Everything You Need to Know About Protecting Your Pet’s Heart

A veterinarian with blue rubber gloves checks a dog's heart beat with a stethoscope.
February 10, 2022

Bringing an animal home is a wonderful way to grow your family. Dogs are more than just pets, they’re our best friends. Caring for your four-legged friend isn’t always easy, though, since animals can’t communicate with us when something is wrong.

When taking care of your pet, being proactive is one of the best things you can do. Many dogs are prone to heart disease, and keeping them at a healthy weight, exercising them regularly, and using products that contain CBD, like CBD dog food, is a great way to prolong the life of your dog and reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease.

Types of Heart Disease in Dogs

Heart disease in dogs refers to anything that affects your canine’s heart, blood vessels, and prevents their cardiovascular system from functioning normally. In dogs, some of the most common heart diseases are:

  • Heartworm – Heartworm is caused by your dog being bitten by mosquito-carrying heartworm larvae. The larvae infect and multiply in your dog’s cardiovascular system and can clog arteries.
  • Pericardial disease – Pericardial disease is a fluid build-up in the sac that lines your pup’s heart.
  • Congenital heart defects – Congenital heart defects are problems with the heart that your dog was born with. Sometimes, symptoms don’t develop until later in life.
  • Congestive heart failure – Congestive heart failure is the result of long-term heart disease that causes your dog’s heart to stop functioning properly
  • Mitral valve disease – Mitral valve disease is the weakening of the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle of your dog’s heart.
  • Canine cardiac arrhythmia – Canine cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat.
  • Myocardial disease – Myocardial disease is the thickening of the wall of your dog’s heart, which shrinks the heart chambers and prevents it from functioning properly.

Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

To care for your dog well, prevention is key. While some dogs are born with heart conditions, like congenital heart defects, you can still lessen the symptoms that your dog experiences and prevent the disease from worsening. Three ways to prevent heart disease are:

1. Lead an active lifestyle

Leading an active lifestyle and managing your dog's weight is an important part of preventing heart disease. When your pet is sedentary and overweight, their hearts have to work harder to function normally, which creates a lot of stress on the organ and their bodies. Getting regular exercise and staying within a healthy weight range keeps their hearts happy.

2. Have regular visits with your vet

Having regular visits and checkups with your veterinarian is another great way to prevent heart disease from developing. When you see your vet regularly, they can monitor your dog’s vitals, weight, and other critical information that could indicate a problem.

3. Add CBD and hemp products into your dog’s diet

Finally, CBD dog food has many benefits. It can help with stress and anxiety, pain management, nausea, inflammation, and arthritis. Hemp is calming for dogs, and stress is a big factor in heart problems. CBD dog food has also been shown to prevent diseases that lead to heart failure.

Facts About CBD Dog Food

If CBD dog food is new to you, you may have a few questions about it.

Q: What’s in CBD dog food?

A: CBD dog food contains CBD, or Cannabidiol, which is a cannabis compound. CBD is made from hemp that has high CBD and low THC compounds. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the compound that causes a psychoactive response, and CBD does not. In other words, CBD dog food will not get your pup high.

Q: How long does CBD stay in dogs’ systems?

A: CBD stays in your dog’s system for 24 hours, which is why it’s a good idea to use CBD dog food as opposed to just treats or tinctures. Your dog eats their food every day but treats and other forms of CBD for dogs aren’t always given as regularly. The benefits of CBD are more consistent when your dog gets it every day.

Q: Can puppies have CBD?

A: Absolutely! CBD dog food is safe for all dogs, even puppies. Because CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, your puppy will feel completely normal, and dogs and puppies cannot overdose on CBD.

Q: How much CBD dog food should I feed my dog?

A: The package of dog food will tell you exactly how much food your dog needs each day. The suggested amount will be based on its size and weight, but a good rule of thumb when introducing CBD products into your dog’s diet is 0.2MG of CBD per pound of your dog’s weight.

For more information about CBD and dogs, get in touch with the Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists team today.

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