Chances are, if you are reading this review, your dog has recently been diagnosed with a heart murmur, and you need to put him on a proper heart healthy diet. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Along with the suggestions from your vet, the information in this article was compiled to help you choose the right food for your dog and his heart.
Wet food, dry food, grain-free, low sodium, omega-3, high protein…where does it end, and where do you start? While you should always seek the advice of your vet, if your dog is finicky (he would rather pee on it than eat it) and your budget is tight, having other options is essential to getting your dog tasty, heart-healthy food that won’t put you in the poor house.
After carefully comparing nutritional information, ingredients and value, here are our top seven reviews on dog food for heart murmurs.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription
Made with human-grade meat and vegetables
Developed by veterinary nutritionists
No fillers or preservatives
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Best Value
Earthborn Holistic Adult Vantage Natural
Health boosting supplements
More affordable than prescription diet dog food
Contains minerals and vitamins for a healthy heart
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Royal Canin Adult Early Cardiac
Moderate sodium
Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy heart function
Contains carnitine, taurine, and arginine for heart health
Check Price
Best for Puppies
Hill’s Science Diet
Contains high-quality fish oil
Antioxidant and vitamin C and E for immune system support
Quality protein for growth of lean muscle
Check Price
Vet’s Choice
Hill’s Prescription Diet Heart Care
Pea-free with grain
Available in wet and dry
Low sodium
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The 7 Best Dog Foods for Heart Murmur
1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall
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Main ingredients: Chicken, Brussels sprouts, chicken liver, bok choy, broccoli
Protein content: 46%
Fat content: 34%
Calories: 590/lb
The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe is the overall best dog food for dogs with heart murmurs. It is made with clean, nutritious ingredients that can be eaten by humans and allows pet owners to give their pets fresh foods without all the guesswork and hassle of preparing the meals themselves. The tasty, pre-portioned meal options are personalized to your pet’s specific weight and age and are delivered right to your door. The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe contains vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts and nutrients including fish oil and amino acids for a balanced diet.
With four choices available including, beef, chicken, turkey, or pork, you are sure to find one to your dog’s liking. We chose the chicken recipe since it does not contain legumes and may be a better option for dogs with heart murmur.
The veterinary nutritionists that developed The Farmer’s Dog ensure that the meals exceed the standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and are cooked in kitchens that are inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
While The Farmer’s Dog meals can be on the costly side, it may be the more affordable option when you consider that a healthier diet can reduce the number of trips to the vet and may be more affordable than a premium dog food or prescription diet for your pet’s specific health issues.
Pros
Made with human-grade meat and vegetables
Developed by veterinary nutritionists
No fillers or preservatives
Contains vitamins and fish oil
Pre-portioned meals for your dog’s individual age, weight, breed, and level of activity
Cons
Can be pricey, especially with larger dogs
Freezer or refrigerator space needed
Subscription only
Cutting costs do not mean we need to sacrifice quality when buying heart healthy dog food for our pet. Earthborn Holistic Adult Vantage Natural is the best dog food for heart murmurs for the money. The food contains vital nutrients for a healthy heart and is full of vitamins and minerals from such foods as apples and carrots. The protein content comes from sources such as chicken and whitefish but is an unimpressive twenty-two percent.
Made with human-grade meat and vegetables
Developed by veterinary nutritionists
No fillers or preservatives
Contains vitamins and fish oil
Pre-portioned meals for your dog’s individual age, weight, breed, and level of activity
- Made with human-grade meat and vegetables
- Developed by veterinary nutritionists
- No fillers or preservatives
- Contains vitamins and fish oil
- Pre-portioned meals for your dog’s individual age, weight, breed, and level of activity
Can be pricey, especially with larger dogs
Freezer or refrigerator space needed
Subscription only
- Can be pricey, especially with larger dogs
- Freezer or refrigerator space needed
- Subscription only
Main ingredients: Turkey meal, brown rice, pumpkin, pearled barley, oatmeal
Protein content: 23%
Fat content: 12%
Calories: 350/cup
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Although the protein percentage is on the lower side, it is formulated from whole foods and contains vital minerals and vitamins to keep your dog’s diet heart healthy and the best dog food for the money.
Pros
Health boosting supplements
More affordable than prescription diet dog food
Contains minerals and vitamins for a healthy heart
Nutrient-rich formula
Cons
Crude Protein content is low
A review of Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Early Cardiac Dry Food found that it is made with a high-quality animal protein for easy absorption and digestion. It contains omega-3 fatty acids to help with inflammation, low sodium to control blood pressure, and essential nutrients for heart health.
