November 11, 2009
Best Dog Food for Congestive Heart Failure
Everybody hopes for the very best for their canine. However, at times we are forced to face the fact that our beloved dog has medical issues that need to be tackled. For this particular article, let us focus on what is canine congestive heart failure and how to make nutritionally reliable choices to prevent the dog heart failure.
Heart disease is the result of an abnormality in yourdog's heart structure and performance. Most often, what occurs is that this defect causes your dog's heart to decrease its capacity to pump blood effectively which leads to ultimate heart failure for the poor dog. Frequently there are no telltale signs of this ailment until it is too late so we would do well to learn the best dog food for congestive heart failure - it is one of the most effective methods to avoid this from happening to your pet.
Just as is the case with people, a reduced salt diet will greatly help in keeping the health of the cardiovascular system. Try preparing 1/4 lb of lean beef ground meat with 2 cups of unsalted rice and 2 teaspoons dicalcium phosphate in vegetable oil. You can also use organic commercial dog food but check the nutritional content and consult with your vet before making any changes in the dog's diet and lifestyle.
Another essential nutrient that should be supplemented in your dog's daily food intake is Omega-3 fatty acids. This seems to not only reduce the risk of congestive heart illnesses for dogs, but with other potentially fatal heart ailments as well. Omega-3 is found abundantly in sea food and fish oil supplements.
Vitamin E can also increase the antioxidant levels in the dog's cardiovascular reserves. Studies have constantly shown that this particular vitamin helps animals with heart complications. When you are using a particular pet food, make sure that it has not been in storage for a very long period of time - especially if it has a high unsaturated fat content. This is one contributing factor in depleting your dog's vitamin E.
Other nutrients that help in improved canine cardiovascular function are Taurine and L-Carnitine. L-carnitine improves the dog's heart rate, exercise tolerance and protection against certain heart diseases. L-carnitine in partner with Taurine is recognized as good helpers in maintaining cardiac health for animals. Taurine specifically is said to extend the life expectancy of canines with congestive heart disease.
When looking at an appropriate dog food for congestive heart failure, do not overlook also the importance of exercise as a preventive measure for canine congestive heart failure. A symptom of this ailment is the animal's extreme exhaustion after exercising; so when you notice that the dog is exhibiting signs of labored breathing and extreme tiredness - take him to the vet for prognosis immediately.
Hearing about a beloved pet's life threatening condition is often heartbreaking. A small effort and learning about the best dog food for congestive heart failure will make a difference in keeping your dog's heart health. Keep this in mind and enjoy your dog's best years to date.






