Supporting Your Dog’s Heart in the Summer: A Natural Approach

Summer is the season of the heart—at least according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, where each season is energetically tied to specific organs. Summer connects with the heart and small intestines and brings with it heat, movement, and outward expansion. That added energetic heat can sometimes place extra stress on the heart, especially in dogs with underlying cardiovascular issues or breed predispositions.

Whether you’re dealing with a recent diagnosis like a heart murmur, managing mild imbalances, or just getting ahead of the game and trying to prevent an issue, summer is a wonderful time to nourish and support the heart.

This information is intended for support and prevention. If your dog has heart disease or is in heart failure, always consult your veterinarian.

1. Start with Diet

Fresh food is always number one. A complete and balanced raw, lightly cooked, or freeze-dried diet delivers bioavailable nutrients that support the heart—like taurine, which is often lost in highly processed kibble due to extreme heat and pressure.

Even if you’re not ready to fully switch to a fresh food diet, it’s so important to start incorporating real, whole food ingredients into the bowl. One of the core principles in Traditional Chinese Medicine is the idea of “like nourishes like”—so if your dog has a compromised heart, feeding heart can help nourish their heart. Organ-specific nutrition is deeply rooted in ancient medicine, and honestly, it just makes common sense. Real food supports real healing. Ultra-processed diets create chronic stress in the body and make it harder to heal—especially over time.

So always consider adding or rotating in fresh, nutrient-dense foods like:

• Raw goat milk (naturally high in taurine)

• Organ meats (including heart)

• Lightly cooked or raw muscle meat

• Fresh veggies and fruits

• Bone broth (no sodium, no onions)

You can’t supplement your way out of a poor diet—but you can build on a good one.

If your dog tends to run warm or hot and really struggles with the heat and humidity, you may want to evaluate the proteins you’re feeding and their energetics. Many dogs here in the South run warm to hot—and if we’re feeding them foods that warm them up from the inside, it’s going to be a lot harder for them to deal with the heat. For warm or hot dogs during the summer, stick to proteins like whitefish, pork, duck, rabbit, and even beef or bison, which tend to be more neutral. If your dog is struggling with too much heat, I would steer clear of lamb and chicken, as well as salmon and goat, or rotate them with cooling proteins to offset the heat. This can make a huge difference!

One more note—especially in the summer: hydration matters. Moisture in the diet is important all year long, but it becomes even more essential during the heat and humidity of summer. I always make sure there’s moisture added to my dogs’ food to help keep them hydrated throughout the day. Often, by the time a dog goes to drink from the water bowl, they’re already dehydrated. It’s just something to stay mindful of when the temperatures rise.

2. COQ10 (or Ubiquinol)

COQ10 is one of my favorite heart-supportive supplements. It’s a powerful antioxidant that supports heart, kidney, and mitochondrial function. The body naturally produces it, but levels decline with age—and some dogs may need more than others.

There are research studies showing that COQ10 offers measurable benefit to dogs with heart conditions. And it’s extremely well known in human cardiology, too—used in both conventional and integrative settings to support heart health. So it honestly blows my mind that more veterinarians and veterinary cardiologists aren’t recommending it for dogs with known heart issues or for dogs already predisposed.

There are both human and dog-specific products available on the market. If you choose a human supplement, just be sure to read the inactive ingredients carefully to ensure it’s safe for dogs. I currently do not stock this but hope to carry some options in the future.

Dosages vary, but in one recent study, positive results were seen when dogs under 13 pounds received 100 mg twice daily. Dr. Judy Morgan recommends around 5–10 mg per pound of body weight for therapeutic use (depending on age, breed, and condition), and 1–2 mg per pound for prevention. You can work with your veterinarian or holistic practitioner to figure out the best dose for your dog.

COQ10 is generally very safe, so there’s usually little concern with starting it as a daily supplement. The more bioavailable form of COQ10 is called ubiquinol. It’s the active, reduced form of the compound and may be a better fit for dogs with existing heart conditions. That said, standard COQ10 (ubiquinone) is more affordable—especially for large dogs—and still provides excellent support.

