Pet Corner

Heart Health in Pets Part Two

By Gary L. Ailes, DVM

Last month, I wrote about support for the dog or cat that is suffering with congestive heart failure. I have found that giving L-Carnitine, taurine and CoQ10 is consistently helpful. Now, I would like to continue the discussion of heart health in pets by talking about a supplement called CardioCare.

This product simplifies supporting your pet’s heart. While it contains the above amino acids and CoQ10, it also contains L-Arginine, along with Hawthorn, Salvia and Forskolin. As mentioned last month, carnitine is an important amino acid involved in the metabolism and conversion of fatty acids into energy for muscular activity. Heart tissues of patients who died of acute myocardial infarctions have been shown to be deficient in carnitine. Taurine is a nonessential, membrane-stabilizing, sulfur-containing amino acid and antioxidant that is found in high concentrations in muscle tissue. Taurine is known to have antiarrhythmic and blood-pressure supporting effects. It has also been shown to reduce platelet aggregation, thus lowering the risk of forming blood clots. Coenzyme Q10 is thought to be essential for proper heart function.

Researchers examining myocardial biopsies have found that up to 75 percent of all patients with various cardiac diseases suffered from a CoQ10 deficiency. Orally administered CoQ10 can improve functioning of myocardial tissue, control the flood of free radicals released at times of stress, such as during cardiac interventions (including angioplasty and surgery), and improve the conversion of oxygen to cellular energy.

The other four ingredients in CardioCare are known to strengthen the heart muscle and improve circulation. Arginine has the ability to produce significant vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels). A 1991 report in the Lancet demonstrated that arginine improved coronary microcirculation. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantharose) is a particularly rich source of bioflavonoids—plant extracts well recognized for their protective effects on blood vessels. Hawthorn dilates coronary blood vessels and consequently improves blood supply and maintains a normal heart rhythm. In a rabbit study, Hawthorn decreased the size of atherosclerotic plaque deposits in rabbits. Forskolin activates the enzyme adenylcyclase to increase the level of cyclic AMP throughout the cardiovascular system, leading to relaxed arteries and increased force of contraction. Forskolin has also been shown to assist in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and improve contractility of the heart. Salvia miltiorrhiza has been shown to support healthy blood pressure and heart rhythm.

I suggest giving one capsule of CardioCare to a dog weighing less than 20 pounds or a cat. For a dog weighing up to 100 pounds, give 2 capsules daily. For those over 100 pounds, especially those whose normal weights are well below 100 pounds, give 3 capsules daily and if needed give these doses twice daily.