Is my homemade diet healthy for my senior dog with an enlarged heart?

Great question! Most diets that are formulated for heart conditions are low in sodium, and thus prescription based. Lower sodium diets are not typically recommended for the "average" dog. Talk to your vet about the Science Diet H/D or Royal Canin Early Cardiac diets for Lulu.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand your concern. I do think it would be best to switch them to a regular diet. There are many types out there that are affordable and good. I like the Purina Pro Plan shredded blends in that category because they are palatable, affordable and of very good quality. Good luck and have a great day!

Omega 3 fatty acids for pets can help with heart health. Royal Canin makes a diet for dogs with heart disease. Lastly, it is not fully understood, but there appears to be a link between grain free dog food and heart enlargement. If you are feeding a grain free diet, you may talk with your veterinarian about a diet change. I hope this helps.

Many OTC wet dog foods can be high in salt content, which should be avoided in dogs with heart disease. If you would prefer that Champ be on a wet dog food, then you may want to discuss a prescription heart diet with your vet. If your vet does not have concerns about salt content at this stage of heart disease, then you can choose a diet based on your budget and dietary preferences for Champ. I feed my dogs Purina ProPlan because I like their quality of ingredients and the diet fits in my budget.

If Rosie will not eat her regular diet anymore you can try to offer her different types or canned dog food to see if any of these are appetizing to her. If she will not eat any prepared dog food you can still home cook for her but you will need to use a website like www.balanceit.com or consult with a veterinarian nutritionist to create a well balanced recipe. If Rosie is on just chicken, carrots, and broccoli she will eventually develop a nutritional deficiency so a balanced recipe is needed.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Hershey is adorable! I think you can give it a try. A few pieces of advice, with raw meats we worry about bacteria and food poisoning. Also you have to be sure you balance the nutrients, especially the calcium/phosphorus ration. All commercial dog foods do this for you already. Anytime a client want to either home cook or start to feed raw I recommend they formulate their recipes through Balanceit.com. https://secure.balanceit.com/ I hope this helps!

Royal Canin makes a prescription diet called Hepatic and Hill's Science Diet makes l/d for Liver care. Both these diets would probably be good options for Lucky but it's important to double check with your veterinarian first. You could also consider looking into homecooked diet options through www.balanceit.com Thanks for using PetCoach and best wishes to you and Lucky!