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 of dog food for heart murmurs.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 7 Best Dog Foods for Heart Murmurs

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe is the best overall 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 other flavor choices available including, beef, 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 murmurs.

The veterinary nutritionists who 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.

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2. Earthborn Holistic Adult Vantage Natural – Budget Buy

Cutting costs does not mean we need to sacrifice quality when buying heart-healthy dog food for our pet. Earthborn Holistic Adult Vantage Natural is a good budget option. 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 22 percent.

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.

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3. Royal Canin Early Cardiac Dry Dog Food

A review of Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Early Cardiac Dry Food found that it is made with 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.

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. 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.

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4. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food

If you have a puppy with a heart murmur, take a look at Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal and Barley. This is a diet that requires a prescription from your vet. It provides the proper nutrition for puppies up to 1 year old. The chicken meal and barley recipe contain wholesome ingredients to support brain health and skeletal and eye development and is 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.

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.

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5. Hill’s Prescription Diet Heart Care Dry Dog Food

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.

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.

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6. Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie Dry Dog Food

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.

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 some said their dogs didn’t like the taste.

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7. The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Dehydrated Dog Food

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, and apples and is dehydrated for easy digestion and to retain the nutrients.

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.

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 a heart murmur. The information can be confusing and overwhelming.

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.

In Conclusion

For dogs with a 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.

We hope this detailed list of reviews, pros, and cons helps you find the right dog food for your family!

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Featured Image by: Tatyana Vic, Shutterstock