Health boosting supplements
More affordable than prescription diet dog food
Contains minerals and vitamins for a healthy heart
Nutrient-rich formula
- Health boosting supplements
- More affordable than prescription diet dog food
- Contains minerals and vitamins for a healthy heart
- Nutrient-rich formula
Crude Protein content is low
- Crude Protein content is low
Main ingredients: Brewer’s rice, chicken fat, chicken meal, soy protein
Protein content: 21.5%
Fat content: minimum of 13.5%
Calories: 290/cup
This vet prescribed diet is pea-free and meets AAFCO standards. This is a costly prescription diet considering it does not contain a whole-food, quality protein as the first ingredient, however. It also requires a prescription from your vet, so you can’t simply pop into the local pet supply store to purchase it in a pinch.
Pros
Moderate sodium
Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy heart function
Contains carnitine, taurine, and arginine for heart health
Cons
A bit pricey
Protein isn’t the first ingredient
Prescription only
- Hill’s Science Diet– Best for Puppies
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Main ingredients: Chicken, brown rice, whole grain oats, cracked pearled barley, chicken meal
Protein content: 24.5%
Fat content: 16.5% min
Calories: 434/cup
We chose Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal and Barley Recipe for puppies with heart murmur. This is a diet that requires a prescription from your vet. It provides the proper nutrition for puppies up to one year old. The chicken meal and barley recipe contain wholesome ingredients to support brain health, skeletal and eye development and balanced to provide all the nourishment your puppy needs. The tasty recipe has natural ingredients for easy digestion and does not contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Moderate sodium
Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy heart function
Contains carnitine, taurine, and arginine for heart health
- Moderate sodium
- Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy heart function
- Contains carnitine, taurine, and arginine for heart health
A bit pricey
Protein isn’t the first ingredient
Prescription only
- A bit pricey
- Protein isn’t the first ingredient
- Prescription only
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Main ingredients: Chicken, brown rice, whole grain oats, cracked pearled barley, chicken meal
Protein content: 24.5%
Fat content: 16.5% min
Calories: 434/cup
This is an excellent option for your puppy’s development, especially with a heart murmur, but keep in mind that you will need a prescription from your vet to purchase it. You also can’t simply go to the store if you’re running low.
Pros
Contains high-quality fish oil
Antioxidant and vitamin C and E for immune system support
Quality protein for growth of lean muscle
Promotes strong teeth and bones
Cons
A bit costly
Requires a prescription
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Heart Care Dry Dog Food – Vet’s Choice
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Main ingredients: Whole grain corn, pork fat, soy protein, chicken by-product meal, chicken liver flavor
Protein content: 14.5%
Fat content: 16.5%
Calories: 410/cup
This is a prescription diet that is specially formulated to support heart health for your dog. Heart care with chicken canned food is a great option for older dogs with difficulty chewing the dry food or smaller dogs that find the kibble too big. The reduced sodium helps normalize blood pressure and reduce fluid retention and is our vet’s choice for dogs with a heart murmur.
Contains high-quality fish oil
Antioxidant and vitamin C and E for immune system support
Quality protein for growth of lean muscle
Promotes strong teeth and bones
- Contains high-quality fish oil
- Antioxidant and vitamin C and E for immune system support
- Quality protein for growth of lean muscle
- Promotes strong teeth and bones
A bit costly
Requires a prescription
- A bit costly
- Requires a prescription
Main ingredients: Whole grain corn, pork fat, soy protein, chicken by-product meal, chicken liver flavor
Protein content: 14.5%
Fat content: 16.5%
Calories: 410/cup
The food replaces nutrients like magnesium and potassium that may be lost from taking necessary medications. As with any health concerns, check with your vet before feeding your dog a specialized diet. Like other foods on this list, this formula requires a prescription.
Pros
Pea-free with grain
Available in wet and dry
Low sodium
High levels of taurine and L-carnitine for heart health
Cons
Kibble a bit large for some breeds
Requires a prescription
Less than 15% protein
For cardiac support, Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie contains high quality nutrition for your dog. The primary proteins are bison and venison, which are lean and full of flavor. The review found that owners saw an improvement in skin and coat and their dogs enjoyed the flavor. It does not contain any wheat, corn, filler, or artificial colors or flavors, and it is preservative free. The ingredients are easy to digest and full of antioxidants for a healthy functioning heart.
Pea-free with grain
Available in wet and dry
Low sodium
High levels of taurine and L-carnitine for heart health
- Pea-free with grain
- Available in wet and dry
- Low sodium
- High levels of taurine and L-carnitine for heart health
Kibble a bit large for some breeds
Requires a prescription
Less than 15% protein
- Kibble a bit large for some breeds
- Requires a prescription
- Less than 15% protein
Main ingredients: Water buffalo, pork, chicken meal, grain sorghum, millet
Protein content: 32%
Fat content: 18%
Calories: 445/cup
With this food, owners praised its price and reported healthier-looking stool and a softer coat for their dogs. Some owners said that their dogs with allergies did better on this food as well. Unfortunately, others said that their dogs had bad gas from the food, and others said their dogs didn’t like the taste.