If your dog is at risk for heart disease—or already has a diagnosis—COQ10 and ubiquinol are absolutely worth considering.

3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Most kibble-fed dogs are overloaded with omega-6s (pro-inflammatory) and low in omega-3s (anti-inflammatory), leading to an imbalance that fuels disease. Even dogs eating a fresh food diet and supplementing with omega-3s can still be deficient.

A high-quality, EPA- and DHA-rich marine-sourced oil is essential for cardiovascular health, especially as dogs age. For my senior dogs, I increase the dose to help protect their heart, reduce inflammation, and support their aging bodies more deeply.

One of my favorite options—especially for small dogs or those avoiding fish—is Potent-Sea Omega-3 by Adored Beast. It’s made from clean, micro-algae—not fish—so you get all the EPA and DHA benefits without the contamination risks of the ocean. I also rotate with Nordic Naturals, another brand I trust and stock at The Whole Dog Market or you can order direct from their website.

Did you know you can now test omega levels in both you and your pets?

OmegaQuant offers a simple at-home test that gives you real insight into your fatty acid levels—so you’re not guessing. This is such a useful tool to check yearly, especially considering how essential omega-3s are to health.

4. Gentle Heart-Supportive Herbs

I love introducing herbs for dogs—especially those that gently support the heart and circulation. Two of my favorites:

• Hawthorn – a well-known heart tonic that nourishes the heart muscle and supports rhythm

• Dandelion – supports the liver and kidneys while acting as a natural diuretic, which may help reduce fluid retention

I carry these as glycerin-based tinctures from Animal Essentials, which are easy to dose and well-tolerated.

If you’re using these herbs for general support or prevention, they can be used consistently throughout the summer months to help maintain healthy circulation and heart function. If your dog has a heart diagnosis or is showing symptoms, it’s important to get personalized guidance from your veterinarian, herbalist or holistic practitioner to determine the best way to use them long term—whether that means pulsing, combining with other remedies, or adjusting the dose.

5. Mushroom Support for the Heart

Medicinal mushrooms can be highly supportive of the heart. They offer a wide range of benefits—from improving circulation and oxygen efficiency to reducing oxidative stress, modulating inflammation, and helping the body adapt to both physical and emotional strain. When it comes to cardiovascular health, Cordyceps stands out as a true superstar. It supports stamina, heart rhythm, blood flow, and oxygen utilization—making it especially valuable for aging dogs or those facing heart-related challenges.

But like most things in holistic health, Cordyceps works best as part of a team. That’s why I love MycoDog’s Breathe formula. It combines Cordyceps with Reishi, Artist’s Conk, Chaga, and the adaptogen ashwagandha for well-rounded support of the heart, lungs and the nervous system. I’ve seen so many dogs with low stamina, heart concerns, collapsing trachea, kennel cough, and laryngeal paralysis do incredibly well on this thoughtful blend. It’s a powerful example of how non-toxic, non-pharmaceutical tools can offer meaningful support and improve quality of life when used with intention.

Final Thoughts

Supporting your dog’s heart at home—and hopefully helping prevent future issues—can be simple. It starts with small, intentional steps that add up over time. Once you find your rhythm and figure out what works for your dog, you can revisit that protocol year after year and continue to support them as they age.

The more I learn about supporting different organs throughout each season, the more it makes sense to me. I think it’s a beautiful and intuitive way to care for our dogs—and it’s become a cornerstone of my own dogs’ wellness routines after learning from Rita Hogan, The Canine Herbalist. This seasonal approach can be so powerful for prevention, especially if your dog is predisposed to cardiovascular issues.

The heart does more than just keep the body going—it holds the joy, love, and life-force of our dogs. And when we show up for them in small ways, it adds up to something big: more comfort, more joy, more life together.

This is not a substitute for veterinary care. If your dog has been diagnosed with heart disease, is in heart failure, or is showing signs of cardiac trouble, please work with your trusted veterinarian. As always, consult your veterinarian before starting any new supplements.