Supplements for Pets with Heart Disease

Pets with heart disease benefit from supplements that contain:

CoQ10 (30 mg per day for small dogs and cats to 120 mg/day for large dogs)
Omega 3 fatty acids (250-1000 mg/day)
Taurine (500-1000 mg/day for cats. Clam juice has a high concentration of Taurine.)
L carnitine
Magnesium

How do these supplements help pets with different types of heart disease?

CoQ10

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes the pet’s heart to be enlarged because the heart muscle is thickened. Rather than being able to contract strongly because the heart muscle is thick, this heart muscle is inefficient. In addition, the enlarged muscle takes up space inside the heart so there is less room for blood. Each contraction of the heart pumps only a small amount of blood.

Mitral valve disease is common in small dogs, such as poodles. The mitral valve is between the left ventricle and left atrium so that when the heart beats the valve doesn’t close and blood flows backward. Less blood is sent out into circulation, and the pet has a murmur made by the sound of blood flowing back. In studies done with pets supplemented with CoQ10 from 30-120 mg per day, dogs (Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, St Bernard and Saluki) and cats had improved cardiac function.

CoQ10 is best absorbed if given with oil. It can be combined with Omega 3 fatty acids from fish or flax seed, or other oils. CoQ10 is an expensive supplement that is made in Japan. A cheaper synthetic is available, but many consider it ineffective.

Omega 3 fatty acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish and in flax seeds. Pets with irregular heart rhythms, which can occur when the heart has an unusual shape (dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), benefit from Omega 3 fatty acids. Breeds that often have irregular cardiac rhythm include Doberman Pinschers and Boxers. Supplementing these breeds with 250-1000 mg Omega 3 fatty acids per day should help prevent arrhythmia and decrease cardiac deaths.

Omega 3 fatty acids also benefit pets with chronic inflammation. For example, pets with stomatitis, gingivitis and poor oral health live with chronic inflammation because of unhealthy mouth and gum tissue. Bacteria and inflammation in the mouth may lead to bacterial infiltration of heart valves with subsequent inflammation. These pets may benefit from Omega 3 fatty acid supplements, as well as dental care and antibiotics.

Taurine
With dilated cardiomyopathy (cardio=heart, myo=muscle, pathy=disease), the pet’s heart is very large, but the walls are thin so that they do not contract like a strong muscle. If the disease is caught early, taurine can reverse it, and the heart will develop a more normal shape and strength.

For cats, taurine is an essential nutrient that must be supplied in the diet because cats cannot produce enough taurine for their needs. Cats are supplemented with taurine at 500-1000 mg per day. Without taurine, cats may become blind as well as develop heart disease. Clam juice and animal flesh are good sources of taurine.

Although dogs synthesize taurine, there are some dogs that don’t make enough for their heart muscles to be healthy. Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers appear to have more problems with low taurine than other breeds. These dogs may develop dilated cardiomyopathy so that the heart is large, but acts as a very weak pump. Supplementing dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy with 500-1000 mg of taurine three times a day improves cardiac function.

L-carnitine
Some dog breeds have dilated cardiomyopathy due to a deficiency of the amino acid L-carnitine within their heart muscle cells. For a long time this was not understood because these dogs had normal levels of L-carnitine circulating in their blood. Breeds with the greatest problems are Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, Dalmatians, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Newfoundlands, and Salukis. Supplementing with L-carnitine may benefit these breeds.

Magnesium
Congestive heart failure can be caused by heart valve deficiencies, hyperthyroidism, medications such as the cancer drug doxorubicin, and heartworm infections. Whatever the cause of congestive heart failure, these pets often have irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia) because their magnesium levels are low. Supplementing these pets with magnesium helps prevent deaths due to arrhythmia.

Magnesium supplements are also important for cats with heart disease that are fed magnesium-restricted diets. Dietary magnesium is restricted to help control struvite bladder stones. Rather than restrict magnesium, for some cats it is better to prevent the bladder infections that cause struvite formation. These cats also benefit from acidifying the urine because the low pH prevents struvite stones from forming.