Pros
Owners reported healthier looking stool
Healthier looking and softer coat
Owners found the food to affordably priced for the quality of the food
Dogs experienced relief from allergy related skin issues
Cons
Some owners reported their dogs had excessive gas.
Some dogs don’t like the taste
- The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Dehydrated Dog Food
Check Price on The Honest Kitchen Check Price on Chewy
Use code PETKEEN30 to SAVE 30% on your first order over $30 on thehonestkitchen.com
Main ingredients: dehydrated turkey, organic oats, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed. Dehydrated carrots, dehydrated cabbage
Protein content: 22%
Fat content: 15%
Calories: 207/cup
The Honest Kitchen is a complete and balanced dog food that is good for all breeds and all sizes including senior dogs. The human grade food can be served as a meal (just add hot water), or as a topper to dry food. The food is made with ingredients like, organic oats, cabbage, cage free turkey, apples and is dehydrated for easy digestion and to retain the nutrients.
Owners reported healthier looking stool
Healthier looking and softer coat
Owners found the food to affordably priced for the quality of the food
Dogs experienced relief from allergy related skin issues
- Owners reported healthier looking stool
- Healthier looking and softer coat
- Owners found the food to affordably priced for the quality of the food
- Dogs experienced relief from allergy related skin issues
Some owners reported their dogs had excessive gas.
Some dogs don’t like the taste
- Some owners reported their dogs had excessive gas.
- Some dogs don’t like the taste
Check Price on The Honest Kitchen Check Price on Chewy
Check Price on The Honest Kitchen
- Use code PETKEEN30 to SAVE 30% on your first order over $30 on thehonestkitchen.com
It does not contain any fillers, by-products, preservatives, GMO ingredients, corn, soy, or wheat. It is an all-natural dog food that is made in the USA. This food may be expensive for those on a budget, however, and it takes some work to prepare.
Pros
It contains kelp and flaxseed for heart health
Human grade
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
No feed-grade by-products or fillers
No GMO ingredients
Cons
Expensive
Takes work to prepare
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Dog Food for Heart Murmurs
It is not easy to make important decisions on what food to feed your pet with heart murmur. The information can be confusing and overwhelming.
It contains kelp and flaxseed for heart health
Human grade
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
No feed-grade by-products or fillers
No GMO ingredients
- It contains kelp and flaxseed for heart health
- Human grade
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- No feed-grade by-products or fillers
- No GMO ingredients
Expensive
Takes work to prepare
- Expensive
- Takes work to prepare
A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound. The seriousness can be one (least serious) to six (most serious) and classified as physiologic (genetic) or pathologic, resulting from a pre-existing condition in the structure of the heart.
Physiologic Heart Murmurs
Physiologic heart murmurs are not considered a health risk when detected in puppies. Though it may not always be the case, it is not unusual for the heart murmur to disappear with age, and they don’t require treatment.
Pathologic Heart Murmurs
Pathologic heart murmurs, on the other hand, can indicate an underlying heart issue and your vet may run tests to diagnose and treat any conditions that may be affecting your dog’s heart. In addition to medication, your veterinarian may put your dog on a special diet to ensure heart health.
When choosing a heart healthy food for your dog, you should look for a diet low in sodium that contains lean meat-based protein, fatty acids from fish oil and chicken fat, fruits, and vegetables. It should contain supplements like glucosamine and foods rich in vitamin A, C and E, and contain minerals like taurine, and L-carnitine.
Dogs with heart murmurs may have a poor appetite, so it is important to make sure they maintain a healthy weight. As we know, unhealthy foods are the most flavorful so finding a dog food that entices your dog to eat, and contains healthy ingredients, is not an easy task.
As with anything concerning your pet’s health, you should always seek the advice of your vet.
Conclusion
For dogs with heart murmur, our best overall pick is The Farmers Dog so you can watch your dog scarf down his food as though you were not feeding him a heart healthy diet. If prescription diets and food subscriptions are not within your budget, we have chosen Earthborn Holistic Adult Vantage Natural for the best value, which has proper nutrition for heart health.
Our premium choice for heart health is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Early Cardiac Dry Dog Food because it is a prescription diet that is packed with quality ingredients at an affordable price. For puppies, Hill’s Science Diet is our choice for its complete and balanced nutrition for heart health. Our vet’s choice for dogs with heart murmurs is Hills Prescription Diet h/d Heart Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food to provide your dog with the nutrition it needs to keep its heart healthy.
Featured Image Credit: Tatyana Vic, Shutterstock
Sources
fda.gov discover.thefarmersdog.com
- fda.gov
- discover.thefarmersdog.com
