Blood plasma is made up mostly of water. By increasing the volume of circulating blood, the heart supports even more work, for this reason it is so important that our dog's diet is low in s alt.
- Extraordinary contribution of taurine: Taurine is an amino acid that we find in proteins of animal origin and that is essential for proper functioning of cardiac cells. We find it in fish, chicken meat and beef, among other foods. It is even common for the vet to recommend a nutritional supplement based on taurine.
- Tasty and appetizing nutrition: As we have seen before, heart failure can manifest itself through a significant loss of appetite, which compromises the nutrition of our pet. In order for the dog to ingest the necessary energy through food, we must offer food that is appetizing, including some specific wet food for dogs.
Balanced food or homemade food?
It is evident that the feed is perfectly adapted to the nutritional requirements of our dog friends, and also, in the event of a heart problem, We must know that there are specific lines of canine nutrition that sell feed that meets all the characteristics mentioned above in its nutritional composition. You should also bear in mind that if your dog has been eating dry food all his life, you should not suddenly change his diet.
However, the problem arises when our dog is accustomed to homemade food and is diagnosed with heart failure, so we must try to cover his specific nutritional requirements through food for human consumption.
In any case the veterinarian will tell you what type of feeding is the most suitable for your case and will help you to implement it progressively and will also recommend how to properly nourish your pet with homemade food, if necessary.
