Pet Maintenance: A Guide to Dog Heart Health

Since your dog is a member of your family, keeping its heart healthy is just as crucial as taking care of your own. Heart problems in dogs are different from heart problems in people. For example, coronary artery disease is less common in dogs than in people, but heart failure in seniors is a real concern. You can protect your dog’s heart by taking care of it. Here are some things to consider to protect your dog’s heart health.

Healthy Diet

High-fat, high-salt diets are bad for you and your pet because they can cause high blood pressure, weight gain, and high cholesterol, all risk factors for heart disease.

Vets suggest adding high-quality protein and vegetables to a high-quality dry or canned food brand for your pet. Give your pet vegetables instead of treats that come in boxes or bags. If you give your pet vegetables of all different colors, they will get a variety of antioxidants.

But there are a few foods you should stay away from. Don’t eat any garlic, shallots, leeks, or onions. Grapes and raisins are also not allowed because some pets could get sick. Fruit is usually safe as long as your pet isn’t too heavy. On occasion, organic berries are still fine.

How much food you should give will depend on how many calories are in the meal you serve. If your pet is too fat, a low-calorie diet might be the best thing to do. Using a measuring cup is also important to ensure you feed the right amount.

Regular Exercise

Both people and dogs can get heart disease from not being active. So, doing a little bit of exercise daily can reduce your chances of getting heart disease. But it’s usually a good idea to talk to a doctor before starting a new workout plan.

Cat & dog wellness exams can rule out any health problems that might get worse when you work out. If your pet isn’t used to being active, you’ll have to slowly add more time for him to be outside. Start by working out for 10 minutes a few times a week. Gradually add more time until you’re working out at least 30 minutes every day. Exercise can be done by walking, jogging, swimming, hiking, throwing a ball, or training to be more agile.

Remember that the amount of activity a pet needs varies depending on age, breed, weight, and health. You should always talk to a vet to get more info if you need to know how much exercise your pet needs.

Weight Management

Dogs that are too fat are more likely to have health troubles like heart disease. Like in people, the extra weight makes the heart work harder. On the other hand, losing weight will help improve how well your heart works.

Before your pet can lose weight, your vet must treat or rule out any health problems. If there are no other problems, the only way for your pet to lose weight is to use more calories than it takes in.

Regular Checkups

It is very important to go to your veterinary clinic in Orange regularly. If you take your dog to the vet once a year, your vet can find problems like a heart murmur early on (or semiannually for elderly pets). This is important because animals tend to hide signs of illness until the illness has gotten worse.

Conclusion

Anyone who has felt the love and loyalty of a dog knows that these furry friends do nothing but good for our hearts. A lot of research supports this. Studies show that having a dog makes your heart healthier by making you less lonely, more active, and lowering your blood pressure, all of which are significant risk factors for heart disease and stroke. They might even make people live longer. But a dog’s heart needs care as well. And people can do things to make sure they get it.