How One Dog Beat The Odds

Newton at 13

Back in summer, 2016, my 10-year-old Havanese, Newton, was diagnosed with degenerative Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) after a routine veterinary visit. The vet detected a slight murmur, which triggered an echocardiogram, which diagnosed early-stage disease. Newton was at an age at which one starts to see a spike in heart disease, particularly in small dogs. Within days, Newton was given a bleak prognosis – 7 to 12 months. The shock of the sudden diagnosis was accentuated by the fact that Newton was full of energy and looked to be the picture of health. I'd never heard of MVD, nor did I realize how prevalent it is, or that small dogs are at significantly heightened risk.

As it turned out (and how relieved would I have been, had I known), the diagnosis was not the end of the road for Newton. It was, however, the start of a radical shift in how I cared for him -- including much more attention to what he ate.

What is MVD?

Mitral valve disease is the most common form of heart disease in dogs, and accounts for approximately 75% of all canine heart disease cases. Statistics aren’t robust, as many cases go unreported, but as many as 1 in 7 dogs will get MVD at some point in their life, and the number may be higher. The disease is particularly common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Poodles, and Chihuahuas. Some small breeds (the statistics for which are tracked much more closely) exhibit extreme incidence: for example, half of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels develop MVD by age 5, and an even higher percentage by age 10.

The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart – it closes during contraction of the heart to prevent blood from flowing backward. When the valve isn’t working properly, backward leakage or 'regurgitation' forces the heart to work more, which causes the heart muscle to enlarge and harden, until the organ can no longer function properly.

There is no cure for MVD, but there are factors that can slow its progression. One is early detection, which allows for timely treatment with medication. Another critical factor is nutrition – a healthy diet that supports cardiac function.

The Nutrition Imperative

Key Nutritional Elements for Dogs with MVD:

• Low sodium: Reduces fluid retention and eases strain on the heart

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Help reduce inflammation and support heart function

• Taurine and L-carnitine: Amino acids that support cardiac muscle function

• B vitamins: Essential for proper energy metabolism in the heart

• Antioxidants: Help combat oxidative stress on cardiac tissue

As with humans, a low sodium diet is an essential component of managing heart disease, as salt draws fluid into the blood and forces the heart to work harder. But finding a dog food that is under the cardiologist-recommended ceiling (.35% — that’s 35 percent of a percent — by dry weight)… is not so easy.

Most dog foods, whether dry, wet or fresh-frozen, are positively full of salt – for the same reasons many human breakfast cereals are brimming with sugar: dogs like the taste. And rather than make that fact clear, many pet food companies obscure the information, literally, or by using creative labeling. There is no standard reporting measure, which add to the confusion.

Finding the Right Food

Following his diagnosis, it seemed that practically everything Newton used to eat was off limits (NOTE: be particularly careful of treats and chews, including those that are labelled “low salt.” Read the fine print and call the manufacturer to be sure. If they don’t have the information quickly at hand, cross it off the list for your MVD dog).

Newton’s then-cardiologist recommended a canned prescription diet. But Newton wouldn't stomach it, preferring to starve himself rather than choke it down.

I read that many people with MVD dogs choose to cook for their dogs. I attempted this, but I did not feel confident I could make a consistently nutritionally-balanced food myself. So I looked for a vet who was strong on nutrition. This one recommended Evermore, as a healthy, reliably low sodium, whole-food ingredient option. I didn’t have to encourage Newton to eat Evermore, in any of its protein varieties (thought the Chicken and Turkey were recommended, for slightly lower sodium content) – he scarfed it down. Newton loved raw fruits and vegetables, such as green beans and watermelon, which I used to supplement the Evermore. Big problem, solved.

Evermore: A Great Option for Us

I loved the fact that Evermore was made of whole-food ingredients, and no fillers. I also greatly appreciated the fact that the company seemed to make a serious effort to make sure that the animal protein used in the food was sourced humanely. I don’t eat red meat myself – and while I wasn’t going to inflict that choice on my dog, it seems hard to take care of a dog and not be concerned also about the care of the animals that go into his diet.

Newton would live until he was 17 years and 3 months – 6 years past his initial prognosis. Diet wasn’t the only, or even the main factor in Newton’s longevity – he was one of the first American dogs to have a pioneering mitral valve repair surgery in Japan (which I discuss in detail in posts on my Substack). Thankfully, now, nearly ten years later, the surgery is being offered in the US.

But it’s clear to me that Evermore had a major impact on, first, maintaining his health and stamina over the year before the surgery – and second, keeping him active and healthy after it. Within months of starting the evermore – before his MVD symptoms appeared – his energy levels increased noticeably. During later periods when I had to travel with Newton for work and couldn't access Evermore, I substituted with other, vet-approved "relatively" low-sodium, dry foods. During these times, Newton gained weight, experienced much more fatigue, and the incidence of syncopes (fainting spells associated with poor oxygen flow to the brain) increased.

A Call for More Options

I look forward to the day when there are many more medical resources and surgical options available to owners of dogs with MVD. In the meanwhile, I hope it brings comfort to the owners of the 9 million dogs with MVD in the US alone, to know that this condition doesn't need to be an automatic death sentence.

There are a few solid, high-quality, low-sodium foods out there, but they’re not the ones that are advertised ubiquitously. Healthy food costs more, health maintenance and prevention are worth it — you’ll very likely save what you spend, in vet bills. I also love the fact that Evermore is not only completely transparent about what’s in their food, they’ll also send you the recipe if you want to make it yourself.

If your dog — particularly if it’s a small dog — is approaching middle age, as with humans, regular check ups are even more important. Early detection, proper medication, appropriate nutrition, and in some cases, surgical intervention can all contribute to a longer, more comfortable life for your beloved companion.

Thanks for stopping by. We’ll be regularly sharing our adventures, insights, strong opinions, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be the gold standard in gently cooked food for pets!