Unfortunately, heart disease in dogs is almost as common as heart disease in people.
According to Dr. Ruth MacPete, DVM of Idexx’s Pet Health Network:
Heart disease in dogs is almost as common as it is in humans, but unlike people, smoking and a fatty diet are not risk factors. The most common form of heart disease in dogs is valvular disease, which primarily affects small breed dogs over 5 years of age and makes up 70-75% of heart disease in dogs. Heartworm disease causes 13% of heart disease even though it is entirely preventable. Myocardial disease, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, makes up 8% of heart disease and primarily affects large breed dogs of all ages.
What is Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs?
Congestive Heart Failure in dogs occurs when the heart is unable to pump adequate blood to the body.
There are many causes of heart failure in dogs.
But, the two most common causes of heart failure in dogs are:
- Mitral valve insufficiency, aka a leaky mitral valve
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
Symptoms of Heart Failure in Dogs
Of course, only a veterinarian can give your dog the diagnosis of heart failure.
The most common heart failure symptoms are:
- Decreased stamina
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing
If your dog suffers any of the above symptoms, you should see your vet immediately.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Heart Failure in Dogs
There are several veterinary tests used to diagnose dog heart disease.
The most common tests include:
- Stethoscope – Listening to your dog’s heart with a stethoscope is the first step in diagnosing heart failure in dogs. Your vet will listen to/for heart murmurs, heart rhythm, and heart strength. Your vet will also listen to your dog’s lungs looking for changes associated with heart failure.
- Chest x-rays – Your vet will take chest x-rays to assess your dog’s heart size and shape. He/she will also look for fluid in the lungs.
- Blood tests and urine tests – Blood and urine tests help your vet see what’s going on inside your dog’s body. Often, liver and kidney test numbers will be abnormal in dogs with heart disease.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) – Electrocardiograms measure the heart’s electrical activity, giving your vet valuable information concerning your dog’s heart rate and heart rhythm. An ECG will alert your vet to abnormal heart rhythms.
- Ultrasound – An ultrasound gives your veterinarian an excellent visual on the status of your dog’s heart. Your vet sees the size and thickness of each heart chamber, how efficiently the heart is working, and more.
How Heart Qi Tonic Helps Heart Failure in Dogs
Many pharmaceuticals exist to help heart failure in dogs.
Often, though, veterinarians and pet parents prefer to try something natural first.
Herbs provide a gentle, tonic alternative for many dogs.
Heart Qi Tonic: Western Philosophy
Heart Qi Tonic helps dogs suffering from:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chronic fatigue
- Chronic lethargy
- Congestive heart failure
Heart Qi Tonic: Eastern Philosophy
Eastern medicine treats a disease’s root cause(s) rather than symptoms.
Accordingly, TCVM veterinarians evaluate heart failure in dogs differently than Western veterinarians.
TCVM vets look for signs of imbalance.
Heart Qi Tonic helps dogs with the following TCVM signs:
- Weak or irregular pulse
- Heart palpitations
- Heart Qi deficiency
- Lack of energy
- Listlessness
- Pale tongue with a white coating
- Shortness of breath
- Spontaneous sweating
How Heart Qi Tonic Works
Heart Qi tonic is a TCVM blend of 10 different Eastern herbs.
The herbs perform synergistically, balancing systems and meridians in the body.
Heart Qi Tonic addresses the underlying causes of heart failure in dogs.
The underlying cause of any disease is always an imbalance somewhere in the body.
Heart Qi Tonic alleviates your dog’s imbalances while treating the symptoms of heart failure.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Heart Qi Tonic works by:
- Tonifying Heart Qi
- Invigorating Blood
The main ingredients in Heart Qi Tonic are:
- Bai Zi Ren tonifies Heart
- Chuan Xiong moves Blood
- Dang Gui to nourishes Blood
- Dang Shen tonifies Qi
- Fu Ling drains Damp and strengthens Spleen
- GanCao tonifies Qi
- Huang Gui warms Yang
- Rou Gui warms Yang
- Wu Wei Zi astringently consolidates
- Yuan Zhi tonifies Heart
Dr. Huisheng Xie, the founder of the Chi Institute in Reddick, FL, created Heart Qi Tonic specifically for animals.
Dr. Xie based Heart Qi Tonic on the ancient TCM formula Yang Xin Tang.
Heart Qi Tonic works best when combined with plenty of water, Eastern Food Therapy, and moderate exercise.
Note: Information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute the advice provided by your own veterinarian.
