How to Keep Your Pet’s Heart Healthy: Vet-approved Tips for Dogs and Cats

Author Dr. Teri Schroeck, DVM February 2026

Learn how to keep your pet’s heart healthy with veterinary approved tips on diet, exercise, heart worm prevention, breeds predisposed to cardiac conditions and clinical signs of heart disease in dogs and cats

Feed a Heart-Healthy Pet Diet

It is recommended to feed AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) approved veterinary diets for your pets. These diets have been tested to meet all of the nutritional needs of your pet. For cardiac patients, a diet low in sodium is recommended. Furthermore, take caution when using grain-free or boutique-like diets as the FDA is currently looking at the relationship of these diets and a possible link to a heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Omega-3 FAs have been used in studies and recommended by cardiologist to improve heart health. Visit our online store at myvetstoreonline.pharmacy to purchase the best veterinary recommended omega fatty acid for heart health.

Encourage Daily Exercise

To keep your pets heart healthy, it is recommended to provide consistent daily exercise for your pet. Not only does this train the heart to work at different levels of intensity, but it also helps reduce obesity which is commonly linked to heart disease. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways to prevent canine and feline heart worm disease. Pets need to have at least 20-minutes of exercise twice a day in order to stay cardiovascularly fit.

Prevent Heartworm Infections

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and this disease is very prevalent in the United States, especially in the Southeast. Heartworms live in the chambers of the heart and can cause significant cardiac disease and can be fatal if untreated. Heartworm disease can easily be prevented by using oral or topical heart worm medications once a month. There is an alternative to oral preventatives for those who have difficulty administering the oral monthly preventative. It is called ProHeart 12. ProHeart 12 is a single injection (for dogs only) that is given subcutaneously and provides heartworm protection for the duration of one year. For more information on heartworm disease please visit the American Heartworm Society website at heartwormsociety.org. We now offer these ProHeart 12 injections at Schroeck Veterinary Care (SVC).

Breeds predisposed to cardiac conditions

For our dog lovers: Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards, Cocker Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Boxer, Golden Retriever, Chihuahua, Dachshund, and Poodles have all been associated with an increase of cardiac disease. For our cat lovers: Maine Coon, Ragdoll and Sphynx are at risk.

Clinical Signs of Heart Disease

Some of the most common signs of heart disease are the following: coughing (especially at night), exercise intolerance, labored breathing, and collapse or fainting. Pets can also have weight loss or distended abdomens with some cardiac conditions. Here is a quick tip for at home monitoring: record your pet’s resting breathing rate for one minute. If your pet’s resting breathing rate is over 35 breaths per minute, then there is a good chance that your pet may be having some cardiac abnormalities and needs immediate veterinary attention.

Schedule Regular Veterinary Heart Checkups

Having your pet checked by a veterinarian on a regular annual basis is critical for identifying any underlying cardiac concerns. Heart murmurs, irregular rhythms, abnormal lung sounds all can be identified with a thorough annual exam. Common diagnostics used to evaluate heart conditions include thoracic X-rays, echocardiograms, EKG, blood pressure, and proBNP testing. All of these diagnostic options are available at SVC. Please call Schroeck Veterinary Care to schedule your pet’s heart health appointment!