Dog Community

Food for dogs with congestive heart failure

Posted : 9/9/2012 11:35:10 AM

Two of my dogs (both Cavaliers, one 11 and one 10) have CHF. Angel, the older one, takes Vetmedin and a low dose of a diuretic, while Bailey takes just Vetmedin. I'd like to give them food that is as good for their hearts as possible. They are currently fed Taste of the Wild or Evo Small Bites kibble, and some kangaroo or beef mince, and will soon have their kibble + Ziwipeak canned food. Are these foods sufficiently low in sodium and high in things like taurine that help the heart? If not, what would be best to give them? I live in Australia, and so unfortunately don't have some of the brands available in the USA.

griffinej5

Posted : 9/10/2012 7:57:48 AM

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I'm lucky not to have to, yet. I'm not sure what's available over there, or what might help. I hope I am allowed to refer you to another board. Cavaliertalk.com is a cavalier specific forum, and they may be able to help you a bit more with this cavalier specific issue.

Blue Dream

Posted : 9/10/2012 9:12:49 PM

Thank you very much, I'll have a look at that site and might ask them - having Cavaliers, they'd certainly deal with this issue. It's a shame such a great breed has all these health problems, but it could certainly have been worse for us - the CHF is very well managed right now, and both are happy and comfortable, and they got it at an age when dogs often develop health problems. Good luck with your gorgeous boy. :) How old is he?

shamrockmommy

Posted : 9/10/2012 9:39:16 PM

I'm sorry your guys are battling CHF. I just lost my 2nd chf dog a week and a half ago. I had her on mostly homecooked at the end.

I don't know how much sodium the foods you listed have in them, you'd be best to contact the company directly.

Good luck with them. <3

griffinej5

Posted : 9/14/2012 10:52:58 PM

Blue Dream
Thank you very much, I'll have a look at that site and might ask them - having Cavaliers, they'd certainly deal with this issue. It's a shame such a great breed has all these health problems, but it could certainly have been worse for us - the CHF is very well managed right now, and both are happy and comfortable, and they got it at an age when dogs often develop health problems. Good luck with your gorgeous boy. :) How old is he?

I thought I had replied earlier this week, but obviously not. Then again, I've spent much of this week taking any allergy medicine I could find.

My guy is 3.5. So far so good on the heart. I just had him checked this year for the first time at the health clinic at a cavalier specialty. I never really knew about the health clinics, but I learned about that over on the cavalier forum.