Food for dog with heart condition

[millie99]

We took our jack Russel to the vet yesterday for his vaccinations. The vet we saw said we should put him on hillls prescription diet hd which is for dog with heart conditions. I have been doing some research which says it is a waste of money.

Also he is now 12 and he has been seen by a different vet there since we got him at 6 months old for his heart as he is the specialist who deal with heart conditions and he has never mentioned feeding a special diet.

If you have a gerbil dog with heart conditions. Do you food them a special diet or regular dog food.

Thanks

 

[{97702}]

I have never and would never change a dogs food because of a heart condition - and personally I hate the Hills Prescription Diet as I think it is a real waste of money

 

[chillipup]

I would have been tempted to ask the vet, that as the dog had got to the age of 12, with its heart murmur but without being on any special diet, why would I want to change it now? Perhaps the practice has been told to flog the Hills before it goes out of date

 

[Moobli]

It would depend on the severity of the heart condition as to whether I would look at changing an elderly dog's diet. One of my collie's suffered from congestive heart failure and sadly didn't live long enough for me to look into his particular diet. I believe a dog with severe heart disease loses the ability to adequately excrete sodium (salt) from their body and hence a low sodium diet is essential. I can only assume this is why your vet has suggested the Hills Prescription diet. If you trust your vet and have faith in them then I, personally, would follow their advice - but perhaps get a second opinion if you aren't sure.

 

[millie99]

Thanks for all your advice. I have just called the vets and they are going to speak to the vet who useually treats him tomorrow when he is back and find out if we should change his food or not. Thanks again
.