With the recent diagnosis of Gunner's heart disease, specifically endocardiosis and moderate pulmonary hypertension, I have an increased motivation to provide optimum dietary and environmental support.
Gunner has an acquired disease that has caused thickening of the valves in the heart; over time this thickening has allowed a leak across the valves (causes the murmur sound) which has led to enlargement of the left heart chambers. Gunner is on medication (7.25mg enalapril every 24 hours and 2.5mg pimobendan every 12 hours on an empty stomach) in an effort to slow down progression and help the heart pump function. He additionally has developed moderate pulmonary hypertension or high blood pressure in the lungs.
My reading has included a literature search of the veterinary cardiology journals, and especially some interesting studies and recommendations from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine about food and its relation to heart disease in dogs.
I've re-read the revised and expanded edition of The China Study, The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell, MD (whose dad was a veterinarian) as well as re-reading Good Old Dog, Expert Advice for Keeping Your Aging Dog Happy, Healthy and Comfortable by the faculty of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
I have just finished reading the new book The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier and Longer by Karen Becker, DVM, and it's been compelling and interesting. I've pre-ordered the soon-to-be-released book Discovering Your Dog, New Information on How To Give Your Canine Pal a Longer, Healthier Life by Chris Zink, DVM, PhD.
All my reading leads to a few well-known and important conclusions:
- Maintaining a low body weight leads to a healthier longevity
- Daily physical exercise, in almost any form or function, is key to preventing degeneration of both the body and brain
- What you eat, and when, matters: dietary habits influence disease risk, and certain foods can trigger chronic health conditions, while other foods offer strong medicinal and protective qualities even if disease is inherent or already in process
- The collective genomes of the microbes (composed of bacteria, bacteriophage, fungi, protozoa, and viruses) that live inside and on the animal (including human) body known as the microbiome, is important and our diet can be optimized to feed our microbiome
- We should avoid contaminants and carcinogens in our environment such as pesticides, herbicides, processed foods, and off-gassing from household goods; our diet can and should be used to combat and protect us from these contaminants
My reading also lead me to realize that the highly processed with high heat and "feed grade" ingredients (which can include substandard ingredients, and have had euthanasia drugs detected in the ingredients, which is horrible on several levels) may not be the healthiest option in dog food, so I began searching for the best possible healthy diets for dogs.
The raw diet is compelling, but it is not at all convenient, becomes time- and cost-prohibitive, and mostly I do not want to risk upset tummy for Gunner or risk bones getting stuck anywhere in Gunner's gi system. Due to Gunner's heart condition, his veterinarian cardiologist has explained to me that Gunner is not a surgical candidate as his condition would likely not survive a surgical procedure, and neither is Gunner a candidate to receive IV fluids nor sub-cutaneous fluids so I do not want to risk dehydration from diarrhea or vomiting, or bones getting lodged. So that eliminates a raw diet for Gunner.
The next-healthiest food option is gently heated at relatively low temperatures 100% human-grade (not "feed" grade) dehydrated food. After communicating with three different dog food brands to suss out sodium and protein content, and even speaking a couple times over the phone with nutritionist Dr. Harvey Cohen (of Dr. Harvey's brand dog food), the dehydrated food that emerged as a good option is The Honest Kitchen brand Gourmet Grains Beef and Salmon Recipe.
Of course I consulted with Gunner's veterinary cardiologist who approved this diet change, with the good advice to be sure to transition to the new food slowly over a few weeks to avoid any tummy upset. Gunner is already getting a good spoonful of pumpkin on every meal, so that should help with the transition as well.
After slowly transitioning Gunner over a few weeks and it’s established that Gunner is tolerating the new diet well, I will gradually begin the additional supplements of Wholistic Pet brand Deep Sea Salmon Oil with vitamin E, and will consider a supplement that includes probiotic, glucosamine, collagen, turmeric, MSM, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid (in a SmartPak brand combo senior soft chew that Rosco has been taking successfully for years), as well as rotate organic, heart-healthy, immune-boosting, microbiome-feeding whole food toppers from the human grocery store.
When considering any dog's diet, most veterinarians agree that 10% of a dog's diet can be "junk" and not upset the status quo, so I'm using that 10% margin to put health-boosting additions such as blueberries, carrots, and mushrooms (which serve as probiotic food to the microbiome) as toppers on my other dogs' food, and will begin doing that with Gunner after he has successfully transitioned to the new diet.
Gunner's current diet, away from which he will be transitioning to the new Honest Kitchen brand food, is Fromm brand Salmon A La Veg dry kibble, with the aforementioned dollop of pumpkin on each meal.
Pearls:
- See bulleted list above
- Some of the books in my library I've found to be helpful are pictured here:
- A book that has been recommended by Patricia McConnell that I've pre-ordered for when it is released:
- After doing some reading, and with approval from Gunner's veterinarian cardiologist, the dog food that I've chosen for Gunner:
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